Profiles

Liza’s research explored how food marketing policies affect children’s exposure to unhealthy advertising in Canada. She compared Québec’s mandatory restrictions with voluntary policies elsewhere, examined the influence of “brand-only” ads, and tested whether health messages on sugary drink ads reduce appeal. Using survey and experimental data, her work shows how policy design can strengthen or weaken protections for youth.

Tanveer's research explores how immigrant Punjabi women experience menopause and reproductive health, focusing on how community beliefs and perceptions influence their journeys.

Mahmood’s PhD research evaluated how the authorized sale of alcohol in some Ontario grocery stores affected alcohol use behaviours among youth.

Laura's MSc research examined privacy and user trust in companies, and transparency in healthcare IoT (Internet of Things) data collection.

Nour's PhD research investigated patterns of protective (physical activity) and risk health behaviours (binge drinking, cigarette smoking and cannabis use) and their relationship with weight status over time among youth participating in the COMPASS study in Ontario, Canada.

Jessica Delaney works with interdisciplinary teams to address public health issues such as substance misuse, mental health and youth engagement. As a Health Promoter she uses a population health promotion approach to guide public health programming which includes researching, planning, developing, implementation and evaluating programs for different priority populations.

Eric's PhD research explores sexuality, information and communications technologies, and body image.

Somkene's PhD research examines the embedding of psychosocial stress among firefighters and university faculty and aims to increase our understanding of the relationship between stress and disease.

Kirsten's PhD research investigates the potential for nutrition labelling on menus to support healthy and sustainable eating in cafeterias.

Jerrica's PhD research examined the clinical mental health needs and service access of emerging adults aged 18-29.

Nnenna's MSc research investigated the role of resilience on university students' use of mental health services while on campus. 

Yong-Jin's PhD research investigates the cost-effectiveness of tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the first-line treatment of lung cancer in Ontario.

Ahmad Syed (MHI '20) started graduate studies with a clear vision – he wanted to work on the non-clinical side of health care. With this goal in mind, he pursued the Master of Health Informatics (MHI) program at the University of Waterloo. Now, Ahmad works as a Surgical Clinical Analyst at William Osler Health System.

Amanda's PhD research examines the impact that missing height and weight data can have on youth body mass index research.

As a registered nurse, Sonya Pirani (MPH '20) noticed that decisions being made by policy makers did not always reflect the realities she experienced on the front line. Driven by her experiences, Sonya pursued the Master of Public Health program with her sights set on a career in health policy.

Alex's MSc research examined the impact of adverse childhood experiences on Indigenous children, and the nature of coping or resilience strategies to overcome these adversities. 

Emily's MSc research investigated the relationship between social support availability and cognitive function in Canadian adults between the ages of 45 and 85.

Sara's PhD research examines mercury exposure in First Nations communities in northern Canada. 

Using simple technology, Master's of Public Health Student, Timothy Muttoo created a water filtration system that is transforming thousands of lives in the Dominican Republic.

Inspired by her time as a resident of Northern Ontario, Danielle Brandow focuses her Master's research on the health of indegenous people, and the disparities that many face when living in northern communities.

Anis's PhD research examined how patient similarity analytics can accelerate the move toward precision medicine. 

As part of her doctoral research, Lesley Johnston is investigating ways in which community well-being in Mongolia and Zambia are affected by Canadian-sponsored mining operations.

Erika McMullin is passionate about making a change in Canadian Health Systems. Going through the Master of Health Evaluation (MHE) program has helped her take a step closer to achieving that goal, as she now applies her knowledge of health evaluation to improve government initiatives and health programs. Currently working with a dedicated team at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Erika hopes to continue collaborating with stakeholders and conduct creative interventions to improve patient care for the community.

As an Internal Medicine Physician, Babak Rashidi takes on various roles to contribute toward improved patient health care at two of the biggest hospitals in Canada's capital city. Completing University of Waterloo's Master of Health Informatics (MHI) program has connected him to the rising field of health technology, as he has contributed to projects such as CANImmunize, a user-friendly app that's helping Canadians keep track of their immunizations. 

As a former physician in a small Ontario practice, Miriam Klassen decided to shift her work from one-on-one health care provision to address broader population health issues. Now working as Medical Officer of Health at the Perth District Health unit, her Master of Public Health degree allowed her to focus her knowledge and understanding for the new role.

Working in a pediatric clinic after graduating from her bachelor's degree provided the inspiration for Denise Ng's graduate research. Now a Master's student, she focuses on health informatics and health service research, and explores the level of risk perceived by patients when they are asked to provide feedback via smart-phone technology.

Pemma Muzumdar credits the University of Waterloo's Master of Public Health (MPH) program for teaching her the importance of maintaining a strong learning network, developing collaborative practices, and sharing knowledge and resources in an online environment. Now working as Communications Coordinator at the National Collaborating Centres for Public Health her experience in the program has positively impacted her career.

Merryn Maynard works at Meal Exchange, a national charitable organization that advocates for student food security in postsecondary institutions around the country. Her experiences both with pursuing an MSc in Public Health and Health Systems and becoming a finalist in the 3MT (Three Minute Thesis) competition have helped her successfully transition into her role as a Program and Operations Coordinator, working passionately to making a change to improve ’good food for all’ on Canadian campuses.

Harnoor Rangi gained hands-on experience and technical skills that launched him into a new career even before graduating from the Master of Health Informatics (MHI) program. Now employed as a Senior Consultant at Deloitte Canada, he works with big analytical companies to maximize production efficiency for a variety of businesses. 

Madeline's MSc research compared health-related quality of life in parents of children with mental illness with what you would typically see in the Canadian adult population.

Master of Health Informatics student Tania Tajirian’s journey through the MHI program advanced her healthcare career through digital health solutions, data science, and innovative technology.

Ellen Stephanie Reyes' journey has taken her all the way to Vancouver, where she is pursuing a career that aligns perfectly with her research in toxicology and risk assessment during her time at the University of Waterloo. Ellen works at Golder Associates Ltd as a Human Health Risk Assessor, collaborating with scientists and engineers to solve environmental issues using statistical analysis and quality control measures.

While juggling full-time work, part-time online studies, volunteering with the Canadian Evaluation Society, and networking with health professionals, Eden Amare created a peer network of connections and resources that has opened doors to opportunities that have launched her new career. Eden credits the Master of Health Evaluation (MHE) program for giving her the confidence and knowledge she needs to truly make a difference for diverse populations in her role as Program Evaluator at Toronto Public Health.

Sanaa Hussain's research explores how women in Paulatuk, a remote community in Canada’s Arctic, experience and manage Type 2 and gestational diabetes, focusing on the intersections of gender, Indigeneity, and food access.

When he discovered that the University of Waterloo offered remote courses for its Master of Public Health program, Wilfrid Ntiamoah (MPH '12) was keen to apply. Living community in Canada's northern Qikiqtaaluk region (also known as the Baffin region) and working as an environmental health officer it was a good fit. Today, Wilfrid credits graduating from the program as a having a direct impact on his current role as director of population health.

For his PhD, Robert is studying how machine learning can be used by researchers to assist with thematic analysis of online communities that are discussing public health topics such as addiction recovery and vaccination.

Working with a NGO in the Philippines, Shoshannah pivoted her research plans in response to the global pandemic to understand more about the experience of community volunteers giving up their time to address the emergency food insecurity amongst some of the country's income-poor.

Kirti's research explores the use of NexGen data sources for public health surveillance. This includes the use of data from the Internet of Things (IoT) for real-time monitoring of behavioural risk factors for chronic diseases in Canada.

Kathy's MSc research examined the interaction of gender and social networks and how social networks can be a source of assistance for women experiencing poverty when accessing health care services in the Philippines.

During her practicum placement for her Master of Health Informatics program, Acrifa Fears worked for St. Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton Ontario where she worked on a project that utilized digital health technology to monitor patients post-sugery at home wile faciltating administration of care and communication between patient and the healthcare system.

For her doctoral research, PhD Aging, Health and Well-being student Madara Marasinghe investigates the impact of assistive devices on the lives of older adults to understand more about the benefits and challenges these devices can have.

Julia Man (MPH ’15) has worked for organizations like the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, the Office of the Auditor General and the Ministry of Health. In her roles, she has explored health issues from a variety of perspectives. Now, she is working for the Office of the Chief Coroner as an Executive Officer.

Gustavo Betini's PhD Public Health and Health Systems research took a turn when the global pandemic hit in 2020. His longitudinal study looks at the long-term affects of COVID-19 on the mental health of Canadians.

Megan Janecka is doing her practicum as part of her Master of Public Health program. A chance connection through the social network Reddit led Megan to the placement she's doing at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. There she's working on creating a report that will summarize the latest epidemiology studies on the effects of radiation, to inform global radiation protection. 

Andrea Loncacric completed her practicum placement at the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging as part of her Master of Health Evaluation program. Pushed outside of her comfort zone where quantitative evauation was more familiar, Andrea developed her skills around qualitative evaluation methods and hasn't looked back.

During her practicum placement at the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Sara Husain contributed to three ongoing evaluations. There she realized the difference between learning about evaluation in the classroom and working in a real-world situation. Being in the workplace, she started to fully appreciate that the process of evaluation is a complex navigation of careful planning, insightful negotiations, teamwork and adaptation to dynamic situations.

Pam Hopwood's PhD Public Health Sciences research examines the experiences of women who find work via digital platforms or apps in feminised care occupations such as elder care work.

By 2031, immigration is projected to account for 80 percent of Canada’s population growth, making mental health among newcomers an important public health issue. Tasneem's doctoral research investigates the mental health of immigrants to Canada by applying ecological system and life-course perspectives.

The practicum component of the Master's of Health Informatics program has made a big impact on Brendan Flynn. Working at TAMVOES, a health management platform, Brendan has been involved with helping launch their new app. This experiential learning component to the program was central to his decision to choosing the program.

Public Health and Health Systems doctoral student, Shu-Feng Tsao is passionate about infordemic - or health mis-/disinformation associated with infectious diseases. In particular her research looks at the infodemic that has been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Shu-Feng explores how infodemic influences people's decisions and behaviour with Twitter data analyzed by machine learning or artificial intelligence techniques.

Busola Adekoya's PhD Aging, Health and Well-being research examines how policies and programs for alert systems at local, municipal, and provincial or national levels are developed and implemented in Canada and Scotland.

Margaret Mutumba's PhD Public Health and Health Systems research investigates the implementation of accessible and affordable fertility services in Sub-Saharan Africa.  

Adaora Enumah's MSc Public Health and Health Systems research looks at how stress that is experienced both directly and indirectly can affect the Prefrontal Cortex. Her research hopes to contribute to the little that is currently known about the effects of these types of psychosocial stressors on this part of the brain.

People with dementia often experience challenges communicating their experiences, which can impact their ability to participate in research. PhD Health and Well-being student, Emma Conway's research examines the current use of adapted or modified research methods with a view to improving the accessibility of research for people with dementia.

Kelly Gregory's master's research explores the occupational experiences of women first responders, through a comparative analysis of women police officers, firefighters, and paramedics. 

Although most of her doctoral program so far has been online due to the global pandemic, Joy Hutchinson's experince as a PhD Public Health and Health Systems student has still been incredibly positive. Her research is examining novel methods for characterizing dietary patterns and their relationships with markers of inequity in Canada.

As well as environmental and economic impacts, air pollution is considered a major global health risk. Working toward his PhD Public Health and Health Systems, Shahan Salim has partnered with UNICEF Mongolia to develop a tool that will better predict air pollution patterns and provide early warnings for vulnerable populations.

Through her MSc Public Health and Health Systems research, Mona Qutub is working to better understand food insecurity among post-secondary students, as it is a growing concern, particularly within this demographic. 

Intersectionality reflects the idea that people simultaneously embody multiple social characteristics such as gender, race, and socioeconomic position. Natalie Doan's PhD Public Health and Health Systems research uses intersectionality to advance our understanding of the systemic and structural barriers preventing adults in Canada from eating diets supportive of optimal health and well-being.

Working at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre for her practicum placement as part of her Master of Public Health program, Melissa Chao has had the opportunity to broaden her understanding of data collection and governance and its challenges in practice.

Nicole's MSc Public Health Sciences research explores the role of public health in climate change initiatives withing the mining industry in Ontario.

Amber completed her Master of Public Health practicum at the Canada Public Health Association (CPHA). There, she worked on projects to support the development of policy positions. It helped her develop a new set of skills and understand more about the functions of a non-governmental and not-for-profilt orgaization.

Alexandra's research explores if and how food insecurity among adults and youth changed after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing our understanding of the impact of policy responses and how they may better prepare us to respond to food insecurity

Martin's research focuses on food literacy, the knowledge, skills, and confidence to navigate the modern food environment. A better understanding of food literacy can inform interventions to improve dietary patterns and practices to improve health.

Shweta completed her Master of Public Health practicum with HealthBridge, a Canadian non-profit organization. There, she researched common strategies or interventions for HealthBridge's partners in developing nations.

Isabella Coady is a fourth year Public Health student who studied at the University of Bristol in the Fall 2022 term.

Lesley's research is examining the proportions of children and adults in Canada who use low- and no-calorie sweeteners, as well as identifying the key food and beverage sources of these sweeteners.

Danielle Fearon is a PhD student in Public Health Sciences.  Her thesis focuses on individuals with traumatic life events who have been admitted to inpatient psychiatry in Ontario.

Bara's research focuses on proposing a new framework to understand how biological and social interactions between vaccine hesitancy and COVID-19 can cause negative health outcomes among marginalized populations living in Ontario.

Emily's PhD Public Health Sciences thesis investigates how and to what extent does taking part in agroecology inflences women's capacity to sustain rural livelihoods in the Western highlands of Guatemala. As a growing movement, science and set of practices, agroecology offers a strategy for advancing food system transformation through the centring of ecological and social wellbeing.

Karen Hock is a second-year PhD student in the Public Health Sciences program. Her research will examine the impact of government policies implemented with the goal of reducing the occurrence of diet-related chronic diseases.

Kimberly's research aims to examine changes in the types of cessation assistance used by people trying to quit smoking over time.

Ashlyn Simpson is an MSc student with a specialization in epidemiology and biostatistics. Her research focuses on comparing the levels of dixons in people living in an arctic community with the Canadian national average, and looks to discover how traditional indigenous foods can expose these communities to environmental contaminants.

Sarah Sousa is a PhD student in Public Health Sciences.  Her thesis focuses on the use of technology designed for older adults with dementia located in northern British Columbia (BC)

Karen’s research examines the potential implications of a new staffing policy taking effect across Ontario’s long-term care homes.

Tithi’s research is on how stress impacts the reproductive journey of female first responders. 

Emma’s research explores the relationship between chronic stress and mental disorders in children with a chronic physical illness.

Alyssa's research aims to provide valuable insights into trends in diet quality which will inform decision-making and guide public health programs and guidelines.

Harris Manzoor appreciated the flexibility of the Master of Health Evaluation program, which allowed him to study part-time while continuing to work full-time with the Government of Canada.

Josalyn’s research explores the interconnected challenges to human well-being, such as biodiversity loss and climate change, through the lens of foodways, examining how human relationships with other-than-human life can promote well-being at both personal and planetary scales.

Michaella's research focuses on the working conditions in long-term care for direct care workers and how staffing characteristics impact quality of care.

Arlene’s research leverages smart thermostat technology to gain insights into indoor heat levels during extreme heat events and inform warning systems and health programs.

Kathleen's thesis goal was to understand the experiences of people accessing and receiving abortions in Ontario. It also aimed to make suggestions about how abortion care could be improved.

MHI student Chinelo Uddoh is a part-time graduate student, a mother of two young daughters, a pharmacist and a product manager at Deloitte.

Living with multimorbidity has influenced Aging, Health and Well-being student Raquel Watkis to dedicate her research to understanding how it affects Black women in Ontario, and ultimately, what changes are needed to increase the longevity of their lives. 

Amanda Demmer's research explores the knowledge mobilization of evidence generated by the COMPASS System, focusing on how this data is disseminated and used to guide mental health interventions in secondary schools. Her dissertation evaluates the effectiveness of COMPASS in informing policies and programs, using the provincial implementation in Prince Edward Island as a case study.

Navjot's thesis examines the experiences of South Asian Canadians living with dementia and their care partners. These insights contribute to a better understanding of how dementia care can be improved for South Asian communities in Canada.

Lucas' research investigates the impact of Sudbury’s SCS closure on people who use drugs, focusing on how socio-political and spatial factors affect harm reduction access. His findings highlight the need for tailored harm reduction strategies in rural and Northern communities.

Dane’s research examines substance use disorder practices, prevalence, and care barriers within a Canadian forensic hospital through a mixed methods case study at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care.

Ifunanya's thesis investigated the relationship between memory function and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults, and the potential mediating role of functional social support (FSS).

Makenna's research examines the relationship between second-hand smoke/vapour and nicotine biomarkers among adolescents, assess the association between smoking and vaping status and nicotine biomarker levels among the general Canadian population; and examine trends in exposure to tobacco-specific lung carcinogens and heavy metals among Canadians who smoke and/or vape.