About Me
Bio
Being born and raised in the multicultural and global city of Toronto, Ontario, I was connected to a diversity of people and cultures. This lived experience showed me the strength of immigrant and racialized communities, and exposed me to the multitude of social and economic inequities that drive health outcomes among marginalized groups. My school textbooks did little to elucidate the root causes of these health disparities.
In my current roles as an Assistant Professor, population health researcher, evaluator, and advocate, I endeavor to work closely with BIPOC communities locally and globally to amplify citizens’ voices and promote health equity.
I received a BSc Honours degree from the University of Toronto, and completed both my MSc in Health Studies and PhD in Public Health and Health Systems at the University of Waterloo. In 2019, I was awarded the CIHR Health System Impact Fellowship (2019-2020) with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health where I led the development of a province-wide evaluation to improve efficiency within the healthcare system. In 2021, I was also the recipient of a CIHR Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship (2021-2022) at the University of Saskatchewan, where I led research on climate change impacts on food sovereignty and mental health in northern Canada.
A list of my publications can be found on Google Scholar.
Population Health Researcher
I am a population health researcher leading cutting-edge, interdisciplinary digital health research. Using mixed methods and a citizen science approach, my research prioritizes historically disenfranchised and vulnerable populations, including BIPOC communities, children and youth. My research takes a health equity lens to active living, nutrition, chronic disease prevention, and health policy. I work closely with community partners to co-conceptualize program and policy solutions to complex health problems.
Director, CHANGE Research Lab
I am the Director of the CHANGE Research Lab, and currently appointed Assistant Professor with the School of Occupational and Pubic Health at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Program Evaluator
I have worked with a range of organizations in the academic, clinical, governmental, and non-profit sectors to evaluate health programs and policies. My collaborations include universities across Canada, as well as the Hospital for Sick Children, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, Middlesex London Health Unit, Seva Food Bank, and the Canadian Network for Observational Drug Effect Studies (CNODES). I am also contributing to the Knowledge Uptake and Utilization Tool (KUUT) for evaluating knowledge translation strategies and products.
India Report Card Leader
As a member of the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance and Co-Founder of the Active Healthy Kids India, I lead the India team in the Global Report Card initiative. The India Report Card for Physical Activity among Children and Adolesents provides a comprehensive summary of the state of active living among Indian children and youth since 2016. I contribute to research, advocacy, and knowledge dissemination across Low- and Middle-Income countries facing common barriers to physical activity participation.