Ten DLSPH doctoral students named 2024 Vanier Scholars
August 13/2024
Six Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME) students and four Public Health Sciences (PHS) students were named 2024 Vanier Scholars, earning funding to support their doctoral studies.
By Bonnie O’Sullivan, with content from Marielle Boutin’s IHPME article
DLSPH is delighted to congratulate ten doctoral students who have been recognized as 2024 Vanier Scholars. This group of inspiring doctoral students were selected for this prestigious award based on three equally weighted criteria: academic excellence, research potential and leadership. Each scholar has earned $50,000 per year for three years to support their doctoral studies as part of the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships.
Named after Canada’s first francophone Governor General, Major-General George P. Vanier, this scholarship is awarded to those studying health research, natural sciences and/or engineering, or social sciences and humanities. The research focuses of our DLSPH representatives range from improving health equity through machine learning to examining how socioeconomic position influences cardiovascular disease among youth.
Dean Adalsteinn (Steini) Brown says that the breadth of research topics these scholars represent is bound to make positive impact on the Canadian healthcare system.
“Our school’s community is known for our curiosity, integrity, leadership and rigour. These ten doctoral students are excellent representatives of what it means to be a DLSPH public health and health systems researcher. Congratulations to our 2024 Vanier Scholars!”
Our DLSPH 2024 Vanier Scholars
Momtaz Begum, PHS – Social and Behavioural Health Sciences
Research Title: An intersectional political economy perspective to understand how social and economic policies influence the employment experiences and health inequalities among marginalized workers in Canada.
Momtaz Begum, a Social and Behavioural Health Sciences student, is studying issues relating to labour market experience and health among minority workers in Toronto’s discount nail salon industry. Begum’s research will analyze policies and legislations to identify gaps that may be contributing to these workers’ inequitable employment and health experiences.
Begum says receiving a Vanier Scholarship “is both a recognition and a pathway that is amplifying and ushering my enthusiasm, passion and perseverance to work towards creating a more equitable and just society.”
Claire Cook, PHS – Epidemiology
Research Title: From menarche to menopause: examining the impact of reproductive health history on obesity and diabetes among postmenopausal women in the United States.
Claire Cook’s research focuses broadly on women’s health and chronic disease. Cook’s thesis will examine reproductive health, focusing on menarche, obesity and diabetes, to understand contributing factors to chronic disease burden and healthy aging in postmenopausal women.
Cook, who is studying Epidemiology, says, “I believe this work has important implications for research, clinical practice, and public health intervention as reproductive health history presents a currently untapped opportunity for chronic disease screening, identification, and prevention among women across the life course.”
Gilbert Bryan Gascon, IHPME – Health Systems Research
Research Title: Improving the early detection and diagnosis of childhood cancers in Cameroon: An evaluation of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of an adapted early warning signs and symptoms (EWSS) intervention.
Gilbert Bryan Gascon’s research uses implementation science approaches to integrate evidence-based early diagnosis programs for children with cancer in low- and middle-income countries.
“I hope this recognition helps bring life to my vision, which was always to help bring health solutions for communities who are underrepresented in research and medicine, particularly in a world where children seem to be undervalued,” says the Health Systems Research student.
Nicholas Grubic, PHS – Epidemiology
Research Title: An evaluation of socioeconomic inequalities in cardiovascular health among Canadian children and adolescents.
Nicholas Grubic’s research examines how socioeconomic position influences the risk of cardiovascular disease among Canadian youth. Using nationally representative survey data, the Epidemiology student will explore the distributional inequalities in cardiovascular health indicators. Grubic will evaluate how the association between adolescent lifestyle behaviours and cardiovascular risk in adulthood differs according to socioeconomic position, using data from a Canadian cohort study.
“I am honoured to join a distinguished group of scholars who are collectively driving evidence-based innovations in healthcare, public health, and policy,” says Grubic. “This award also reflects the unparalleled support and guidance I have received from numerous mentors at the University of Toronto and other institutions across Canada and internationally.”
Sarah Malecki, IHPME – Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research
Research Title: Adult impact of complex childhood-onset diseases.
Sarah Malecki’s research focuses on adults who have had childhood-onset complex diseases, aiming to measure the disease impact on their adult lives and track the long-term effects.
“Having the support of a Vanier Scholarship during my graduate studies will ensure that I am able to dedicate the time needed for my research,” says the Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research student. “Being named a future leader of research excellence in Canada gives me further confidence and inspiration to pursue a research career in medicine.”
David-Dan Nguyen, IHPME – Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research
Research Title: Enhancing equity and mitigating overdiagnosis of prostate cancer through the development and evaluation of machine learning-driven organized prostate cancer screening policies.
Nguyen’s research focus is on enhancing health equity and reducing prostate cancer overdiagnosis by developing a machine-learning model for more effective and equitable prostate-specific antigen test screening.
“Receiving the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship is incredibly motivating as I embark on this new chapter in my training,” says the Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research student. “It brings me significantly closer to my ambition of becoming a surgeon-scientist, working at the intersection of health policy, artificial intelligence, and cancer care delivery to tackle health disparities.”
Gemma Postill, IHPME – Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research
Research Title: Evaluating Long-term Outcomes Among Older Adults with Severe Injury in Ontario to Improve Post-Trauma Care.
Gemma Postill’s aim is to improve the recovery time of older adults after traumatic injury and help them remain at home longer by creating machine learning models that improve client care. The IHPME student’s research focuses on the use of machine learning and health data to study long-term outcomes of these patients.
“I was thrilled and deeply honoured to be named a Vanier Scholar,” says the Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research student. “The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship recognizes and awards academic excellence, research potential, and leadership. As I continue my journey to become a clinician scientist, I could not be more excited by this recognition!”
Lauren Tailor, PHS – Epidemiology
Research Title: Examining the Effect of Continuing Prenatal Antidepressant Exposure on Maternal and Offspring Cardiometabolic Health.
Lauren Tailor’s thesis focuses on perinatal and pediatric pharmacoepidemiology. Tailor’s goal is to generate evidence on the effect of continued prenatal antidepressant use on maternal and long-term offspring cardiometabolic health outcomes.
“My research aims to enhance the understanding of the cardiometabolic safety of antidepressants during pregnancy,” explains Tailor, an Epidemiology student. “By offering evidence-based information on mental health medications for mothers and their children, I strive to empower healthcare providers, pregnant individuals, and their families to make informed choices. This work aspires to improve prenatal mental health and maternal and offspring cardiometabolic outcomes, reduce stigma, and influence healthcare policies.”
Conrad Tsang, IHPME – Health Professions Education Research
Research Title: Inclusive excellence in MD admissions: access to capital and the inequities in academic assessment.
Conrad Tsang’s research focuses on how socioeconomic and other factors influence selection in medical school admissions.
“The financial support gives me more freedom and flexibility to pursue the higher-risk but potentially higher-reward research avenue that could make important contributions and impact,” says Tsang, who is enrolled in the Health Professions Education Research program.
Erica Wennberg, IHPME – Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research
Research Title: Exploring the accessibility and quality of virtual mental health care among youth and young adults with mental health needs.
Erica Wennberg’s research explores access, safety, effectiveness and fairness of virtual mental health care for youth and young adults compared to in-person care.
“My career goal is to become a clinician-scientist with a research focus in health equity,” says the Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research student. “Being named a Vanier Scholar alongside an amazing group of doctoral students across Canada has only deepened this conviction. I look forward to continuing to grow in the remaining years of my PhD with the support of the scholarship.”