In the News
“This Could Become the Facebook of Environmental Information”
U of T researchers are developing an app allowing anyone to learn about air quality, greenery, walkability, and other factors contributing to the environmental health of their neighborhoods. Tentatively named “Good Score,” the app will lay bare environmental inequities among communities across Canada, and, for the first time, enable public...
U of T Researcher Receives WHO Grant to Explore Ethics of Travel Bans
by Françoise Makanda, Communications Officer at DLSPH Researchers recently received a WHO grant to examine the legality of travel bans. “The legal side of things was traditionally of the opinion that travel bans are ineffective and unlawful. COVID has really put this idea to the test, and we wondered what...
DLSPH Researchers to Test COVID Masks in New Ways
DLSPH Prof. James Scott is breaking new ground in determining the effectiveness of anti-COVID face masks, thanks to $1.2 million from the Ontario government for equipment that measures filtration much more accurately. Scott, head of DLSPH's Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, will perform the next-generation testing in the same...
The “She-cession” is Near Warns Alumna
by Françoise Makanda, Communications Officer at DLSPH DLSPH alumna Anjum Sultana warns that a “She-cession” is coming and argues that Canada needs to apply a feminist recovery plan to curb it. “There needs to be a new playbook to support women’s labour market participation, one that is grounded in racial...
DLSPH Open: New Senior Advisor, Equity and Inclusion
Dear DLSPH community, In the midst of very difficult times, I’m very pleased to share some good news: Asst. Prof. Akwatu Khenti, a longtime DLSPH faculty member and health equity and stigma researcher, has been appointed to a new position at DLSPH as Advisor, Equity and Inclusion. As a school, we are committed...
It Takes a Village: Black-Led Database is Accepting Canadian Data
by Françoise Makanda, Communications Officer at DLSPH DLSPH Asst. Prof. Roberta Timothy is launching a Black-run and led survey to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the African and Black diaspora. “This project is about life and death for our community. Too many people know someone who got COVID or...
The 501 Blues: How worried should we be about novel SARS-2 variants?
By Dr. David Fisman, Epidemiologist and Professor at DLSPH Over the Christmas break news began to circulate of a novel SARS-2 variant, which had appeared in southern England in September 2021 and which has rapidly become the dominant strain of SARS-2 across England. Particularly worrisome is the fact that this...
Dr. Paul Kurdyak appointed Chair in Addiction and Mental Health Policy at IHPME
by Alisa Kim, Communications Officer at IHPME As a medical student, Dr. Paul Kurdyak was drawn to psychiatry because of his love of stories. Providing mental health care, he says, involves not only identifying a particular condition, but also understanding how that illness affects an individual’s ability to function, and...
Sierra Leone Spared from High COVID Deaths
by Françoise Makanda, Communications Officer at DLSPH COVID-19 is not yet a leading cause of death in Sierra Leone, U of T researchers have found. Prof. Prabhat Jha, an epidemiologist with the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, and Queen Elizabeth Scholar (QES) Ashley Aimone applied the same methods as...
DLSPH Remembers Cathy Fooks
It is with a very sad and heavy heart that I share the news of the untimely passing of Cathy Fooks due to a tragic accident. Since July 2020, Cathy held the role of Patient Ombudsman for Ontario, after 13 years as the President and CEO of The Change...