Student Profiles

Meet our PhD in Public Health Sciences students!

Please click on the drop-downs below to find information on current students and alumni. The information provided includes: supervisor(s), theses titles, educational background, and positions after graduation.

Current Students

	Susanna Abraham Cottagiri Educational Background: Bachelor of Technology in Biotechnology, Karunya University, Faculty of Engineering; MSc Applied Public Health, Cardiff Metropolitan University Supervisors: Will King, Paul Villeneuve (Carleton University) Thesis Title: Cancer incidence near Canadian Nuclear Power Plants: a population-based assessment using the CanCHEC cohort Publications: ResearchGate
	Meselech Ambaw Dessie Educational Background: BSc Public Health, Hawassa University; MSc Anatomy, University of Gondar Supervisor: Colleen Davison Thesis Title:
	Sherri Dutton Educational Background: BSc Biology, University of Winnipeg; Master of Public Health, Queen's University Supervisor: Colleen Davison Thesis Advisory Committee: Elaine Power, Eva Purkey Thesis Title: An Exploration of Intentional Teen Pregnancy: A Phenomenological Study on Pro-Pregnancy Decision-Making Influences and the Role of Public Health Through the Experiences of Teen Mothers in Canada
	Mahsa Fayaz Dastgerdi Educational Background: BSc Statistics, University of Isfahan; MSc Biostatistics, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Supervisor: Bingshu Chen, Paul Peng Thesis Advisory Committee: Zihang Lu Thesis Title: Publications: Google Scholar
	Aleisha Fernandes Educational Background: BSc Health Sciences, Populations and Quantitative Concentration, Certificate in Ethics and Kinesiology Minor, Simon Fraser University; MSc Public Health Sciences, Field of Study Epidemiology, Queen's University Supervisor: Maria Ospina Thesis Title:
	Sofia (Del Vasto) Friesen Educational Background: BScN, Trinity Western University; Master of Public Health, Queen's University Supervisor: Susan Bartels Thesis Title:
	Nancy Fynn-Sackey Educational Background: BSc Biomedical Biology, Laurentian University; Master of Public Health, The University of Ontario Institute of Technology Supervisor: William Pickett, Pierre Cote (Ontario Tech University) Thesis Title: Investigating Social Exposures Related to Depression Among Post-secondary students
	Rebecca Hansford Educational Background: BScH, Major in Biology, Minor in Psychology, Queen's University; MA Applied Disability Studies, Specialization in Applied Behaviour Analysis, Brock University Supervisor: Helene Ouellette-Kuntz, Alyson Mahar Thesis Title: The impact of having intellectual or developmental disabilities on breast cancer treatment: A convergent mixed-methods study Publications: Google Scholar
	Elizabeth Hore Educational Background: BScH Immunology and Biology; Promoted to PhD Program after successful Mini-Master's Defence Supervisor: Ana Johnson, Zihang Lu Thesis Title: Frailty Index to Predict Healthcare Expenditures, Resource Utilization and Mortality of CardiacSurgery Patients in Ontario
	Matthew Jalink Educational Background: BSc Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University; MSc Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University Supervisor: Will King, Timothy Hanna, Christopher Booth Thesis Advisory Committee: Surbhi Grover (University of Pennsylvania), Michael Brundage Thesis Title: Understanding Treatment Delays and Mortality in Cervical Cancer Patients Publications: Google Scholar
	Lucy Mackrell Educational Background: BA Honours, Global Development Studies, Queen's University; MA Global Development Studies, Queen's University; Master of Social Work, McGill University Supervisors: Sahar Saeed, Bradley Stoner, Megan Carter Thesis Advisory Committee: Hugh Guan Thesis Title:
	Maegan McConnell Educational Background: BA Psychology and Sociology, Queen's University; BA Social Work, Lakehead University; MA Social Work, Specialization in Mental Health and Addiction, University of Toronto; MSc Development Practice, International Development, Trinity College Dublin Supervisor: Colleen Davison Thesis Advisory Committee: Susan Bartels, Bradley Stoner, Heather Stuart Thesis Title: Understanding impacts of forced migration on the mental health of female Venezuelan migrants in Ecuador: A critical ethnographic qualitative study
	William McFarlane Educational Background: BSc Major Animal Biology, Minor Zoology, University of Guelph; MSc Epidemiology, University of Guelph Supervisor: Susan Brogly, Paul Peng Thesis Advisory Committee: Jorge Martinez, Sahar Saeed Thesis Title: Approaches For Estimating the Incidence of HCV in Ontario and Detecting Modifiers of Liver Disease Progression in HCV-HIV Coinfected Individuals
	Bailey Milne Educational Background: BSc Memorial University of Newfoundland, Master of Public Health, Brock University; MSc PHS, Queen's University, promoted to PhD Program after successful Mini-Master’s Defence Supervisor: Susan Brogly, Maria Velez Thesis Title: Endometriosis and the Risk of Congenital Anomalies: A Population Based Cohort Study in Ontario, Canada
	Sage Nakagawa Educational Background: BA Economics/Biology, University of California, Davis; MSc Health Administration, California State University, Long Beach; MBA, Syracuse University Supervisor: Ana Johnson Thesis Advisory Committee: Bradley Stoner, Colleen Davison Thesis Title: Evaluation of a Virtual Healthcare Pilot Program in Southeastern Ontario Publications: PubMed
	Alexandra Robins Educational Background: BScH Specialization in Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario; Graduate Diploma in Biomedical Informatics, Queen's University; MA Biomedical Infomatics, Queen's University; MSc PHS, Queen's University, promoted to PhD Program after successful Mini-Master’s Defence Supervisors: Wei Tu, Amber Simpson, Harriet Richardson Thesis Title: Incorporating imaging biomarker(s) for predicting clinical response, overall survival, and progression-free survival in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma
	Christopher Russell Educational Background: BSc Specialization in Biochemistry, Laurentian University; MSc Public Health Sciences, Field of Study Epidemiology, Queen's University Supervisor: Ana Johnson Thesis Title:
	Zhiwen Tan Educational Background: BScH Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Toronto; MSc Public Health Sciences, Specializing in Biostatistics, Queen's University Supervisors: Zihang Lu, Paul Peng Thesis Title:
	Tyler Thomas Educational Background: BA Mathematics in Statistics, University of Waterloo; MA Mathematics in Biostatistics, University of Waterloo Supervisors: Bingshu Chen Thesis Title:
	Cindy Wen, MD/PhD Program Educational Background: Bachelor of Medical Science (BMSc), Honours Specialization in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario Supervisors: Sahar Saeed Thesis Title:
	Dingding Xuan Educational Background: BSc Pharmacology, University of British Columbia; MSc Statistics with a Specialization in Biostatistics, Queen's University Supervisors: Zihang Lu, Paul Peng Thesis Title:
	Shi Ji (Angel) Zhou Educational Background: BScH Zoology, University of Guelph; MSc Public Health Sciences, Field of Study Epidemiology, Queen's University Supervisors: Harriet Richardson, Wei Tu Thesis Title:

Alumni

	Iwona Bielska Educational Background: BSc Life Sciences, Queen's University; MSc Epidemiology, Queen's University Supervisors: Ana Johnson, Will Pickett Thesis Title: The Epidemiology and Health Economics of Ankle Injuries Position after Graduation:
	Porpong (Paul) Boonmak Educational Background: Doctor of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University; Master of Population Health Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis Supervisor: Heather Stuart Thesis Title: Ethnocultural Identity Clarity and the Associations with Psychological Distress and Stigma of Depression Position After Graduation: Healthcare Research Associate with Group d'analyse (Analysis Group), Montreal
	Naomi Cahill Educational Background: BSc Nutrition and Dietetics, Kings College of London; MSc Epidemiology, Queen's University Supervisors: Heather Stuart, Daren Heyland Thesis Title: OPTIMIZING NUTRITION THERAPY IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT THROUGH THE EVALUATION OF BARRIERS TO ENTERALLY FEEDING CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS
	Kim Foley Educational Background: BSc Life Sciences, Queen's University; MSc Epidemiology, Queen's University Supervisors: Bill Mackillop, Patti Groome Thesis Title: Measuring the Quality of Personal Care in Patients Undergoing Radical Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer
	Marianne Gee Educational Background: BSc Life Science, Queen's University; MSc Epidemiology, Queen's University Supervisors: Ian Janssen, William Pickett, and Norman Campbell (University of Calgary) Thesis Title: BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL AMONG CANADIANS WITH HYPERTENSION, WITH AND WITHOUT DIABETES Position after Graduation: Science Policy Advisor: Social Determinants and Science Integration Directorate, Public Health Agency of Canada
	Priyanka Gogna Educational Background: Honours BA Anthropology, McMaster University; MSc Epidemiology, Queen's University Supervisors: Will King, Paul Villenueve (Carleton University), Michael Borghese (Health Canada) Thesis Title: The Effects of Outdoor Air Pollution on Inflammation and Preeclampsia Publications: ResearchGate Position after Graduation: Research Associate, Group d'analyse (Analysis Group), Montreal
	Anne Grundy Educational Background: BSc Life Sciences, Queen's University; MSc Epidemiology, Queen's University Supervisors: Kristan Aronson and Joan Tranmer Thesis Title: THE INFLUENCE OF SHIFT WORK, LIGHT AT NIGHT AND CLOCK GENE POLYMORPHISMS ON MELATONIN LEVELS AND BREAST CANCER RISK Position after Graduation: Postdoctoral Fellowship: Cancer Care Ontario
	Vikki Ho Educational Background: BSc Life Sciences, Queen's University; MSc Epidemiology, Queen's University Supervisors: Will King and Thomas Massey Thesis Title: THE ROLE OF DIETARY EXPOSURE TO HETEROCYCLIC AROMATIC AMINES AND GENETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY IN COLORECTAL ADENOMA ETIOLOGY Position after Graduation: Postdoctoral Fellowship: University of Montreal
	Nathan King Educational Background: MSc Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Western Ontario; Bachelor of Kinesiology, Brock University Supervisor: William Pickett, Colleen Davison Thesis Title: CONTEMPORARY MEASURES OF MENTAL HEALTH STATUS AND SCHOOL-BASED RELATIVE AGE EFFECTS IN CANADIAN ADOLESCENTS Publications: ResearchGate
	Michaela Koller Educational Background: BA Psychology, McGill University; MA Educational Psychology and Counselling, McGill University Supervisors: Heather Stuart, Terry Krupa Thesis Title: Multi-site Evaluation of Contact-Based Anti-Stigma Programs for High School Youth
	Atif Kukaswadia Educational Background: BSc Biology, Carleton University; MSc Epidemiology, Queen's University Supervisors: William Pickett and Ian Janssen Thesis Title: ACCULTURATION AND HEALTH EXPERIENCES AMONG YOUNG IMMIGRANT CANADIANS Position after Graduation: Senior Epidemiologist: Research Practice Division, ICES Central
	Brooke Linden Educational Background: MA Sociology, University of Regina; Bachelor of Social Sciences (Sociology), University of Ottawa; MSc PHS, Queen's University, promoted to PhD Program after successful Mini-Masters Defence Supervisor: Heather Stuart Thesis Title: Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Post-Secondary Student Stressors Index (PSSI) Publications: Google Scholar
	Alyson Mahar Educational Background: BSc Nutrition and Dietetics, Acadia University; MSc Epidemiology, Queen's University Supervisor: Patti Groome, Paul Kurdyak (University of Toronto) Thesis Title: THE IMPACT OF A SEVERE PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS ON A CANCER DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND SURVIVAL Position after Graduation: Assistant Professor, University of Manitoba
	Meaghan Mavor Educational Background: BA Psychology, Carleton University; BSc Biology and Psychology, McMaster University; MSc PHS, Queen's University, promoted to PhD Program after successful Mini-Master's Defence Supervisor: Tim Hanna, Patti Groome Thesis Title: Melanoma Diagnostic Processes and the Occurrence of Advanced Disease in Ontario Publications: Google Scholar
	Qun Miao Educational Background: Bachelor degree of Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, China. MSc Epidemiology, Queen's University. Supervisors: Kristan Aronson and Dongmei Chen Thesis Title: AIR POLLUTION AND HEALTH POLLUTION AND HEALTH: DISTRIBUTION AND DETERMINANTS OF EXPOSURE IN MONTREAL, QUEBEC WITH A FOCUS ON POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON ASSESSMENT Position after Graduation: Epidemiologist/Analyst, Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology at Queen's University
	Dylan O'Sullivan Educational Background: BA Sociology, Dartmouth College, USA; MSc PHS, Queen's University, promoted to PhD Program after successful Mini-Masters Defence Supervisor: Will King, Darren Brenner (University of Calgary) Thesis Title: The Role of Ultraviolet Radiation in the Development of Skin Cancer and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in Canada Publications: Google Scholar, PubMed
	Michael Palmer Educational Background: BSc Life Sciences, Queen's University; MSc Epidemiology, Queen's University Supervisors: Harriet Richardson, Michael Brundage Thesis Title: Improving the Quality of Patient Reported Outcomes by Minimizing Missing Data Publications: ResearchGate
	John Queenan Education Background: BA Sociology, Concordia University; MSc Epidemiology, Queen's University Supervisors: Patti Groome and Ben Gottlieb Thesis Title: PATIENT RELATED DIAGNOSTIC DELAY, SYMPTOM APPRAISAL AND LAY CONSULTATION IN HEAD AND NECK CANCER Position after Graduation: Epidemiologist, Centre for Studies in Primary Care, Queen's University
	Liam Remillard Educational Background: BSc Health Sciences, University of Ottawa; MSc Epidemiology, University of Guelph Supervisors: Paul Belanger, Kieran Moore, William Pickett, Anna Majury Thesis Title: Spatial Analysis of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Ontario Publications: Google Scholar
	Jennifer Ritonja Educational Background: BSc Life and Health Sciences, Carleton University; MSc Epidemiology, Queen's University Supervisor: Kristan Aronson and Joan Tranmer Thesis Title: Night shift work, melatonin, and circadian gene methylation in the development of breast cancer Publications: Google Scholar Position after Graduation: Postdoctoral Fellowship position in life course and cancer epidemiology with Dr. Anita Koushik, conducting research at Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) and the Université de Montréal School of Public Health.
	Colleen Savage Educational Background: BSc Life Sciences, Queen's University; MSc Epidemiology, Queen's University Supervisors: Michael Green, Heather Stuart Thesis Title: Impact of Depression on Co-Morbid Diabetes in Primary Care Position after Graduation:
	Laura Seliske Educational Background: BHSc Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario; MSc Epidemiology, Queen's University Supervisors: William Pickett and Ian Janssen Thesis Title: THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND OBESITY-RELATED BEHAVIOURS IN CANADIAN YOUTH Position after Graduation: Research Associate, Geospatial Analysis at Cancer Care Ontario
	Graham Smith Educational Background: BMSc Medical Sciences, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario; BSc Medical Radiation Sciences, University of Toronto; MSc Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario Supervisors: Michael Brundage, Timothy Hanna, Patti Groome Thesis Title: Applying epidemiologic concepts and principals to explore factors associated with error detection by radiotherapy quality-assurance processes Publications: ResearchGate
	Mina Tohidi Educational Background: Honours Bachelor Of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa; Doctor of Medicine, Queen's University; MSc PHS, Queen's University, promoted to PhD Program after successful Mini-Master's defence Supervisors: Patti Groome, Steve Mann Thesis Advisory Committee: Michael McIsaac (University of PEI) Thesis Title: Total Hip Arthroplasty versus Hemiarthroplasty for Femoral Neck Fracture: Propensity-Score Matched Cohort Study and Survey of Orthopaedic Surgeons in Ontario Publications: Google Scholar
	Afshin Vafaei Educational Background: MD Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Science and Health Services, Iran; MSc Epidemiology, Queen's University Supervisors: Beatriz Alvarado, William Pickett Thesis Title: The Impact of Community Social Capital on the occurrence of Injuries in adolescents and falls in older adults: Population-based Studies Conducted in Canadian samples Position after Graduation:
	Melanie Walker Educational Background: BSc Psychology, Queen's University; MSc Epidemiology, Queen's University Supervisors: Will King, Harriet Richardson, and Ralph Meyer Thesis Title: VITAMIN D AND MAMMOGRAPHIC DENSITY IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN: A COHORT STUDY NESTED WITHIN A CHEMOPREVENTION TRIAL Position after Graduation: Coordinator Scholar Competency and Population Health: NCIC Clinical Trials Group at Queen's University
	Colleen Webber Educational Background: BA Psychology, McMaster University; MSc Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto; MSc Epidemiology, Queen's University Supervisor: Patti Groome, Jennifer Flemming Thesis Title: AVAILABILITY AND QUALITY OF COLONOSCOPY RESOURCES AND THE COLORECTAL CANCER DIAGNOSTIC INTERVAL Position after Graduation: