School of Public Health Sciences

How do Black women in Canada experience and manage multiple chronic health conditions, and does stress and race-based trauma impact the distribution and onset of multimorbidity among Black women? These are the questions driving the research of Raquel Watkins, a PhD Candidate in the Aging, Health, and Well-being program in the School of Public Health Sciences, under the supervision of Dr. Samantha Meyer. Raquel's dissertation examines the complex landscape of multimorbidity among Black women using a three-stage mixed-methods approach. Her research begins by establishing an international baseline through a systematic review, then explores the lived experiences of Black women in Canada through qualitative interviews and culminates in a pan-Canadian survey examining disease onset and the relationships between perceived stress, race-based traumatic stress, and multimorbidity. By addressing critical gaps in health data and amplifying the voices of Black women, her work contributes to a deeper understanding of health equity, chronic disease prevention, and healthy aging. The findings have the potential to inform more culturally responsive healthcare practices and policies, while supporting earlier interventions and equity-driven health management strategies. Learn more about Raquel's research and academic journey: https://lnkd.in/g-5WZnBV

Congratulations to Dr. David Hammond on being elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, one of the country's highest academic honours. As a Professor in the School of Public Health Sciences, Dr. Hammond's research has helped shape public health policy in Canada and around the world, particularly in the areas of tobacco control, vaping, cannabis legalization, and nutrition policy. This recognition reflects his outstanding contributions to research, policy, and population health. Congratulations to Dr. Hammond and all of Waterloo's newly elected Fellows and College Members on this remarkable achievement.

Last week, we welcomed our Master of Public Health (MPH) students to campus for the MPH Introduction Institute, kicking off a new chapter filled with learning, collaboration, and opportunity. It was inspiring to see so much energy, curiosity, and enthusiasm in one room. A sincere thank you to our outstanding guest speakers for sharing their knowledge and experiences. Your contributions provided valuable perspectives and helped set the stage for a meaningful and impactful academic journey. We look forward to following this cohort's journey and seeing how their experiences, learning, and collaborations shape their contributions to public health in the years ahead.

Jessica Russell is a PhD candidate in the School of Public Health Sciences' Health, Aging, and Wellbeing program, working under the supervision of Dr. Carrie McAiney.  Her dissertation explores how adaptive and participatory research approaches can support the meaningful inclusion of people living with advanced dementia. Building on findings from her MSc research, Jessica aims to address barriers related to communication, consent, and accessibility that often prevent people living with advanced dementia from participating in research that directly affects their lives. Through co-designing flexible and accessible research methods with individuals who have lived experience, her work seeks to promote more inclusive and equitable dementia research.  Jessica credits the School of Public Health Sciences for providing a supportive environment that has helped her grow as a researcher. She particularly values the school's strong sense of community, student involvement, and opportunities to connect through initiatives such as the Research and Practice in Health Sciences Conference and the Symposium on Aging Research. Read more about Jessica’s research: https://lnkd.in/grPnGxpN

Timothy Jo, an MSc student in Public Health Sciences supervised by Dr. Plinio Morita, PhD MSc PEng is exploring how older adults navigate privacy issues when using smart home technologies for remote health monitoring. Smart home technologies can support older adults in aging safely and independently, but they also raise important questions about privacy. Tim's research explores how privacy preferences vary depending on the information being shared, who can access it, and the context in which it is viewed. By gathering feedback from older adults, his work aims to inform the design of smart home systems that balance usability, remote health monitoring, and privacy. Reflecting on his experience at the School of Public Health Sciences, Tim describes it as an important stepping stone in his personal and professional growth. Through coursework and research, he gained a broader understanding of public health one that extends beyond individual health behaviours to include data science, technology, and policy. These experiences have helped shape his future career path and perspective on the field. Read more about Tim's research:  https://lnkd.in/gt-TXcy2 University of Waterloo, UbiLab - University of Waterloo

Emily Gorgenyi, a PhD student in Aging, Health & Well-being supervised by Dr. John Hirdes, is examining how social isolation and loneliness shape the experiences of older adults—particularly within Ontario’s Home Care population. Using interRAI data, her research highlights how common these experiences are and explores their connections to important health outcomes, including mortality. Beyond data analysis, Emily’s work emphasizes real-world impact through community engagement—helping to co-develop targeted strategies and map local resources that can better support older adults living at home. Reflecting on her time at the School of Public Health Sciences, Emily shares that the experience has been both challenging and deeply rewarding. Through teaching, research, and collaboration with community partners, she has built meaningful connections while growing both personally and professionally. Read more about Emily's research: https://lnkd.in/gc_FUiKi University of Waterloo interRAI Global

A new global study from the World Health Organization (WHO) sheds light on the ongoing burden of unsafe food. Dr. Shannon Majowicz contributed to updated WHO estimates covering 2000–2021, offering the most comprehensive picture yet of foodborne illness worldwide. The data highlights that hundreds of millions of people are affected each year, with serious impacts including long-term health complications and death. Despite progress, foodborne disease remains a major and uneven global health challenge, disproportionately affecting children and communities with limited access to clean water, sanitation and strong food systems. These insights are more than just statistics. They provide critical evidence to guide investments in food safety, public health infrastructure and prevention efforts globally. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gCXB3iU3

🎓 Congratulations to the Class of 2026! We were proud to celebrate our School of Public Health Sciences graduates as they crossed the convocation stage and marked the culmination of years of hard work, growth, and achievement. Throughout their time at Waterloo, they gained the knowledge, skills, and experiences to make a meaningful impact on the health of individuals and communities. We can't wait to see where their next chapter takes them. Congratulations, graduates!

We are pleased to spotlight Ailin Jalili, an MSc Public Health Sciences student, whose thesis examines equity in emergency medical care. Ailin’s research focuses on the pre‑hospital phase of emergency care, commonly referred to as the “golden hour”—a critical period between the recognition of a medical emergency and arrival at the emergency department. Her work centers the experiences of racialized immigrant women, exploring how intersecting social identities shape interactions with emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and influence psychological responses during emergency health events. By examining disparities in this early stage of care, Ailin’s thesis contributes to an important and underexplored area of public health research, with potential implications for future large‑scale studies, EMS training, and policy development. Reflecting on her time in SPHS, Ailin shares how grateful she is for the experiences she has gained—learning how to engage meaningfully with research, develop strong interpersonal skills, and build incredibly memorable connections. Above all, she appreciates the friendships, mentorship, and supportive community that have shaped her graduate journey. Read more about Ailin’s research and academic journey: https://lnkd.in/eJm4YGtu

A great example of learning beyond the classroom. What started as a course assignment became a successful student-led initiative improving daily life in residence. Huge credit to Isabelle Lee and Giordana Staudohar for translating public health training into real-world impact.