I am an environmental epidemiologist that explores environmental factors that impact vulnerable populations. My research primarily focuses on two areas: air pollution and climate change. Air pollution (ambient, household) is an important environmental risk factor related to several health outcomes. I am particularly interested in a) investigating the relationship between air pollution, climate change, and chronic diseases, b) assessing the links between air pollution and climate change, and c) exploring approaches to assess these relationships.
Degrees
PhD, Epidemiology, University of Heidelberg, 2009
MSc, Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Toronto, 2005
BSc (Hons), Environmental Science, University of Toronto, 2003
Awards
School of Public Health Diversity Champion, 2019
School of Public Health Students' Association Small Class Teaching Award, 2019
School of Public Health Students' Association Large Class Teaching Award, 2018
Keywords
epidemiology
air pollution
climate change
chronic diseases
vulnerable populations
Principles and practice of monitoring exposure to environmental contaminants, external and internal dose. Biomarkers for environmental contaminant dose estimation. Environmental and biological sampling. Routes of exposure, absorption, and distribution. Note: Credit may not be obtained for both PHS 511 and SPH 511.
Winter Term 2022This is an advanced epidemiology methods course with emphasis on causal inference. Topics covered include causal inference in observational studies, causal diagrams, effect modification, interaction, selection and measurement bias in causal modelling, propensity score analysis, inverse probability weighting and marginal structural models, standardization and the parametric g-formula, instrumental variable estimation, and mediation analysis. The overall goal of this course is to provide an understanding of concepts and practical applications of causal inference and prepare graduates to understand and apply these concepts in epidemiological research. Prerequisites: SPH 619 and 696 or consent of Instructor. Note: Credit may not be obtained for both PHS 766 and SPH 766.
Fall Term 20212020 - 2022
Principal investigator
This study will examine the mental health of pregnant women and health care providers before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic in the Anhui province of China. We will also explore the impact of poor mental health on adverse birth outcomes during this period.
Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Alberta Innovates
Mental health and COVID-192019 - 2020
Principal investigator
We will create an interactive, web-based platform for stakeholders to identify vulnerable communities (e.g. older adults, immigrant) and co-develop climate change toolkits aimed at vulnerable populations. Collectively, this work aims to pave the way to build local climate change resilience and adaptation opportunities.
Funded by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation
2020 - 2024
Principal investigator
The aim of this work is to develop climate change-related chronic disease surveillance for Alberta. Building on this, we will then create an interactive online mapping surveillance tool to inform public health policies.
Funded by the Government of Canada
2019 - 2021
Principal investigator
We aim to generate critical local data about community climate change vulnerability and resilience that can be used to inform future short, medium and long-term planning activities for the City of Edmonton
Funded by Cities IPCC and Alberta EcoTrust
2017 - 2022
Co-investigator
We will implement a perinatal depression screening and management (PDSM) program within the China maternal and child healthcare system. We will assess provider organization, individual healthcare provider, and cultural factors to identify implementation strategies to improve practice (i.e., uptake) and transfer knowledge for scale-up of our program; and examine the effectiveness of these implementation strategies by monitoring acceptability, feasibility, reach, and fidelity.
Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and National Natural Science Foundation of China