About me
I hold a B.A. (Honours) in Psychology from the University of Waterloo, an M.Sc. in Global Health from McMaster University, and a Ph.D. in Health Policy from McMaster University.
I defended my thesis, The Roles of Midwives in Health Systems, in November of 2017. I have worked in monitoring and evaluation in obstetric fistula and later held a position where I oversaw the scientific aspects of and led the execution of evidence syntheses, facilitated citizens panels, supported stakeholder dialogues, and engaged in activities to mobilize research evidence to inform pressing health system policy issues. I currently lead research and policy work at global, national, and local levels broadly focused on supporting the integration of midwifery into health systems to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights.
I actively root my work in intersectional feminist, anti-colonial and collaborative perspectives, recognizing that research in sexual and reproductive health and rights must first begin by understanding privilege in order to dismantle systems of oppression.
Research description
I am a Research Affiliate at Karolinska Institutet and Co-founder of Empower Research, a Centre for Research and Policy in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.
I am a health systems and policy researcher that applies this lens to sexual and reproductive health and rights. Specifically, my work focuses on understanding the roles of midwives in health systems, which includes midwifery association strengthening. My collaborative work has been published in BMJ Global Health, Birth, BMC Health Services Research, and Health Research Policy and Systems, among others.
I have the pleasure to work in an interdisciplinary sexual and reproductive health and rights research team with expertise in health economics, health services delivery, political science, health care quality, and clinical studies.
Teaching portfolio
Sexual, Reproductive and Perinatal Health ASR25T, Healthcare System Research in Low-, Middle-, and High-Income Countries (Master's Programme in Global and Sexual and Reproductive Health, University of Dalarna) [2023]
Qualitative and Conceptual Methods (Health Policy PhD Program, McMaster University) [2021-2023]
Doctoral Seminar in Health Policy (Health Policy PhD Program, McMaster University) [2017-2023]
Global Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) Program, McMaster University) [2022]
Health Systems and Health Policy (Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) Program, McMaster University) [2018-2019]
Health Forum Practicum (Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) Program, McMaster University) [2018-2019]
Academic honours, awards and prizes
Association of Ontario Midwives Excellence in Midwifery Research Award (2021)
Recipient of International Policy Ideas Challenge, Global Affairs Canada and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Government of Canada (2020)
Faculty of Health Sciences Graduate Programs Excellence Award, McMaster University (2017, 2018)