Empowering Future Leaders in Health: Meet the 2025–26 C. David Naylor Fellows

Two incoming IHPME graduate students have received the prestigious C. David Naylor entrance Fellowship, fueling their commitment to advancing impactful and equitable care.

By: Marielle Boutin

Victory Angeli, incoming Health Systems Research student, and Dr. Rebecca Quilty, incoming Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research student, have been recognized as C. David Naylor Fellows for their outstanding academic achievements and leadership potential in their respective fields.  

While their backgrounds differ, both fellows share a deep commitment to advancing care and support systems through research and clinical practice.  

Dr. Quilty completed her undergraduate, medical school, and pediatric residency training at Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador, her home province, before entering a pediatric rheumatology fellowship at U of T, which she is set to complete in June of 2025. 

During her academic training, she developed a deep interest in clinical research. She recalls a particular project during her residency, which involved validating a rapid test for diagnosing Lyme arthritis. The experience was a watershed moment in her journey to discovering how her research can have a direct and meaningful impact on patients. This growing interest ultimately led her to IHPME’s ClinEpi program, where she was drawn to its in-depth curriculum and the opportunity to learn from experts in the field.  

“The completion of this program will be a fantastic path to gain the tools and additional supportive experience I need to be a successful independent clinician researcher,” says Dr. Quilty. “I am confident that this training will prepare me to pursue independently driven clinical studies and allow me to make a more meaningful academic impact in my career.” 

Victory Angeli received their BA (Honours) at St. Francis Xavier University before completing their MA in Sociology at Dalhousie University. Their research is centred around Integrated Youth Services as a model for mental health care, and engaging youth from equity-seeking communities in mental health advocacy.  

This dedication to community engagement has driven Angeli to take on a role as a Jack Talks Speaker for Jack.org, where they share insights into the mental health priorities expressed by youth living in Nova Scotia, Angeli’s home province.  

Drawing on their academic background and lived experience, Angeli hopes to further strengthen their understanding of Canadian healthcare systems and develop their skills as a researcher by joining IHPME’s Health Systems Research (HSR) PhD program. 

“IHPME offers a selection of courses that dive deep into my topics of interest, such as organisational behaviour and knowledge implementation in healthcare,” says Angeli. “Its diverse student and faculty bodies facilitate networking, and I can connect with mentors and peers who challenge me to grow. I most strongly value IHPME’s focus on original student research […].” 

Both fellows are driven by a shared commitment to advancing equitable, evidence-based care, aiming to immerse themselves in IHPME’s research culture and contribute to bridging critical gaps in care. 

Angeli’s PhD will be centred around Canada’s Integrated Youth Services model, and how to improve mental health care for youth, with a focus on advancing equity for historically underserved communities. 

“My goal is to advance mental health support for young people residing in Canada, particularly individuals who have been pushed out of traditional care settings,” says Angeli. “I am a racialised, neurodivergent, queer, and transgender person. I recognise the struggles that many members of equity-seeking groups face when reaching out, both through personal experience and through my research. I want to work with adults and youth alike to build a more equitable healthcare space, where historically excluded communities are brought to the forefront of conversations that impact them, and where they are treated with respect and dignity.” 

Dr. Quilty plans to further develop her research on rare autoinflammatory diseases – in particular, systemic juvenile arthritis – and hopes her time at IHPME will help her address historically unanswered questions about these rare illnesses. 

“I am excited to use the methodology knowledge I will gain through my coursework as well as mentorship, to develop research efforts to better understand some of the complications we have observed in the management of systemic juvenile arthritis with a goal to improve patient care,” says Dr. Quilty. 

Both Angeli and Dr. Quilty view their fellowships are a personal honour, but also as a shared responsibility to advancing care and meeting the needs of communities who require support.  

“When I accepted this Fellowship, I made a commitment to examine existing models of service provision, build on their strengths, and contribute to innovations in the field,” says Angeli. “I am committed to paying this opportunity forward […]. I am particularly interested in supporting resource development efforts in Nova Scotia, the province where I developed my sense of self, and the province that I call home.” 

“I deeply appreciate this recognition, and it provides extra validation of my path to further my training in clinical research. It also motivates me to contribute to academic and clinical work that positively impact patient care and contribute to advancing knowledge through research endeavors in the pediatric rheumatology community,” says Dr. Quilty.