Record Number of IHPME Doctoral Students Named 2025-26 Vanier Scholars

As the Vanier Scholarship program marks its final year, IHPME is celebrating a record number of doctoral students recognized with the prestigious award.

By: Marielle Boutin

Launched in 2008, the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship program was established to attract high-performing PhD students by providing financial support and a platform for developing their research potential.

In an effort to streamline graduate and postdoctoral support, the federal government is phasing out the Vanier Scholarship program, with its newest cycle ending its nearly two decade-long run to make way for a new harmonized funding system.

Eight IHPME doctoral students are among the last cohort, a record high for the Institute, with research backgrounds spanning diverse fields and clinical contexts such as machine learning in healthcare, youth mental health, and equitable access to care.

Meet the 2025-26 Vanier Scholars

Anglin Dent

Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research (CEHCR)

Anglin Dent is a third year MD/PhD student, currently pursuing her PhD in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research. Prior to starting the joint MD/PhD program, she completed her MSc in Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, where she developed an interest in the use of machine learning (ML) tools for precision oncology. Motivated by the desire to learn how ML tools can be applied in clinical settings, she decided to pursue the CEHCR program at IHPME, where she is now learning how to apply clinical and epidemiological methods in healthcare, with the goal of further understanding how to successfully evaluate and implement these new approaches.

Receiving the Vanier Scholarship is a great honor and a meaningful recognition of the need to strengthen how we evaluate and implement ML technologies in healthcare. It reinforces my motivation to pursue a career as a clinician-scientist combining clinical expertise with training in Clinical Epidemiology to support the development, rigorous evaluation, and responsible integration of AI tools that benefit both patients and healthcare providers.

Peter Hoang

Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research (CEHCR)

Prior to joining IHPME in the Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research program, Peter Hoang completed his medical training at McMaster University, his internal medicine residency at the University of Calgary, and his geriatric residency at U of T. Peter’s interest in improving care for older adults began in high school, when he volunteered his time at a local hospital, providing opportunities for socialization and exercise. This passion ultimately grew into an interest that lies at the intersection of housing and aging. This is where he discovered important gaps in understanding the pathway to homelessness and the need for interventions.

I am incredibly honoured to be a recipient of the Vanier Scholarship. This recognition is a responsibility to pursue research to meaningfully improve the health and well-being of the Canadian population. With the support of this scholarship, I aim to provide research and evidence to inform policies that address the unique needs of unhoused older adults and provide equitable access to healthy aging for all Canadians.

Massoma Jafari

Health Profession Education Research (HPER)

Mossama Jafari completed her BSc in Midwifery from Zawul Institute of Higher Education in Afghanistan, where she also held leadership positions including Vice President of the Afghan Midwives Association and Midwifery Advisor with Jhpiego. Following her move to Canada, she pursued a Project Management Diploma at George Brown College and a Master’s in Global Health at McMaster University before attending IHPME. Her lived experiences as a midwife have motivated her research, which is centred around midwifery education and health systems, particularly from a humanitarian and conflict-affected perspective. Through her PhD research, Massoma will explore how midwifery education systems adapt or break down in these complex environments.

Receiving the Vanier Scholarship is far more than an award or financial support—it is a powerful source of motivation and affirmation. Personally, it tells me that my work matters, that the experiences and challenges I bring from Afghanistan are seen, heard, and valued. It inspires me to continue, even when the research feels difficult or emotionally heavy. Professionally, the Vanier gives me an added sense of responsibility—to contribute meaningfully to the field of health professions education, to elevate voices from conflict-affected settings, and to produce research that can lead to real, equitable change. It is both an honour and a call to action, and I carry that with deep gratitude and commitment.

Mohammad Jay

Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research (CEHCR)

Mohammad Jay is an internist and endocrinology fellow currently pursuing his PhD in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research. He became interested in endocrinology during his clinical training, particularly on the complexity and interdisciplinary nature of head and neck endocrine conditions. This eventually led him to pursuing advanced training in the CEHCR program, where he is now leading projects that use real-world data and advanced methods to improve care, reduce inequities, and inform decision-making.

Receiving the Vanier Scholarship is an incredible honour and a source of motivation as I pursue a career at the intersection of clinical care and research. Personally, it affirms the value of the path I’ve taken; balancing clinical training with a commitment to rigorous, impact-driven research. It also reflects the support of mentors, peers, and institutions that have helped shape my growth. Professionally, the Vanier provides the protected time and resources to pursue ambitious research questions with real-world relevance. It allows me to deepen my training, strengthen my leadership, and contribute meaningfully to evidence generation and health equity in endocrinology. Being part of the Vanier community is also an opportunity to engage with other emerging scholars across disciplines who are committed to advancing health and social change in Canada and beyond.

Maryam Pyar Ali Lakhdir

Health Systems Research (HSR)

Maryam Pyar Ali Lakhdir was born in Pakistan and completed her Master’s from Aga Khan University. She also received the Injury Research Fellowship, an NIH-funded through a collaboration with John Hopkins University. During her time as an oncology and bone marrow transplant nurse, she discovered an interest in childhood trauma and youth mental health, which she further explored while completing her Master’s in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Johns Hopkins University. Her master’s thesis addressed child abuse and adversity in urban and slum communities in Pakistan, which earned her a STTI Rho Delta Chapter Research Award for outstanding research contributions. She then joined Aga Khan University as a faculty member, where she taught and conducted research on childhood trauma and mental health. It was there that she spearheaded various community-based initiatives, including a suicide prevention project with the Government of Pakistan, which shifted her research focus towards health systems, ultimately leading her to pursue her PhD in Health Systems Research at IHPME. She now dedicates her research to improving youth mental health by advancing trauma-informed, equitable health systems.

Receiving Canada’s most prestigious Vanier Scholarship is both a personal milestone and a professional affirmation. Personally, it supports the culmination of years of perseverance, particularly as a first-generation scholar and an immigrant woman from Pakistan. It acknowledges the many barriers I have overcome, including being the first in my family to pursue high school, higher education, and moving abroad. This recognition affirms the purpose and resilience that have shaped my journey. It reflects years of dedication through both challenges and growth, and it reinforces my commitment to lead with compassion, curiosity, and integrity. Professionally, it is more than a scholarship; it honours the voices and struggles of the communities and youth who inspire my work every day. The Vanier Scholarship affirms the value of my research and brings me one step closer to my goal of becoming an independent researcher dedicated to youth mental health. This recognition motivates me to continue building a career grounded in service for and with youth, equity, and systems-level impact. Being part of the Vanier community also connects me with a network of emerging leaders who are shaping the future of research, further motivating me to grow as a scholar and advocate. It positions me to emerge as a leader advancing mental health equity and system transformation. This Vanier scholarship also deeply aligns with my life philosophy of working with and for people to contribute to the well-being of others while continuing to grow personally and professionally. I am deeply grateful to have my academic, research, and leadership journey recognized at this level, and I am committed to being a dedicated Vanier Canada Graduate Scholar, advocating for youth mental health and leading initiatives to drive meaningful change across Canada and beyond.

Nji Desmond

Health Systems Research (HSR)

Nji Desmond has an extensive global health background. At the age of 12, he began anchoring slots on Cameroon Radio Television while also serving as a peer educator, leading HIV testing initiatives and youth outreach in Bamenda. In 2013, he received the award for Cameroon’s Best Youth Leader for the Fight Against HIV/AIDS from the Project for the Prevention of HIV/AIDS in Central Africa (PPSAC). In 2015, he founded DESERVE, an organization dedicated to advocating for the health and well-being of youth and adolescents. He also served as co-chair of PMNCH (The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health), where he co-led an initiative securing more than US$30 billion worth of funding for women, children, and adolescents’ health during COVID-19. Nji’s research is now centred on addressing the health disparities among persons with disabilities in Sub-Saharan Africa, through the lens of Universal Health Coverage systems.

I am profoundly honoured to receive the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships Award. This esteemed award is an all-important pillar of support for my doctoral studies and research at the University of Toronto. Beyond its academic significance, the Vanier journey is profoundly enriching, offering opportunities to strengthen my scholarly, professional and leadership networks.

An African proverb says, “One hand cannot tie a bundle.” This award is not just a personal achievement, but a shared milestone made possible through the unwavering support of those who have stood beside me. So I wish to extend my deepest gratitude to my family, colleagues, friends, mentors and referees. I am grateful to my supervisor, Dr. Sara Allin—one of my referees—who celebrated with joy that I am her first supervisee to receive the Vanier CGS Award.

Jeremy Steen

Health Systems Research (HSR)

Jeremy Steen’s background lies at the intersection of health sciences and clinical research. While working with patients living with chronic pain, he became interested in why certain treatments work better for some patients than others. With this in mind, he decided to pursue his PhD in the Health Systems Research program and dedicate his research to identifying subgroups within fibromyalgia to help better understand the variables present in its treatment and provide more effective care for patients.

Receiving the Vanier is a tremendous honour that affirms the importance of tackling complex, often overlooked health challenges like chronic pain. The Vanier gives me the freedom to fully dedicate myself to a research path I genuinely care about—one that’s challenging, unconventional, and deeply needed in the pain field. It’s also a meaningful vote of confidence that strengthens my resolve to push for more personalized, evidence-based care for people living with conditions like fibromyalgia.

Anudari Zorigtbaatar

Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research (CEHCR)

Anudari Zorigtbaatar completed her medical degree (MDCM) at McGill University, where she led collaborative projects between the MUHC Centre for Global Surgery and the National Trauma and Orthopedic Research Center of Mongolia. She then joined the General Surgery residency at U of T and completed two years of clinical training before enrolling in the Surgeon-Scientist Training Program and pursuing her PhD in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research. Her doctoral research focuses on advancing early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Mongolia through a patient monitoring approach that reflects cultural differences and resource allocation. Her research is motivated by her family’s experience navigating healthcare in Mongolia and Canada, with the goal of improving access to care in low-resource settings through affordable and culturally appropriate cancer monitoring.

Receiving the Vanier Scholarship is an extraordinary honour that affirms the importance of the work I am pursuing. Personally, it is a recognition of a journey shaped by caregiving, immigration, resilience, and a deep desire to give back to the communities that have supported me. Professionally, the Vanier Scholarship provides crucial support that allows me to focus fully on my research while amplifying its potential reach and impact. It also provides access to a vibrant community of scholars and mentors across disciplines, which I believe will help me grow as a leader and researcher committed to health equity.