Celebrating IHPME’s New Canada Graduate Master’s Scholarship Recipients

Thirteen IHPME students have been awarded Canada Graduate Master’s Scholarships (CGS-M) for their outstanding academic achievement and research potential.

By: Marielle Boutin

The CGS-M is a tri-agency scholarship program that invests in the next generation of researchers, providing selected students with the flexibility to advance knowledge development in their fields and contribute to Canada’s research landscape.

Meet IHPME’s Newest CGS-M Scholars

Sorina Andrei

Program: Health Systems Research (HSR)

Project Title: The Role of Gender Inequality in the Mental Health Outcomes of Children Whose Mothers Were Violently Injured

Sorina Andrei’s project examines the physical and mental effects of violence and gender disparities among immigrant mothers and their children. By analyzing provincial data. the study will explore if there is a disproportionate risk of mental illness among children of immigrant mothers to identify specific groups in need of enhanced support.

This award is a milestone in my academic journey, and I feel incredibly honoured for the opportunity to address critical issues impacting immigrant families in Canada. Winning this award reaffirms the importance of addressing the complex intersection between violence, gender inequality, and mental health. I hope that this work will translate to meaningful changes to policies, clinical care, and mental health support to families affected by violence.

Sara Bocchinfuso

Program: Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research (CEHCR)

Project Title: Long-Term Nutritional Surveillance After Curative-Intent Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer

Sara Bocchinfuso’s project examines the difficulties faced by gastric cancer patients (GC), particularly malnutrition, which affects up to 85% of individuals with GC, and can lead to worse health outcomes and reduced quality of life. Her research will explore nutrition among GC patients in Ontario post-gastrectomy, focusing on regional and socioeconomic disparities that affect care access. Her goal is to contribute to the development of guidelines that can improve care.

Receiving this award is an incredible honour that allows me to pursue impactful work with the goal of improving cancer care for patients across Canada. It is also a meaningful affirmation of my commitment to advancing patient-centred care through research.

Charlotte Calvez

Program: Health Systems Research (HSR)

Project Title: Identifying Barriers and Solutions to Equitable Genetic Research in Canada

Charlotte Calvez’s research examines equity in genetic research by addressing disparities that prioritize people of European backgrounds. Through interviews with researchers and past research participants who identify as racialized, her project aims to better understand systemic barriers experienced by these groups.

Receiving CGS-M is truly an honour! It means a great deal to me both personally and professionally. As a trainee, being recognized in this way not only affirms the value of the work I’m passionate about but also builds confidence and momentum in this field. I am also especially grateful that this award encourages my efforts toward advancing equity in genetics, particularly within a Canadian context. This acknowledgment fuels my dedication and highlights the significance of promoting inclusive and meaningful change.

Tarun Chhibba

Program: Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research (CEHCR)

Project Title: Age Appropriate Cancer Screening in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Access and Trends of Utilization

Tarun Chhibba’s research analyzes provincial health data to identify increases of cervical and breast cancer screening rates among women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) between 2004 and 2022. The study will compare rates to women without IBD and immigrant groups while also exploring factors such as existing health issues, living in rural areas, and primary care access.

This CGS is a very meaningful recognition of the work and mentorship that have shaped my growth as a clinician-investigator. It reinforces my commitment to improving preventative care for patients with IBD through rigorous, policy-relevant research. I am grateful for the support of my mentors, collaborators, and institution, and I see this award as both an honour and a motivation to continue contributing to impactful academic work.

Dileesha Fernando

Program: Health Systems Research (HSR)

Project Title: The Gendered Disparities in Mortality Rates Among Women Living with HIV in Ontario: A Retrospective Cohort Study (2013-2023)

Dileesha Fernando’s project explores the disparities in mortality rates among women living with HIV in Ontario. By looking at health data from ICES and the Canadian HIV Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study (CHIWOS), Fernando will compare death rates among three groups from 2013 to 2024, notably women with HIV, men with HIV, and women without HIV. She will also look at how factors such as income, geography, mental health, and substance use, contribute to these mortality rates. Fernando’s goal is to uncover inequities and help improve HIV care for women.

Receiving the CGS-M award is an incredible honour and I’d like to thank my amazing PI, Dr. Mona Loutfy who supported me in the application process. I believe with support from CIHR, it affirms the importance of research that centres the experiences of women living with HIV and the structural inequities they face. This award provides the financial support and academic recognition that enables me to dedicate time to conducting meaningful, equity-driven health systems research. It also deepens my commitment to pursuing a career in public health and health systems research that prioritizes the voices and needs of marginalized communities.

David Granton

Program: Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research (CEHCR)

Project Title: Heterogeneity of treatment effect in acute respiratory distress syndrome

David Granton’s project examines treatment variations among those with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). By using machine learning and real-world data, his research seeks to better understand how different patients with respiratory failure respond differently to the same treatment.

I am extremely honoured to have received this award. The support from this award will allow me to help develop personalized approaches to treatment in individuals with acute respiratory failure.

Brianna Greenberg

Program: Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research (CEHCR)

Project Title: Understanding quality of life after oncologic hepatectomy

Brianna Greenberg’s research examines how patients function after cancer surgery. By looking at data from a large clinical trial, she will be able to see how quality of life changes and identify factors that exist before surgery that may affect postoperative outcomes.

Receiving the CGS-M award is an incredible honour and a meaningful affirmation of my commitment to clinical research. It has given me the time and resources to engage deeply with my work and to grow as a clinician-investigator. This award not only supports the completion of my master’s thesis, but also strengthens my foundation for a future academic career focused on patient-centred outcomes in surgical oncology.

Celine Liu

Program: Health Systems Research (HSR)

Project Title: Evaluating Large Language Models for Chronic Disease Management: A Practical and Scalable Approach to Ensure Long-Term Efficacy and Feasibility

Celine Liu’s research is focused on evaluating how AI and Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, are used in healthcare settings to determine their safety. While these tools are advancing quickly, they are still prone to risks and Liu’s project is motivated by a desire to ensure efficient adoption in clinical environments and ensuring positive health outcomes for patients.

This award means a great deal to me. It not only provides a strong morale boost by affirming the timeliness and importance of my research, but also offers crucial funding that allows me to focus fully on advancing this work.

Jacob McCoy

Program: Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research (CEHCR)

Project Title: The efficacy of mometasone/formoterol combination inhaler therapy in children with asthma

Jacob McCoy’s project examines the commonality of poor symptom control and decreased quality of life among a large number of pediatric patients with asthma. His research looks at how new treatments such as combination inhalers might help with symptom control while also examining how biomarkers may help with response prediction.

It is an honour to be a recipient of the Canadian Graduate Scholarship to support my graduate training in pediatric asthma. This award affirms the importance of research in childhood asthma, and will bring me one step closer to improving patient care.

Farnaz Rafiee

Program: Health Systems Research (HSR)

Project Title: 12-year trends of adult congenital heart disease interventions in Canada and the rates of subsequent 30-day emergency department visits and readmissions

Farnaz Rafiee’s project looks at sex-based differences among adults following transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects (ASDs). By analyzing Ontario health data, researchers will be able to identify differences in long-term outcomes such as heart failure, stroke, and mortality rates, as well as short-term outcomes such as emergency room visits and hospital readmissions.

Receiving the CGS-M is both an incredible honour and a meaningful affirmation of the work I’m passionate about. As a medical doctor with a deep interest in cardiology, this award represents an important step in bridging my clinical experience with research that can truly improve patient care. This opportunity fuels my curiosity to explore gaps in the healthcare system and to advocate for more equitable, evidence-based approaches to care. I’m truly grateful for the support this scholarship provides.

Joseph Saliba

Program: Health Systems Research (HSR)

Project Title: Co-Designing Flourish: A Digital Mental Health Intervention to Support Post-Secondary Student Mental Health

Depression and anxiety are increasing among post-secondary students, affecting approximately one in three students in Canada. Joseph Saliba’s project will work with students to develop a digital tool that translates mental health check-ins into a visual summary of a student’s wellbeing. This project aims to help students understand early warning signs and take actionable steps to improve their mental health.

I am immensely honoured to receive the Canada Graduate Scholarship – Masters award, which reaffirms the critical contribution of this work. Under the mentorship of Dr. Quynh Pham, Dr. Pedro Velmovitsky, and Dr. Anne Duffy, I am leveraging user-centred design principles to empower students to actively self-manage their mental health in a clinically grounded and data-informed manner.

Rishika Sen

Program: Health Systems Research (HSR)

Project Title: Mental Health Across Immigrant Generations in Canada: The Role of Cultural Identity and Intergenerational Conflict

Rishika Sen’s research focuses on access to care among racialized mothers in Ontario. Her goal is to identify challenges that impact this access, as well as the factors that can contribute to increased access. The project aims to explore strategies to improve care delivery, promote health equity, and enhance wellbeing and quality of life.

As an immigrant and student of colour, receiving this award provides me with the freedom and stability to focus fully on my academic and research goals. It allows me to continue pursuing my education. As a research student, this award supports my work on health equity, particularly in improving access to care for marginalized communities. It allows me to dedicate time and energy to research that not only addresses population health but also uplifts the voices and experiences of those who are often overlooked in the healthcare system.

Brynne Yarranton

Program: Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research (CEHCR)

Project Title: Effect of Natural Cycle vs Ovulation Induction Endometrial Preparation Methods on Reproductive Outcomes in Patients with Endometriosis Undergoing Frozen Embryo Transfer: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Brynne Yarranton’s research is centred around patients with endometriosis who are going through in vitro fertilization (IVF). By comparing methods for preparing the uterus prior to frozen embryo transfer, notably natural cycle and ovulation induction, she will discover which leads to better pregnancy and birth rates.

I am honoured to have received the CGS-M award in support of my studies at IHPME in clinical epidemiology. The award is instrumental in allowing me to take time away from my residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology so that I can dedicate my efforts to enhancing my skills as both a clinician and a researcher. The award is also significant to me as it allows me to continue to pursue my goal of working in the field of reproductive endocrinology and infertility, by contributing to research that will have a positive impact on the lives of my patients. I am passionate about women’s health, and I am extremely grateful for the support I have received from this award and the opportunity that it presents.