Faculty of Health | Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS)

CIHR supports 91��ɫ research to improve 2SLGBTQIA+ health equity

qings — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 16:57:56 +0000

A 91��ɫ-led research team has received $700,000 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to examine health care access and long-term health outcomes among 2SLGBTQIA+ populations in Canada. The study is led by Antony Chum, associate professor in 91��ɫ's Faculty of Health, with co-principal applicant Yihong Bai (University of Manitoba) and co-principal knowledge user Jennifer Rayner (Alliance for Healthier Communities). The team also includes co-investigators from 91��ɫ and partner institutions, including 91��ɫ graduate Alex Abramovich and 91��ɫ postdoctoral research fellow Peiya Cao, as well as Brittany A. Jakubiec, Caley B. Shukalek, David Brennan, Devan Nambiar and June Lam.

Take root and flourish

qings — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 14:09:27 +0000

A 91��ɫ alumna, professor and donor reflects on a life of connection and purpose. Many years ago, I attended a workshop on developing a personal mission statement. We were encouraged to craft a phrase—succinct, memorable, and aspirational—that would guide both our professional and personal lives. Mine has served me well ever since: “To contribute positively to every relationship, environment, and system in my life.” Over more than four decades, my connection with 91��ɫ—in several different roles—has been central to my efforts to live out this mission.

91��ɫ scholar honoured for equitable education

qings — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 13:55:21 +0000

Throughout his academic journey, Wahid Khan, 91��ɫ course director and PhD student has worked to ensure students from diverse backgrounds see themselves reflected in physical and health education. His commitment to equitable and culturally responsive teaching and learning – a defining focus of his work as course director and instructor at the Faculty of Education – has earned him national honour as a recipient of the 2026 PHE Canada Impact Award. "It's deeply humbling," says Khan, who is pursuing a PhD at the Faculty of Health. "I see this award as a recognition of the students, families, teacher candidates and communities who have shaped my thinking, and as an affirmation that equity and diversity belong at the centre of physical and health education, not at its margins."

Empathy, immersive technology drives 91��ɫ professor's approach to dementia care

qings — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:34:06 +0000

Eva Peisachovich, associate professor and graduate program director in the Faculty of Health’s School of Nursing, is leading a team of researchers that are using augmented reality (AR) to reimagine how health care providers learn to care for people living with dementia. After two decades as a registered nurse in geriatrics, medical-surgical nursing and high-acuity care, one factor has stood out as essential for patient outcomes. "I recognized the critical role of empathy in effective clinical practice," she says. "I also recognized it as a clinical skill that can be taught, practised and strengthened." Research, Peisachovich says, has shown that when patients feel understood by their health care providers (HCPs), they are more likely to communicate openly, adhere to treatment plans and report improvements in their overall well-being. Support from caregivers with higher understanding and higher empathy scores has also been shown to lower complication rates, hospital readmissions and pain perception.

91��ɫ welcomes eight new members to its Board of Governors

qings — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:22:07 +0000

91��ɫ welcomed eight new members to its Board of Governors over the spring and summer, strengthening the Board’s role in guiding 91��ɫ’s continued growth and development. The new members bring diverse expertise spanning business, technology, law, health and student leadership. “91��ɫ is fortunate to welcome such a talented and diverse group of leaders to the Board of Governors,” says Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Lisa Philipps. “I am grateful to each of them for their willingness to serve and for their commitment to supporting 91��ɫ’s mission and community.” Together, the new members bring a breadth of knowledge, experience and perspectives that will support the Board of Governors in its oversight of the University and its ongoing commitment to advancing 91��ɫ’s priorities.

Standing up may affect how well we think: 91��ɫ study

qings — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 13:26:23 +0000

Most people have felt dizzy after standing up too quickly. But what if that same change in posture could also affect how well someone thinks, remembers information or makes decisions? A new study by Faculty of Health doctoral student Olivia Ramraj looks for the answer. For Ramraj, the path to exploring that question began during her master's research, which considered the relationship between vascular function and cognition in people with Type 2 diabetes. As she and her supervisor, Heather Edgell, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology & Health Science, began planning her PhD projects, they wanted to understand how cardiac output and blood flow to the brain might contribute to cognitive function in this population.

91��ɫ-led project tackles participation barriers in rugby

qings — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:49:35 +0000

Tackling can be one of the biggest barriers facing people interested in trying rugby or returning to the sport. Samantha Burelle, a 91��ɫ PhD candidate, and Karl Erickson, an associate professor in the Faculty of Health, are partnering with Peterborough Rugby Club to change that. Across Canada, rugby is becoming more popular, says Erickson. Historically, many people first encountered rugby in high school. Today, however, thriving youth programs introduce children to the sport much earlier, often beginning with non-contact versions of the game before progressing to contact rugby around age 12.

91��ɫ research rethinks autism in the workplace

qings — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:39:34 +0000

Employees with autism may bring valuable perspectives to the workplace, but whether those capabilities are recognized can depend on the systems and environments around them, according to research by 91��ɫ-affiliated father-and-son collaborators Lorne Hartman and Braxton Hartman. “They need to think about whether their existing systems help or get in the way,” adds Braxton, who completed his master's in psychology at 91��ɫ in 2025. Braxton now works with The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health to develop and implement training for young adults with autism.

Award supports PhD student's autism health care research

qings — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:11:02 +0000

A 91��ɫ doctoral scholar is receiving provincial recognition for research that could help strengthen mental health services for adults with autism. Emma Resendes, who begins her PhD this fall studying psychology in the Faculty of Graduate Studies, has earned a 2026-27 Autism Scholars Award for her research that evaluates a virtual education program designed to improve how health care and social service providers support mental health needs for people with autism. The Autism Scholars Awards Program recognizes leading-edge autism research intended to advance knowledge and improve services and is supported by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

Global inequities limit access to cardiac rehabilitation, says 91��ɫ study

qings — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 13:03:07 +0000

Many patients who could benefit from cardiac rehabilitation never receive it, according to a global study led by Rachael Carson, a PhD candidate in 91��ɫ's Faculty of Health. As cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of illness and death worldwide, cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs have been shown to reduce mortality, lower hospital readmissions and improve quality of life. Despite its proven value, significant gaps remain in who is referred to cardiac rehabilitation and who ultimately participates, particularly in parts of the world where cardiovascular disease places a disproportionate burden on health systems and patients.