THE TEAM
Dr. Sepali Guruge is a Professor at the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing. Dr. Guruge obtained her education in Sri Lanka, the former Soviet Union, and Canada. She focused her doctoral dissertation in Nursing at the University of Toronto on the influence of gender, racial, social, and economic inequalities on the production of and responses to intimate male partner violence in the post-migration context. Her post-doctoral work at the University of Western Ontario examined the effects of intimate partner violence on women's health. Both her doctoral and post-doctoral studies were supported by Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) Fellowships. Dr. Guruge's nursing experience includes practice, teaching, research...[Read More]
Sepali Guruge, RN, PhD
Current Research Staff
Kerith Paul, MA
Research Project Manager
Kerith Paul obtained her M.A. in Immigration & Settlement Studies at Ryerson in 2009 and since then has worked for the YMCA of Greater Toronto in the Ontario-wide CSS Government-Assisted Refugee Program, coordinated the Ryerson University Lifeline Syria Project (RULSC), a private refugee sponsorship project, and most recently worked for the International Department at Trent University. Kerith received the Ryerson Julia Hanigsberg Make Your Mark Staff Award in 2016 for her work with the RULSC project.
Ernest Leung, MA(s)
Research Assistant
Ernest Leung is currently an MA student in the York & Ryerson Joint Graduate Program in Communication & Culture at York University. His research interests surround comedy studies, communication and health, and Asian literature. In particular, he is interested in understanding how media affects identity formation. He completed his BA in English at the University of Toronto.
Vathsala Jayasuriya, MD, PhD
Research Assistant
Dr. Vathsala Jayasuriya is a Consultant Community Physician in Sri Lanka and a former Senior Lecturer in Community Medicine at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayawardene. Dr. Illesinghe has led/collaborated on a number of research projects focused on examining the prevalence, risk factors, and responses to inimate partner violence against women. She has received several awards/orations for her work in Sri Lanka. She served as the Chairperson of the Expert Committee on Women's Health at the Sri Lanka Medical Association, as a mentor of the South Asian Network to address Masculinities (SANAM) and has also worked with the WHO international network of Violence Against Women (VAW) researchers.
Parvathy Kanthasamy, PhD
Research Assistant
Dr. Parvathy Kathasamy has been involved in community-based research projects for over 30 years. She is an avid advocate for immigrants' and refugees' rights in Toronto. She is the Founder and current Director of Vasantham, A Tamil Wellness Centre that has been serving the Tamil community in the Greater Toronto Area for over 20 years. Dr. Kanthasamy has received numerous awards that honour her works. She obtained her PhD in Linguistics from Monash University, Australia.
Japleen Thind, BHSc(c)
Research Assistant
Japleen Thind is a fourth-year undergraduate student at McMaster University in the Bachelor of Health Sciences program. She is interested in research on human health, public health, and health policy. She has previously contributed to research projects in dermatology and is currently involved in research analyzing physical distancing policies and the epidemiology of COVID-19 in numerous jurisdictions. Japleen is passionate about South Asian history, youth mentorship, empowering marginalized communities, and other equity-centered initiatives. She aspires to pursue a career in healthcare and participate in projects related to immigrant health.
Mustapha Abdulhameed, MD, BASc(s)
Research Assistant
Mustapha Abdulhameed is an internationally trained health professional who holds a Dental Surgery degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. With three years of work experience, he has provided services to various patients with diverse oral diseases, especially underserved populations. Due to his yearning for research, he went through the bridging program for Internationally Trained Doctors at Ryerson University's Chang School of Continuing Education. His research interests surround infection prevention and control, neglected tropical diseases, and global public health. His most recent project was a publication that examined vaccine hesitancy in Canada concerning the Covid-19 disease condition. As a committed volunteer passionate about public health, and community development, he has worked on various community-based focused group discussions. One of such is his role with ICES Ontario as a Member of the Public Advisory Council. He is currently a student of the fast-track Public Health program at Ryerson University's School of Public Health.
Previous Research Staff
John Tadeo Research Assistant 2021
Roberta Litl Research Assistant 2021
Sharan Khela Research Assistant 2021
Bruce Danesh Research Volunteer 2021
Shahed Ghadban Research Volunteer 2021
Kasey Chim Research Volunteer 2021
Germayne Flores Research Volunteer 2021
Sara Sadeghi Research Assistant 2020-2021
Robert Ta Research Volunteer 2020-2021
Hasina Amanzai Research Assistant 2020-2021
Summer Weiga Chen Research Assistant 2020
Jamie Jiangrong Zhuang Research Assistant 2020
Grace Ting Research Assistant 2020
Sarah Humes Research Assistant 2020
Truong Thanh Binh Nguyen Research Volunteer 2020
Tenzin Kunsang Research Volunteer 2020
Dianne Foran Research Volunteer 2020
Christina Usanov Research Assistant 2020
Laura Collins Research Assistant 2020
Noah Wardak Research Assistant 2020
Mikael Wardak Research Assistant 2020
Simona Kolarova Research Assistant 2020
James Valenciano Research Assistant 2020
Manzu Man Ara Research Assistant 2020
Nirmalan Kaththalingam Research Assistant 2020
Seoan (Annie) Oh Research Assistant 2019-2021
Mandeep Kaur Sharma Research Assistant 2018
Martha Cedeno Research Assistant 2018
Berenice Chavez Research Assistant 2018
Selasi Dorkenoo Research Assistant 2018
Abinet Gebreegziabher Research Assistant 2018
Deon Castello Research Assistant 2018
Stephanie Pietrantonio Research Assistant 2018
Daniela Maldonado Castaneda Research Assistant 2018
Abeer Omar Research Associate 2018
Christine Soobin Lee Research Assistant 2018
Kristina Hyunjee Lee Research Assistant 2018
Haya Umar Research Assistant 2018
Shine Jiyoun Chung Project Manager 2018
Sen Wang Research Assistant 2018
Matthew Maelzer Research Assistant 2018
Thuvaraka Rajaratnam Research Assistant 2018
Mairead Cavanagh Research Assistant 2018
Souhail Boutmira Research Assistant 2017-2020
Mia Hershkowitz Research Coordinator 2017-2019
Rajini Tarcicus Research Assistant 2017
Anupam Aery Research Assistant 2017
Parthiban Vadivelu Research Assistant 2017
Cajaani Velautham Research Assistant 2017
Ssad El Hakmi Research Assistant 2017-2019
Younglee Ha Research Assistant 2017
Radamis Zaky Research Assistant 2017
Cindy Ou Research Assistant 2017-2018
Carlos Enrique Pardo Research Assistant 2017
Guanglong Pang Research Assistant 2017
Paola Ortiz Research Assistant 2017
Ivy Li Research Assistant 2017-2018
Mari Kozak Research Assistant 2017-2018
Laura Hogarth Research Assistant 2017
Dayana Gonzalez Research Assistant 2017
Hector Goldar Perrote Research Assistant 2017
Lodi Awad Research Assistant 2017
Abir Al Jamal Research Assistant 2017
Catherine Maule Research Coordinator 2017-2018
Ahmad Kanji Research Assistant 2017
Nicole Jeffery Research Assistant 2016
Micheline Jackson Research Assistant 2016
Kristian Piraino Research Assistant 2016
Udit Bhandari Research Assistant 2016
Chantel Spade Research Assistant 2015
Laura Zahreddine Research Assistant 2015
Mary Wei Research Assistant 2015
Mainka Tandon Research Assistant 2015
Patricia Julian Research Assistant 2015
Sayani Paul Research Assistant 2015
Birpreet Saini Research Assistant 2014-2015
Maria Bernard Research Assistant 2014-2015
Melanie Selvadurai Research Assistant 2014-2015
William Moo Research Assistant 2014-2015
Sadaf Grace Seifi Research Assistant 2014-2015
Arthur Ze Yu Wang Research Coordinator 2014-2018
Melissa Giacomini Research Assistant 2014-2015
Sathiya Sivahurunathan Research Assistant 2014
Chee-Mei Chan Research Assistant 2014
Alexandra Machacek Research Assistant 2014
Hissan Butt Research Assistant 2013-2014
Shamette Hepburn Research Assistant 2013-2014
Valerie Molina Research Assistant 2013
Ferzana Chaze Research Assistant 2013
Mary Susan Thompson Project Manager 2011-2014
Nigel Kingwell Research Assistant 2011-2012
Jasmine Kwong Research Assistant 2011
Frederica Gomes Research Assistant 2011
Kimberly Bryce Research Assistant 2010-2011
Chula Madamage Research Assistant 2011
HeeJin Zhou Research Assistant 2019-2021