GORDANE V. CALLOO

Gordane V. Calloo is a Second-Entry student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Global Health at York University. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Biological Anthropology from the University of Toronto. Beyond her studies, she serves as a Peer Mentor and Volunteer Leadership member of the Dufferin-Peel CDSB Black Student Alliance and APC FoodHub, where she is dedicated to community mobilization and leadership. She is an aspiring physician and public health leader with a passion for health and wellness through an interdisciplinary lens of social determinants. Gordane is a Global Health intern under the mentorship of Dr. Godfred Boateng in the Global and Environmental Health Lab. She is currently researching the compounding health effects of housing insecurity across the life course, and the effect of housing insecurity on visual impairment of slum dwellers in Malawi.

Photo credit: Studio Stefan Witte

Michael Davies-Venn is a public policy analyst and communication professional. He holds a Master in Public Policy from the Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, Germany where he trained as an analyst, and a Master in Arts from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. He graduated (Summa cum laude), with a Bachelor of Science. 

Presently, Davies-Venn focus his research on climate change impacts on human health. A transdisciplinary academic, his research at the nexus of epidemiology and political science employs diverse methodologies to study socio-political determinants of global inequities in infectious disease mitigation and transnational environmental governance on human health. He has researched global environmental governance frameworks, regional and national policies for global sustainability and climate change mitigation and adapation. 

Davies-Venn is recipient of numerous awards from academic institutions in North America and Europe. He was recently named Junior Fellow in Ethics of the Anthropocene at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands. His research and commentary analysis are widely published including by academic publishers,  International Politics Today Journal, and German political foundations such as in Energy Transitions by the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung: European Union and Climate Strategies.

He was previously adjunct communication professor in the US and served as media consultant with the United Nations. Davies-Venn was formerly director of communication with a Canadian political party, and has advised politicians, UN diplomats, and policymakers. He is a cosmopolitan, having lived and worked in several countries across continents. He presently lives in Berlin, Germany. 

Michael Davies-Venn

PhD student, York University

TRICIA TETTEH

Tricia Tetteh is a second year student, currently pursuing a Specialized Honours Bachelor of Science in Global Health with a specialization in Global E-health at York University. She is a global health intern at the Global and Environmental Health Research Laboratory. Tricia is currently working on the Retooling Black Anxiety Project focusing on examining anxiety in Black families with children who are in the criminal justice, child welfare systems in Ontario and police encounters. Embarking on this project stems from an interest in helping vulnerable individuals who find themselves in encounters with the police, which informed the Walk to Freedom Project (WatFI) in Ghana. Tricia raised funds to pay the fines of 6 petty offenders from prison and help them with their rehabilitation. 

Alexandra Amaya is a graduate student pursuing a Master's in Health Administration with concentration in Health Management and Policy at the University of Miami. In 2019, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Florida State University. With extensive experience in clinical research, Alexandra has worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at the University of Miami, where she managed lab activities, conducted phlebotomy, oversaw project management, performed data analysis, and administered protocol implementation. She has also published several papers and presented at conferences, showcasing her expertise in healthcare.

Currently, she is a research assistant at the Herbert School of Business, collaborating with company officials on case study projects for an outpatient rehabilitation marketplace. Additionally, in the Summer of 2024, Alexandra will travel to Colombia to work with Dr. Diego Lucumi at Universidad de Los Andes on the Household Energy Insecurity and Health Assessment (HEINS) project.

Alexandra Amaya

University of Miami

Quratulain Alvi is a fourth-year student pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science. Alongside her studies, she is a dedicated Medical Laboratory Technician at Medcan, and a Research Assistant in the Department of Neuroscience at YorkU. Additionally, she is an active member of Women in White Coats at York University, where she passionately advocates for women in STEM. Through this organization, she works to address the significant challenges and discrimination women face in STEM-related fields, striving to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for future generations of female scientists.

Currently, Quratulain is a Global Health intern under the mentorship of Professor Godfred Boateng in the Global and Environmental Health Lab, where she researches the impact of housing insecurity on health outcomes across the life course.

QURATULAIN ALVI

YASMIN HUSEN

Yasmin is a dedicated advocate for global health equity and environmental justice, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Global Health from York University (specializing in health policy, management, and systems). Passionate about addressing environmental health issues and mitigating the effects of climate change, she seeks to inform health-related policies with a sustainable and equitable approach, incorporating a One Health perspective. With diverse experiences as a Peer Researcher with the Peel Food Action Council and an Intern with management4health, Yasmin is committed to amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and working towards a future where health disparities are comprehensively addressed, leaving no one behind.

Dr. Odame has more than 15 years of experience in health policy, with 10 years of experience at the strategic level at the National Level in Ghana. He led health sector negotiations on the SDGs and was a member of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) 2030 Steering Committee based in Geneva, Switzerland from 2018-2022. Dr. Odame was the Director of the Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PPME) Directorate of the Ministry of Health (MoH), Ghana between 2016 and 2022. He has taught health policy and health systems courses at the School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives, and provided teaching support at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and recently the Community Health Department of the University of Ghana Medical School.

Emmanuel Ankrah Odame

Lecturer, University of Ghana Medical School

Darashagam Nahal graduated with an Honors Bachelor of Science in Public Health and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Texas at Arlington in May 2024. She is currently a student in the Master of Public Health program at UNTHSC. She has three years of experience as a research assistant and has done research on food insecurity across the life course, energy insecurity in the Republic of Colombia, water insecurity, food waste in Texas, the impact of neighborhood environment features on cognitive health, and more. Darashagam was also the recipient of the Student Scientific Presentation Award at APHA’s 2023 Annual Meeting and Expo.

Karin Watcher

Associate Professor of Social Work, Arizona State University 

Areas of expertise: health systems, health policy design and implementation, community health systems, social determinants of health, donor partnerships

Kimer Bassi is a third-year student working towards an Honours Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience, with a focus on cognitive and behavioural neuroscience. Kimer is a Global Health intern under the guidance of Professor Godfred Boateng in the Global and Environmental Health Lab. Kimer's research involves studying the impact of temperature and precipitation changes on the quality of life for older adults in Mexico.

KIMER BASSI

JANICE EMMANUEL

Janice is currently pursuing a Honours B.Sc. in Computer Science at York University. She is passionate about leveraging technology to address real-world health challenges. She previously graduated with a B.H.S. in Health Studies from York, demonstrating her diverse academic interests and enthusiasm for exploring the various dimensions of global health. Janice is a research assistant with the Global and Environmental Health Lab. She worked under the supervision of Dr. Godfred Boateng to conduct a comprehensive examination of the effects of temperature on health outcomes across the life course.

Minakshi Das

Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health, Global Health, York University
Centre for Refugee Studies (affiliated-From 2013)

Areas of expertise: Reproductive health, health systems and community health governance, refugee health, integration and governance, food and water security, community based participatory research and capacity building, experiential learning, disaster management, human rights, conflict resolution and peace building and humanitarian aid

Experienced educator and community development researcher with 15 years of professional experience in the realm of Social/Public Policy with the right blend of research, training, and program management. Dr. Das has a Post-Doctoral degree in Political Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science, UK. She has gathered teaching, research and mentoring experience in healthcare management, experiential learning, disaster management and conflict resolution and peace building Her expertise in maternal and child health well-being expanded her research horizon into HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, covid-19, breast cancer , oncology nursing, refugees' access to health care, gender equity and environmental health governance.

She has been working ardently for Afghan refugee integration and their mental health and well-being in India, UK and Canada having working associations with UNHCR, UNFPA, UNICEF and DFID. As an ardent advocate of human rights in practice, she has extensive global fieldwork experience with disadvantaged regions and vulnerable communities. Currently, she has been working on environmental health and community resiliency in India. She possess publications in national and international peer-reviewed journals.

Dr. Das is a co-investigator on the Resource Insecurity and Sustainable Livelihoods in Humanitarian Contexts project, being implemented in New Delhi, India.

Lauren J. Wallace

Senior Researcher, Dodowa Health Research Centre

Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service

Dr. Lauren J. Wallace is a medical anthropologist and a public health researcher. Her research has focused primarily on health systems and policy in West Africa, where she has studied family planning, adolescent wellbeing, priority setting for maternal and reproductive health, mental health, community-based primary health care, and urban health, using participatory action research, ethnography, and implementation science. She is currently a Senior Researcher at the Dodowa Health Research Centre (Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service), a Researcher in the Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management at the School of Public Health at the University of Ghana and a consultant with Communitology. Dr. Wallace has been a Principal Investigator, Country Principal Investigator or Co- Investigator on research programmes funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). She was formerly a CIHR Vanier Scholar. 

Dr. Wallace holds a PhD in Anthropology of Health from McMaster University (2012- 2017) and a B.A.S. in Arts and Sciences with minors in Anthropology and Biology from the University of Guelph (2007-2011). She completed post-doctoral training (2017-2019) in the Department of Health, Aging and Society at McMaster University and in the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences at the School of Public Health, University of Ghana. 

Areas of expertise: Maternal and reproductive health, adolescent sexual reproductive health, implementation science, ethnography, medical anthropology

As a top-tier research group, we are committed to developing cross-culturally validated resource insecurity tools including housing, food, energy, and water insecurity scales that can be used in most low and middle-income countries.

Using a socio-ecological model, we are poised in examining how changes in the physical and social environment manifest at the individual, household, community, and institutional levels; and how responses to these changes vary across time, regions, and ecological zones.

Our team looks forward to a clear future free of health inequity and we are committing our tools, talents, and team to this essential human pursuit.

Ken Williams

PhD student, Social Work, York University

Ken Williams has over a decade of experience working with young people and adults in conflict
with the law and at various stages of their psychosocial development, including incarcerated men. Ken has multiple roles; he is the co-founder of HeARTBase, which offers programs utilizing the arts, music, and culture as a method of liberation and critical healing for black youth. He is a Coordinator and Student Case Manager at Toronto Metropolitan University, formerly Ryerson University, a Research Assistant for Making the Shift, a Youth Homelessness Social Innovation Lab, and a teaching assistant at York University, where he is also pursuing a Social Work Ph.D. His research focuses on critically examining the politics of "wellbeing" to understand how systemic structures such as contemporary neoliberal capitalism impact Black youth's ability to flourish.

Mirianna is currently completing a BA in Global Health at York University. Before studying at York, she graduated with a Bachelor of Humanities with a minor in Biology from Carleton University. As a research assistant with the Global and Environmental Health Lab at the Dahdaleh Institute, Mirianna will be working with Prof. Godfred Boateng to complete a project on housing insecurity and intestinal health outcomes in Kenya. Mirianna is also the 2023 recipient of the Canadian Institute of Health Research Undergraduate Student Research Award, which will support her research at the Global and Environmental Health Lab.

MIRIANNA GEORGES

Salwa is currently pursuing an Honours BA in Global Health, with a specialization in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Salwa is working at the Global and Environmental Health Lab at the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research with Dr. Boateng and community partners. Her work consists of qualitative research and project coordination on a pilot action study in Ontario, Canada that examines the relationship of Black families' involvement with containment facilities (criminal justice and child welfare systems) and the impact this has on mental health outcomes. 

Igor is pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Global Health. 

She is a global health intern working with Dr. Godfred Boateng at the Global and Environmental Health Research Laboratory to analyze the impacts of resource scarcity such as food and water on the health of people as well as other socio-ecological factors that influence health outcomes, particularly in vulnerable populations. Vulnerable populations such as women and children have been shown to experience social, environmental, and economic barriers that predispose them to poor health. She is reviewing existing scientific literature as it pertains to the research topic and demographic.

Richard is currently pursuing an Honours BSc in Global Health with a specialization in Health Promotion & Disease Prevention at York University. Prior to that, he graduated with a BSc in Honours Science, with minors in Biology, Chemistry, and Medical Physiology from the University of Waterloo. His interest in research stems from previous experiences working as a Research Assistant with the Department of Emergency Medicine at St. Michael's Hospital.

As a research assistant with the Global & Environmental Health Lab at the Dahdaleh Institute, he will be working with Dr. Godfred Boateng to examine the effects of energy and housing insecurity on psychosocial health outcomes for those living in informal settlements in Ghana.

Kelly Kuang is a third-year global health student specializing in health promotion and disease prevention. She is currently a global health intern working under the supervision of Dr. Godfred Boateng in the Global & Environmental Health Lab at the Dahdaleh Institute. She examined the effects of housing insecurity on sleep deprivation among those living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya.

Deborah Agyapong

University of Ghana

Charity Oga-Omenka

Assistant Professor

University of Waterloo

Dr. Dusing is a Research Associate under the supervision of Prof. Godfred Boateng at York University. He holds a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Tennessee. His work spans various interdisciplinary areas, and includes disparities in substance-use and suicidality among various populations. Dr. Dusing's research utilizes linked longitudinal health administrative data and employs techniques such as survival analysis and difference-in-differences to examine complex social and health issues. His publications in journals such as, Psychological Medicine, Social Science & Medicine, PLoS One, and the American Journal of Psychiatry, highlight his expertise in addressing critical topics such as mental health, population health, and the social determinants of health. 

His work with Prof. Boateng will focus on Environmental Degradation, Climate Change and Health Impacts among Older Adults. 

ANN KWARTENG

Ann Kwarteng is a third year student at York University, pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Science in Global Health, with a specialization in Health Policy, Management and Systems. 

She is a global health intern who is working with Dr. Godfred Boateng at the Global and Environmental Health Research Laboratory. Ann will be working on the Retooling Black Anxiety Project which focuses on examining anxiety in Black families with children who are in the criminal justice and child welfare systems in Ontario. 

Areas of expertise: Social determinants of health, Global Health, qualitative and mixed research methods, access to healthcare, patient care-seeking journeys.

Dr. Charity Oga-Omenka is an Assistant Professor in the School of Public Health Sciences. Her research interests focus on global public health, healthcare access and services research - particularly related to infectious diseases like tuberculosis, HIV and COVID-19, and the intersections between health inequities and the social determinants of health – using mixed methods research. She is invested in research that focuses on transformative conceptual frameworks and methods to address the inequalities and underutilization of evidence-based approaches in global public health - particularly in resource-limited settings or with marginalized groups.

Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health

University of Ghana

rquansah@ug.edu.gh yaw121@yahoo.co.uk

HAFSA UGAS

Hafsa is pursuing a Honours BSc in Global Health, with hopes to specialize in global health policy, management and systems. She is currently working as a research assistant in the Global and Environmental Health Lab under the supervision of Prof. Godfred Boateng. She will be exploring the relationship between housing insecurity and lower tract respiratory illness in informal settings among people living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya.

Deborah studied Geography Major with Sociology Minor for her Bachelor’s degree, and Geographic Information Systems for her Master’s degree, both from the University of Ghana. She brings an exceptional blend of expertise in spatial mapping, geographic system analysis, machine learning and analytical modelling and environmental research with a focus on global health applications. Under the supervision of Prof. Godfred Boateng, her research paper focuses on the effects of changes in ambient temperature on the health and well-being of older adults, with a specific focus on the populations in Ghana and Mexico.

Elsa is pursuing an Honours BA in Global Health with a specialization in Global Health Policy, Management and Systems. She is a research assistant in the Global and Environmental Health Lab working with Prof. Godfred Boateng, where she is exploring the relationship between water insecurity and intestinal diseases in Malawi's informal settlements. Elsa is also currently working as a health promotion coordinator for Hemoglobal York University, and supporting the organization and preparation of the first 2023 WHO World Health Assembly Simulation Conference.

Dr. Reginald Quansah

Senior Lecturer

University of Ghana                                                                            

GEORGINA BIRAGO ODOOM OWUSU

Georgina Birago Odoom Owusu is currently a fourth-year student studying a Bachelor of Arts in Global Health with Specialized Honours in Global Health Policy, Management, and Systems. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University for Development Studies in Ghana. She has 4 years of working experience as a Registered Nurse within cardio-renal, dermatological, surgical, and palliative units in Ghanaian hospitals. 

She was a Research Assistant to Dr. Godfred Boateng in the Global and Environmental Health Research Lab at the Dahdaleh Institute from September 2022 to August 2024. Her research work at GEHLab was to identify the health impacts and treatment outcomes of housing insecurity among people living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya. 

After her current study, Georgina is looking forward to embracing the work of a Health Policy Analyst and System Researcher by contributing to established global health systems and policies devoid of inequities, and rightfully delivered to target populations.

Eyram Adzo Agbe is a PhD student at Carleton University. Her final masters research paper focuses on the relationship between techno-politics of education reform and the psychosocial impact of Covid-19 on teachers in urban Ghana. This stems from an interest in understanding the contentions and nuances of new technologies to better mediate social vulnerabilities, and leverage expertise during disasters. Eyram will be supporting the implementation of the Retooling Black Anxiety project.

Graduate Research Assistant, 

GEHLab, York University

Eyram Adzo Agbe

PhD student, Carleton University

EDUCATION

UT Arlington | Department of Kinesiology |  Global and Environmental Health Lab

Bachelor of Science in Public Health

RESEARCH: 

Have conducted research on the determinants of low birthweight in Ghana and the relationship between antenatal care and intimate partner violence in Nigeria

Jasmine's Profile: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasmine-rodriguez/

PRINCIPAL RESEARCHER

Dr. GODFRED O. BOATENG

KELLY DURON

JASMINE RODRIGUEZ

Ellis Adjei Adams

Assosciate Professor of Geography and Environmental Policy, University of Notre Dame

Areas of expertise: Environmental policy; water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); water policy and governance; gender, water, and development; cities; political ecology; sub-Saharan Africa

Ellis Adjei Adams is an associate professor of geography and environmental policy in the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame. He is affiliated with Notre Dame’s Environmental Change Initiative and the Eck Institute for Global Health.

Roseanne Schuster

Assistant Research Scientist                                                                                          Arizona State University, School of Human Evolution and Social Change

Areas of expertise: Monitoring, evaluation, and learning; nutrition, food, and water security; health systems and community health workers; maternal and child health; refugee health; community-based participatory research

EDUCATION

UT Arlington | Department of Kinesiology |  Global and Environmental Health Lab

Bachelor of Applied Science – BASc, Public Health

Kelly's Profile: 

linkedin.com/in/kelly-duron-035585173

Dr. Sylvia Esther Gyan

Senior Lecturer in Sociology

Areas of expertise: Adolescent sexual and reproductive health, family demography, and gender and work. 

Sylvia’s research over the years has focused on vulnerable populations, particularly women and adolescent girls in Ghana. In her research, she identifies how adolescents and women in vulnerable situations develop resilience. 

Sylvia has been involved in interdisciplinary research using quantitative and quantitative approach to conduct research. She also has years of experience of teaching, supervising and mentoring tertiary students at both undergraduate and graduate levels. She held a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of South Florida, Tampa in 2018, and was an Affiliate Assistant Professor with the College of Public Health until November 2023.

Areas of expertise: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), Suicide research and prevention, Adolescent health risk behaviors, Adolescent mental health, Social determinants of health, At-risk and vulnerable populations, Big data, and International social work research.

Dr. Baiden became an associate professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington in September 2023, where he continues to teach and conduct research. As a committed collaborator, Dr. Baiden has strong skills in working with large secondary datasets, designing and conducting rigorous intervention research, and evaluating the impact of social intervention programs that seeks to enhance the well-being of children and adolescents.  This is best demonstrated by his research awards and publication record. Dr. Baiden has authored and co-authored several peer-reviewed publications appearing in high-ranking academic journals and has presented his work at several national and international academic conferences. Some of his work has been featured in major news outlets in Canada, including La Presse, U of T News, The Varsity; and in the US including, EurekAlert!, Medical News Today, Science Daily, HealthDay, PsychCentral, University Herald, and Gazette Review.

Safiyyah Ameer is a second-year student pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Science in Global Health, specializing in disease prevention and health promotion. She is a global health intern working with Professor Godfred Boateng in the Global and Environmental Health Lab. She will be analyzing the exposure to particulate matter, and its effect on hypertension in the elderly population in Ghana.

Dr. Patrick M. Owuor

Assistant Professor, Anthropology & Public Health

Wayne State University

Areas of expertise: Monitoring, evaluation, and learning; nutrition, food, and water security; health systems and community health workers; maternal and child health; refugee health; community-based participatory research

Dr. Balogun is a Public Health physician with focus on Reproductive Health and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases. Over the years, she has gathered significant teaching, research and mentoring experience. She has carried out previous research work on HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, human papillomavirus/cervical cancer and the application of mobile health to address health challenges of mothers and children. 

Currently, she is the site Principal Investigator in Lagos, Nigeria for an on-going global research, involving 20+ countries, to develop and validate a novel tool for the assessment of household-level water insecurity; a project in collaboration with researchers in Northwestern University, Illinois, USA and funded by the Leverhulme Foundation Innovative Methods and Metrics for Agriculture and Nutrition Actions (IMMANA) 2.02 Grant. She has won and managed 2 research grants and has 40 publications in national and international peer-reviewed journals.

Philip Baiden

Associate Professor of Social Work                                                                                      School of Social Work, University of Texas, Arlington

Areas of expertise: research focuses on the Social inequalities in health, Cardiovascular health and disease, Health behaviors, Public Health Surveillance, and Local public health management.

Doctor from El Bosque University, Master in Public Health from Universidad del Valle and Doctor in Health Behaviors and Health Education from the University of Michigan. Currently, professor at the School of Government, coordinator of the Master's in Public Health, and the Director for Research and Consulting.

Dr. Mobolanle Balogun

College of Medicine                                                                                                  University of Lagos | Unilag

Areas of expertise: research focuses on the intersection of forced migration, violence against women, and social support.  Drawing from qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods, feminist and postcolonial theories, and a practice-orientated perspective

Karin Wachter's goal is to generate applied research for local, national, and international practitioners and policymakers to alleviate the psychosocial consequences of forced migration and violence against women. Dr. Wachter worked for 10 years as a humanitarian aid worker focused on violence against women and girls in war and displacement, primarily in African contexts. Since returning to academia, she has worked with U.S.-based refugee resettlement agencies as an evaluator and researcher. Dr. Wachter served as a Peace Corps Volunteer and Trainer in Mauritania in the late 1990s.

EDUCATION

Department of Anthropology & Global Health, Northwestern University

RESEARCH AREAS: 

Water security, Infrastructure development, Maternal & child health

Dr. Patrick Owuor is currently researching the impact of development induced displacement on the biological, psychosocial, and physical health effects on households in Kenya. 

Diego Iván Lucumí Cuesta

Associate Professor

Director of Research and Consulting                        School of Government, Los Andes University

Areas of expertise: Economic Growth and Development, History and Economic Development in Africa, Macroeconomics, Human Capital and Technology Adoption, Macroeconomics, Labour Economics.

O304 Hesburgh Center for International Studies

University of Notre Dame
eadams7@nd.edu

Dozie Okoye

Associate Professor of Economics                                                                                          Dalhousie University