About Me
I am a PhD Candidate and CIHR Canada Graduate Scholar at the University of Calgary specializing in Epidemiology. I am interested in using diverse datasets to study the interrelationships between reproductive factors and women's health across the lifespan. My diverse research projects focus on the intersection of obstetrics, gynecology, chronic disease, and disability, and cover a range of time periods from mothers giving birth to women in their midlife and older years. Topics I have studied to date include medically complex pregnancy, breastfeeding and infant feeding practices, and female pelvic health.
I strive to build a research program that keeps women top of mind. What information do women need to best care for themselves and their families? How can we design studies that adequately capture the breadth of biological, social, and environmental factors that influence health in women? These are just some of the questions that I use to guide my research.
I am currently based in Calgary, Alberta, and my affiliations include the University of Calgary, the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, The All Our Families Study, and the Calgary Women's Pelvic Health Research Group.
Education
PhD Candidate, Epidemiology
2017—Present, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Dissertation Title: Breastfeeding intentions, outcomes, and perceptions of support in women with pre-existing conditions: the Motherhood and Chronic Illness (MaCI) mixed methods cohort study
Supervisors: Dr. Katie Chaput, Dr. Suzanne Tough
Advisory Committee: Dr. Amy Metcalfe, Dr. Alberto Nettel-Aguirre
Funding: Canadian Institutes of Health Research Doctoral Award (2019-2022), University of Calgary Achievers in Medical Science Doctoral Scholarship (2018-2022), Alberta Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) Graduate Studentship (2018)
MSc, Health Promotion
2015—2017, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
Thesis Title: Breastfeeding resources for mothers of preterm infants in Canadian neonatal intensive care units: An environmental scan
Supervisor: Dr. Shauna Burke
Advisory Committee: Dr. Michelle Mottola, Dr. Marilyn Evans
Funding: Ontario Graduate Scholarship (2016-2017), Canadian Institutes of Health Research Master's Award (2015-2016)
BHSc, Health Studies
2012—2015, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
Independent Study Title: Parents’ experiences and perceptions when classifying their children with cerebral palsy: Recommendations for service providers
Supervisor: Dr. Doreen Bartlett
Advisory Committee: Dr. Laura Brunton, Dr. Robert Palisano
Funding: AER Award in Health Studies (2014), LIUNA Local 837 Scholarship (2014), Western University Scholarship of Excellence (2011)
Last updated: September 2021