Students and Trainees
The MEDICI Centre is excited to share the stories of our previous trainees and students, including their continued education endeavours, career pathways and roads to innovation. Many of MEDICI's previous students and trainees continue to collaborate closely with the MEDICI team.
Eunice Chan, BSc, MSc, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, MEDICI, 2020-2021. Project: "Excess Mortality and Years of Life Lost due to Direct and Indirect Causes during the COVID-19 Pandemic." Eunice completed her PhD in Applied Mathematics at Western University in 2019, where she specialized in numerical linear algebra, primarily in Bohemian Matrices. She worked with MEDICI as a post-doctoral fellow, where her primary research interests included using biostatistics, machine learning techniques, and data visualization tools in evidence-based decision making within global surgery. Eunice is now Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK(SZ)).
Irene J.H. Jeong, HBSc, MSc
MSc student, Epidemiology, 2019-2021. Thesis: "Quantifying timely access to surgery: A global modelling study." Irene completed her Honours Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Animal Physiology at the University of Toronto. Irene's research interests lie in synthesizing evidence to influence clinical and public health decision-making with a focus on achieving equity in health for women in resource-poor settings. Her research aims to quantify the unmet need for timely access to surgery and anaesthesia care around the world. She is currently developing a global geospatial mapping of each country’s population with geographic access (within 2 hours) to health facilities able to provide the Bellwether procedures (caesarean section, laparotomy, and treatment of open fracture). In 2021, Irene successfully defended her MSc thesis under the supervision of Dr. Janet Martin at the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics at Western University. Irene's current role is working with ICES Central.
Anne Zhao, BSc, MSc
MSc student, Epidemiology, 2019-2021. Thesis: "Increasing access to essential surgery in resource restricted settings: an economic analysis." Anne graduated from the University of Ottawa with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science in 2019. Anne’s research focuses on knowledge synthesis and cost-effectiveness analysis to impact health policy and reduce inequity in maternal healthcare in developing countries. Her current research aims to systematically review and analyze the cost-utility of undergoing a Bellwether procedure (caesarean section, laparotomy, and treatment of open fracture) in low-middle income countries. She is currently developing a model to assess the cost-effectiveness of increasing access to caesarean sections for treatment of obstructed labour in the South African Development Community (SADC) Region. In 2021, Anne successfully defended her MSc thesis under the co-supervision of Dr. Janet Martin and Dr. Shehzad Ali, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Western University. Anne is currently a Health Economics Research Officer at the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health.
Areej Hezam, HBSc, MSc
MSc student, Epidemiology, 2018-2020. Thesis: "Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Associated With Caesarean Section" (2020). Areej graduated with her Honours Bachelor of Science (HBSc) in biochemistry from the University of Toronto. Her research interests include global health, maternal and perinatal health, and systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Her research focuses on assessment of the risk of perioperative maternal and neonatal mortality during or following caesarean section and the distribution of reported causes of caesarean-related deaths over time and by country human development index (HDI) status. In 2020, Areej successfully defended her MSc Thesis under the supervision of Dr. Janet Martin at the Department of Anesthesiology and Biostatistics at Western University. Areej is currently a Research Coordinator with the Knowledge Translation Program at St. Michael's Hospital.
Claudia Li, MPH, PhD
MSc student, Epidemiology, 2016-2020. Thesis: Frailty, clinical outcomes, and cost in patients undergoing trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)." Prior to her doctoral program, Claudia earned a Master of Public Health degree in Schulich Interfaculty Program in Public Health, Western University. She is currently working at University of Ottawa Heart Institute as a postdoctoral fellow. Claudia's research interests are evidence synthesis, health technology assessment and prediction modelling. In 2020 Claudia successfully defended her doctoral thesis in the program of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, supervised by Dr. John-Baptiste and Dr. Davy Cheng. Dr. Janet Martin served as a thesis committee member.
Rohin Krishnan, BSc, MSc
Rohin Krishnan is currently a medical student in the University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine, graduating in 2022 and entering the field of emergency medicine. Prior to medical school, Rohin also completed his master’s degree in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Western University. It was during this time Rohin became actively involved with MEDICI under the mentorship of Dr. Janet Martin. The time spent with MEDICI have been extremely rewarding for Rohin as it solidified his passion for evidence based medicine as well as his desire to become a clinician-researcher. Rohin has published in various clinical disciplines and hopes to continue his active collaboration with MEDICI in order to deliver meaningful research for the betterment of patient care.
Karla Solo, MSc
MSc student, Epidemiology, 2016-2018. Thesis: "Antithrombotic Therapy in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis" (2017). Karla Solo is a Research Coordinator at Michael G DeGroote Cochrane Canada and McMaster GRADE Centre in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University. Her primary research interests focus on systematic review, meta-analysis, and clinical practice guidelines. She has a particular interest in data linkage that facilitates automation of research processes for generating high-quality evidence.
Riaz Qureshi, MSc, PhD
MSc student, Epidemiology, 2015-2017. Thesis: "Evidence Reversal: An exploratory analysis of randomized controlled trials from the New England Journal of Medicine" (2017). After completing his MSc at Western University, Riaz completed his PhD in Epidemiology at Johns Hopkin Bloomberg School of Public Health, specializing in clinical trials and evidence synthesis methods. His dissertation was on how harms (i.e., adverse events) are synthesized in systematic reviews and meta-analyses and how harms collected in trials can be better presented/communicated using data visualization approaches. Riaz is now an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
Desiree Sutton, MSc
MSc student, Epidemiology, 2013-2015. Thesis: “Evidence Reversal: When New Evidence Contradicts Established Practices" (2015). Desiree is a Health Data Analyst for the Region of Waterloo. She has an MSc in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Western Specializing in Evidence Reversal, Critical Appraisal, and Systematic Reviews & Rapid Reviews.
Full List of MEDICI Students & Trainees
Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Western University- Kevin McIntyre, PhD Graduate Student, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, 2020-2023.
- Claudia Zhe Li, PhD Graduate Student, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, 2016-2020.
- Andrea Matauruga, MSc Student, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, 09/2019 – 2021.
Thesis: Evidence Reversals in Surgery & Anesthesia. - Anne Zhao, MSc Student, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, 09/2019 – 2021.
Thesis: Assessing Value of Interventions to Reduce Surgical Mortality in LMICs. - Irene Jeong, MSc Student, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, 09/2019 – 2021.
Thesis: Cesearean Section and Prioritizing Cost-Effective Interventions. - Abolhasani Ehsan, MD, MSc Student, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, 06/2018 – 2020. Thesis: Perioperative Stroke and Dementia.
- Kevin McIntyre, PhD Student, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, 06/2018 – 2020.
Thesis: Trends in Perioperative Mortality and Cause of Death. - Areej Hezam, MSc Student, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, 06/2018 – 2020.
Thesis: Cesearean Section Mortality and Cause of Death. - Alex Bi, MSc Student, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, 06/2018 – 2020.
Thesis: “Survival Analysis” of Clinical Trials at Western University. - Karla Solo, MSc Student, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, 05/2016 - 2018.
Thesis: Which Anticoagulation for TAVI? A Network Meta-Analysis. Joint Supervision with Rodrigo Bagur. - Riaz Qureshi, MSc Student, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, 09/2015 - 06/2017.
Thesis: Evidence Reversals-Tools for Detection and Prediction. - Desiree Sutton, MSc Student, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, 09/2013 - 09/2015.
Thesis: “Evidence Reversal: When New Evidence Contradicts Established Practices" (2015).
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. Paper 3468. http://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/3468
Other Project Supervision/Contribution (non-thesis)
- Steven Habbous, PhD Student, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, 2015 - 2016.
Project: Economic Analysis of Phosphate Binders in Dialysis Patients. - Sebastian Przech, MSc Student, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, 2015 - 2016.
Project: Economic Analysis of Phosphate Binders in Dialysis Patients. - Rohin Krishnan, MSc Student, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, 2015 - 2016.
Projects: Conservative Management of Acute Uncomplicated Appendicitis with Antibiotics alone versus Surgical Appendectomy: A Meta-Analysis. Co-authors: Chong M, Krishnan R, Martin J.
Restrictive versus Liberal Transfusion Thresholds in Surgical and Critical Care Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials. Co-authors: Chong M, Krishnan R, Martin J. - Jennifer Racz, MSc Student, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, 2012.
Project: Health Economics course (Co-supervisor with Sisira Sarma) - Emmanuel Ewara, MSc student, Epidemiology, 2012.
Project: Health Economics course (Co-supervisor with Sisira Sarma)
Project: Economic Analysis of Phosphate Binders in Dialysis Patients
Department of Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine, Western University
- Agya Prempeh, MD, Cardiac Anesthesia Fellowship, 07/2020 – present.
Projects: TBD - Matthew Chong, MD, Medical Resident PGY2, 06/2015 - present.
Projects: Conservative Management of Acute Uncomplicated Appendicitis with Antibiotics alone versus Surgical Appendectomy: A Meta-Analysis. Co-authors: Chong M, Krishnan R, Martin J.
Restrictive versus Liberal Transfusion Thresholds in Surgical and Critical Care Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials. Co-authors: Chong M, Krishnan R, Martin J. - Atoosa Enzevaei, MD, Critical Care Fellow, 06/2015 - present.
Project: Critical Care Evidence: Validity and Relevance. - Jennifer Vergel de Dios, MD, Global Health Clinical Fellow, 09/2014 - 06/2016.
Project: Maternal and Neonatal C-Section-Related Mortality in Developing and Developed Countries. - Jingyi Li, MD, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, 03/2015 - 03/2017.
Project: Early Goal Directed Therapy. - Junsong Gong, MD, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow (Fuwai Hospital), 06/2015 - 06/2016.
Projects: Electrophysiological mechanism of cardio-protection by sevoflurane preconditioning and postconditioning against reperfusion ventricular arrhythmia; The Efficacy of an Intraoperative Cell Saver during Cardiac Surgery: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials. - Fang (Angel) Zhu, MD, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow (Fuwai Hospital), 02/2013 - 04/2016.
Project: Systematic review & meta-analysis of Electro Convulsive Therapy for Major Depressive, Bipolar, and other Mood Disorders. - Myeongjong Lee, MD, PhD, Clinical Research Fellow, 09/2013 - 08/2014.
Konkuk University, Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine.
Projects: Goal-Directed Therapy, Prehabilitation in Total Hip & Knee Arthroplasty Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis. - Zhe Zhang, MD, PhD, Clinical Research Fellow, 07/2013 - 08/2014.
Fuwai Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology.
Projects: TAVI vs. Standard AVR Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis; Ischemic Pre-conditioning Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis. - Tom Varughese, MBBS, Clinical Research Fellow, (Northwest Deanery), 08/2012 - 07/2013.
Project: ROTEM/TEG technology for cardiac surgery: A meta-analysis of Randomized Studies.
Department of Mathematics, Western University
- Eunice Chan, MSc student, Applied Mathematics, 2016.
Project: Know4Go Algorithms for Quantifying Opportunity Cost across Decision Portfolios Richard Ivey School of Business, Western University
WFSA-IARS Global Surgery Fellowship
- Agya Prempeh, Inaugural WFSA-IARS Fellow, 05/2020 - 07/2020.
Research Fellowship (ASOS-2).
MPH Student Practicum
- Adekemi Adeyemi, MPH Candidate, 05/2018 - 07/2018.
Project: Global Perioperative and Anesthetic-Related Mortality Rates.
Medical Student Supervision
- Rohin Krishnan, MD Student, University of Hawaii Faculty of Medicine, 2018.
Project: Staples vs sutures in orthopedic surgery. - Peter Zhang, MD Student, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, 2015, 2016
Project: Text-mining for systematic review. - Yuan (Max) Qi, MD Student, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry (co-supervised with Ava John-Baptiste), 2014, 2015.
Project: Impact of disinvesting from synthetic colloids at the London Hospitals: Do the predicted clinical benefits and cost-savings translate to reality? - Eric Wong, MD student, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, 2012.
Project: Levosimendan for the treatment of heart failure in the surgical and critical care settings.
Richard Ivey School of Business, Western University
Project: Health Technology Assessment (Co-supervisor with Davy Cheng and Murray Bryant, 4520 Course), 2012
- Caitlyn Symonette, HBA Program.
- Jennifer Mannik, HBA Program.
- Navneet Kaur, HBA Program.
- Gregory Paulin, HBA Program.
- Michele Shum, HBA Program.
- Hamid Mithoowani, HBA Program.
- Akshay Shetty, HBA Program.
- Steve Bisch, HBA Program.
Cardiac Fellows
- Isabel Arias, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellin Columbia, 2016 - 2017.
- Marta Berrio, University of Antiquia, Medellin Columbia, 2016 - 2017.
- Franklin Daukins, University of Costa Rica, San Jose Costa Rica, 2016 - 2017.
- Satoru Fujii, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science and School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Japan, 2016 - 2017.
- Keita Sato, Kyoto University, Kyoto Japan, 2016 - 2017.
- Kamal Kishore, King Georges’ Medical University, Lucknow India, 2015 - 2016.
- Ronald Lima, University of the State of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, 2015 - 2016.
- Rasha Saeed, University of Khartoum, Khartoum Sudan, 2015 - 2016.
- Nitin Anand, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. USA, 2014 - 2015.
- Suzanne Flier, Dept. of Anesthesiology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Netherlands, 2014 - 2015.
- Nelson Gonzalez, University of Antioquia, Colombia, 2014 - 2015.
- Lee Myeongjong, Konkuk University, Chungj Hospital, South Korea, 2013 - 2014.
- Zhe Zhang, Fuwai Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing, China, 2013 - 2014.
- Javier Mauricio Giraldo Arismendy, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellin, Colombia, 2013 - 2014.
- Hilda Alfaro, Universidad CES, Medellin, Colombia, 2013 - 2014.
- Kirk Duguay, The Moncton Hospital, Moncton, New Brunswick, 2013 - 2014.
- Khalid Hanish, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, Wales, 2013 - 2014.
- Omar Ageel, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, 2012 - 2013.
- Puneet Goyal, Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai, India, 2012 - 2013.
- Tom Varughese, Northwest Deanery, Manchester, UK, 2012 - 2013.
- Bryant Lam, University of Western Ontario, 2011 - 2012.
- Eric Wong, University of Western Ontario, 2011 - 2012.
- Shaochuan Fu, Hainan Medical College, Hainan, China, 2011 - 2012.
- Junseok Jeon, Seoul National University, 2011 - 2012.
- Yasuhisa Okamoto, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan, 2010 - 2012.
- Rujin Zhang, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, 2010 - 2011.
- Unnikrishnan Pappu, SCTIMST, Trivandrum, India, 2010 - 2011.
- Anurag Yadava, Bhopal Memorial Hospital & Research Centre, Bhopal, MP, India, 2010 - 2011.
