Team

Principal Investigator

Dr. Noha AE. Gomaa, BDS, MSc, PhD
Assistant Professor

      

Image of Dr. Gomaa

Dr. Noha Aziz-Ezzat Gomaa is Assistant Professor and Associate Director for Dentistry Research at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University. Her research program centres around the impact of socioenvironmental exposures on oral diseases and related morbidities over the life-course in various populations and evaluating the multi-level impact of clinical and policy interventions that aim to improve these outcomes. Noha received her dental degree at the Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University. She then completed her PhD and fellowship in public health policy at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, followed by a clinician-scientist postdoctoral fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto studying the developmental impact of social adversity in early-life. Dr. Gomaa takes special interest in knowledge synthesis and mobilization and has previously worked with government agencies on issues of oral health care policy for marginalized populations and professionalism in dentistry. She currently serves on the National Advisory Working Group of the Office of the Chief Dental Officer of Canada and on the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario Council. She is also an editorial board member of the Journal of Dental Research, an active member of the International Association for Dental Research and an affiliate of the Social Exposome Research Cluster, University of British Columbia.

Graduate Students

Abby Hensel

AbbyAbby Hensel is a first-year Epidemiology and Biostatistics Master’s student at Western University. Abby received a Bachelor’s degree in Behaviour Cognition and Neuroscience and a Master’s degree in Neuroscience and Behaviour at the University of Windsor. She is interested in the social determinants of health and how they affect health outcomes across the lifespan. Her current project focuses on the biological pathway of stress on multimorbidity in aging populations. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and skiing, reading mystery novels, and listening to true crime podcasts. 

Alex Esemezie

alexAlex Esemezie is an incoming first-year MSc student in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. He completed his undergraduate degree in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour from McMaster University. During his undergraduate degree, Alex was involved in research in the field of cognitive psychology that investigated factors that shape behavior. In addition, he has worked as a Clinical Research Study Assistant in the Head and Neck Surgery department at Toronto General Hospital, in which he was immersed in a multitude of clinical trials and studies focusing on oral and oropharyngeal cancer. These experiences have helped shaped his interests in focusing on epigenetics, understanding the social determinants of oral health, utilizing large health administrative databases, cancer epidemiology, and improving patient outcomes. In his free time, he enjoys working out at the gym, listening to podcasts, going on long walks and hikes, and cooking.

Anusha P Nair 

AnushaAnusha P Nair is a student hailing from India. She is thrilled to be a part of the MSc Epidemiology program for the fall term of 2023 at University of Western Ontario. Having completed her BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) and MPH (Master of Public Health) degrees, she has gained valuable experience as a part-time dentist and a public health researcher. She has worked on projects focused on maternal and child health and severe mental illnesses among the geriatric population. Her areas of interest encompass two critical aspects of health: oral health and mental health. In the future, she aspires to become an academic researcher after completing a doctorate degree. Outside her academic pursuits, she is a music lover and a singer. Additionally, she finds solace in the pages of books, as reading broadens her perspective and enhances her knowledge.

Elena Ghizas

elenaElena Ghizas is currently enrolled in the Masters of Epidemiology and Biostatistics program at Western University, in London, Ontario. She grew up just outside of Toronto and some of her hobbies include reading, going to the gym and photography. She recently graduated with her Bachelors of Health Science, also from Western University, where she was able to study and research topics related to social determinants of health and the spread and prevention of chronic disease especially amongst marginalized populations. In terms of research, she is interested in researching the link between poor oral health or lack of oral health care and the development of chronic disease. With a goal to pursue a career in the field of dentistry, this research will allow her to dig deeper into the factors that lead to poor health outcomes or limit one’s access to oral health care.

Luis Limo

LuisLuis Limo joined the Society to Cell Oral Health Research Lab in 2021. He is a professional dentist who has completed additional training in clinical research for the implementation of clinical trials related to treatment of infectious and tropical diseases and prevention of HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections. He has worked as a primary care clinician, and also in the private and non-profit health sector holding valuable work experience in a US-NIH funded CRS by supporting the management and coordination of trials for COVID-19 vaccine candidates. Luis completed his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in his home-country Peru, and earned a Master in Public Health in 2019. He is currently a master candidate in the Epidemiology and Biostatistics program at Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry in Western University. His research interests lie in epidemiological aspects of oral and other non-communicable diseases with a special focus on access to dental care and its complex interactions between multimorbidity, aging, social determinants of health and health disparities. Outside of work and school, he enjoys exploring new places, outdoor activities, trying out new drinks and watching a lot of TV. 

Maria Rahman

MariaMaria Rahman is currently a first-year MSc in Epidemiology and Biostatistics student. She completed her undergraduate degree in Health Sciences from Western University where she became interested in exploring health inequalities in Canada. Her current research focuses on access to dental care and adverse pregnancy outcomes. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, completing puzzles, and going on long walks.  

 

Undergraduate Students

Ahmed Abbas

ahmedAhmed Abbas is currently a dental student at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Class of 2026. Prior to pursuing dentistry, he completed his MSc in Kinesiology & Health Science at York University. Ahmed's research interests lie in the fields of public health, epidemiology, aging and oral cancer. He is passionate about understanding the factors that contribute to the prevalence and prevention of oral diseases in different populations. With his sights set on a career in dentistry, Ahmed aspires to provide exceptional oral healthcare to his patients while also pursuing teaching and research opportunities. He envisions combining his clinical practice with sharing his knowledge and contributing to the advancement of dental research and education. Outside of his academic pursuits, Ahmed finds joy in working on cars and motorcycles, finding it both therapeutic and rewarding. Additionally, he enjoys hiking, appreciating nature, and challenging himself physically. Lastly, Ahmed has a passion for BBQing, experimenting with flavors, and enjoying delicious meals with family and friends. 

Alumni 

Aileen Liang

Image of Aileen LiangAileen Liang is a first-year medical student at Western University interested in internal medicine and clinical epidemiology. She is passionate about using clinical research to improve healthcare outcomes for patients and has previous research experience in cancer genetics and diabetes endocrinology. Her current project focuses on the effect of social capital on biological aging and cognitive health outcomes. In her free times, she enjoys rock climbing and hiking, creating her own baking recipes, and reading everything from medical non-fiction to detective mysteries.

Samantha Britney Gross

Image of Samanatha GrossSamantha is nearing the end of her fourth year at Western University working towards a Bachelor of Health Science with an Honours Specialization in Rehabilitation Science. Throughout her undergraduate education, she has become interested in learning about the social determinants of health and their role in shaping health outcomes for individuals and populations. This interest, combined with her belief that healthcare should be accessible for all, has made her interested in research focusing on oral health inequality. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping and helping her peers learn more about how to pursue careers in oral health through her work with the Western Pre-Dental Society.