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Current Students

Health Research Methodology (HRM) Graduate Student Ambassadors

Learn more about this Health Sciences Graduate Studies (HSGS) initiative.

The best way to contact the student ambassadors is via email. Please put “Question to Ambassador” in the subject line to ensure that your message does not get lost. Please also note that all ambassadors are volunteers, as well as current graduate students with busy schedules, so kindly allow 48 hours for their responses.

2023-2024 HRM Student Ambassadors:

Arnav Agarwal, MSc Candidate

Arnav is a fifth-year clinical fellow in general internal medicine and a first-year master’s student in the Health Research Methodology program at McMaster. He is interested in systematic reviews, guideline development and knowledge translation.

An interesting fact about Arnav: I am a true Mac-for-lifer – I did my undergraduate training at McMaster circa 2010 and met my wife here in 2011. There is no place like McMaster!

Email: arnav.agarwal@medportal.ca

Fatima Sheikh, MSc Candidate

An interesting fact about Fatima: In my “spare” time, I love baking, cooking and trying new foods. At one point, I even wanted to attend culinary school, and perhaps I still will…one day!

Email: sheikf9@mcmaster.ca

Komal Aryal, PhD Candidate

Komal is a third-year Ph.D. candidate in the Health Research Methodology program at McMaster. She is interested in aging, end-of-life care for the elderly, and prediction modeling.

An interesting fact about Komal: I am a professional translator working in the legal, academic, and medical sectors all while fluently conversing in four distinct languages!

Email: aryalk@mcmaster.ca

Current HRM Students

HRM students have a broad spectrum of academic backgrounds at entry, which includes medicine, nursing, rehabilitation sciences, social work, economics, math/stats, political science, sociology, geography and psychology.

Below is a selection of our current PhD and MSc students:

HRM Current Students (MSc)

David Zorko

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. Karen Choong
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Characteristics and outcomes of children with chronic critical illness
Twitter: @zorkosaurus
Email: david.zorko@medportal.ca

Elena Kum

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. Gordon Guyatt, Dr. Imran Satia
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Patient reported outcome measurement for patients with chronic cough
Twitter: @Elena_Kum
Email: kume@mcmaster.ca

Fatima Sheikh

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. Alison Fox-Robichaud
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Effects of gender and ethnicity on N95 respirator fit in a sample of diverse Canadian Healthcare workers to address issues of equity, diversity and inclusion
Twitter: @fatima_sheikkh
Email: sheikf9@mcmaster.ca

Franca Mossuto

Program: MSc (course-based)
Supervisor: Dr. Mohit Bhandari
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Patient outcomes in orthopedic surgery and the improvement of interdisciplinary teamwork in the perioperative setting
Email: mossutof@mcmaster.ca

Jacob Alaichi

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. Waël Hanna
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Lung cancer surgery
Email: alaichij@mcmaster.ca

Julie Maciejewski

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. Marek Smieja
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Diagnostics, disease outbreak investigation and assessing the impact of interventions
Email: julia.maciejewski94@gmail.com

Leen Naji

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. Samaan
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Research methods and quality, addiction medicine, guideline development
Twitter: @leenaji
Email: najiln@mcmaster.ca

Louise Guolla

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. Lehana Thabane
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Adolescent and young adult oncology

Majid Aljoghaiman

Program: MSc (course-based)
Supervisor: Dr.Forogh Farrokhyar
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Spine surgery

Maria Nicula

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. Jennifer Couturier
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Improvements to the transition period from pediatric to adult services and treatments among adolescents with eating disorders
Twitter: @marianicula
Email: niculam@mcmaster.ca

Meisam Abdar Esfahani

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. Jason Busse
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Systematic reviews and guideline development
Twitter: @Meisam_esfahani

Michael Ke Wang

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. David Conen
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Perioperative Atrial Fibrillation

Natsumi Saka

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. Mohit Bhandari
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Orthopedics
Email: sakan@mcmaster.ca

Nikkita Mistry

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. Wael Hanna
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Lung Cancer Diagnosis and AI
Email: mistrn1@mcmaster.ca

Peter Malik

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. Wael Hanna
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Knowledge translation, improving patient outcomes following surgery and evaluating innovative health technologies in the Canadian healthcare context
Email: malikpr@mcmaster.ca

Rachel Eikelboom

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. Richard Whitlock/Dr. Emilie Belley-Cote
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Antithrombotic therapy after bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement
Email: eikelbr@mcmaster.ca

Radha Sayal

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. Julia Abelson
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Understanding the motivation behind patient engagement work and advancing the methods and evaluation techniques in the field
Email: sayalr@mcmaster.ca

Raeesha Rajan

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. M. Constantine Samaan
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Pediatrics, endocrinology, virtual health delivery, systematic review methods
Twitter: @raeesharajan
Email: rajanr2@mcmaster.ca

Rhiannon Cooper

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. Gina Agarwal
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Community-based research, community paramedicine, emergency medical services
Twitter: @CooperRhiannon
Email: cooper6@mcmaster.ca

Sameer Sharif

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. Bram Rochwerg
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Sedation in the ED/ICU
Twitter: @SameerSharifMD

Shireen Fikree

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. Michelle Howard
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Primary care related changes to the continuity of care from pre to post pandemic

Tayler Buchan

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. Gordon Guyatt
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Prognosis in heart failure and heart transplantation

Yaadwinder Shergill

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. Jason Busse
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Low-level laser for the management of temporomandibular joints (TMJ) pain
Email: Drshergill@oneelephant.ca

Yousif Eliya

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. Harriette Van Spall
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Patient-oriented research in clinical trials
Twitter: @EliyaYousif 
Email: eliyay@mcmaster.ca

Zhaolu Ding

Program: MSc (thesis)
Supervisor: Dr. Paul Moayyedi
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Pediatric digestive diseases and nutrition studies involving epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognostic factors, particularly in the field of inflammatory bowel disease and H.Pylori infection
Email: dingz4@mcmaster.ca

HRM Current Students (PhD)

Ahmed Al-Jaishi

Program: PhD
Supervisor: Dr. Amit Garg
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Methodological considerations for conducting registry-based cluster-randomized controlled trials in hemodialysis
Twitter: @AAlJaishi
Email: ahmed.aljaishi@lhsc.on.ca

Ahreum Lee

Program: PhD
Supervisor: Dr. Alexandra Papaioannou
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Risk factors (e.g., sarcopenia, osteoporosis, fractures, falls and frailty) related mobility and social isolation/loneliness for older adults

Charlene Rae

Program: PhD
Supervisor: Dr. Andrew Costa
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Evaluation of system level change in adolescent and young adult cancer care in Canada
Twitter: @craemsc
Email: crae@mcmaster.ca

Charlotte Switzer

Program: PhD
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Vaccines, virology and computational biology
Email: switzece@mcmaster.ca

Claudia Sikorski

Program: PhD
Supervisor: Dr. Andrew Mente
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Examining global secular trends of dietary patterns, macronutrients and food intakes
Email: sikorsc@mcmaster.ca

Daeria Lawson

Program: PhD
Supervisor: Dr. Lawrence Mbuagbaw
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Research-on-research and biostatistical methods (longitudinal and missing data analysis), with applications in rheumatic and infectious diseases.
Twitter: @_dolawson 
Email: lawsod3@mcmaster.ca

Graeme Ball

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Dr. Jean-Éric Tarride
Research Interests/Thesis Work: 
Cost-effectiveness analysis methods in oncology
Email: 
gaball26@gmail.com

Hajar Abu Alrob

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Dr. Alexandra Papaioannou
Research Interests/Thesis Work: 
Geriatrics/aging, osteoporosis, Big Data, clinical trials
Twitter: 
@AlrobHajar
Email: 
abualroh@mcmaster.ca

Jeremy Y. Ng

Program: PhD
Supervisor: Dr. Jason Busse
Research Interests/Thesis Work: Complementary, alternative and integrative medicine; natural health products; medical cannabis
Twitter: @YJeremyNg
Email: ngy2@mcmaster.ca

Jhalok Ronjan Talukdar

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Dr. Lehana Thabane and Dr. Bradley Johnston
Research Interests/Thesis Work: 
Assessing the potential harms, benefits and values and preferences related to dietary fat intake
Email: 
talukdaj@mcmaster.ca

Jillian Halladay

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Dr. Kathy Georgiades
Research Interests/Thesis Work: 
Co-occurrence of substance use and mental health concerns among adolescents and emerging adults
Twitter:
@Jill_halladay
Email:
 halladje@mcmaster.ca

Justin Mausz

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Dr. Meghan McConnell
Research Interests/Thesis Work: 
Mixed methods approaches to exploring social and cultural determinants of paramedic mental health
Twitter:
@Prof_Dewey
Email: 
mauszje@mcmaster.ca

Katharine Mackett

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Nancy Santesso
Research Interests/Thesis Work: 
Assay automation, longitudinal studies, biomarkers, type 1 diabetes and aging
Twitter:
@KatharineMac1
Email: 
macketka@mcmaster.ca

Kevin Kennedy

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Dr. Feng Xie
Research Interests/Thesis Work: 
Health Utility Valuation
Twitter:
@KMacKennedy
Email: 
kennek12@mcmaster.ca

Kevin Kim

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Dr. Richard Whitlock
Research Interests/Thesis Work: 
Outcomes of dialysis patients who undergo cardiac surgery, randomized control trial methodology
Email: 
kims95@mcmaster.ca

Lyubov Lytvyn

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Dr. Gordon Guyatt
Research Interests/Thesis Work: 
Patient and public involvement in the development of clinical practice guidelines
Twitter: 
@lyubovlytvyn
Email: 
lytvynlo@mcmaster.ca

Mahdis Kamali

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Dr. Kathy Georgiades
Research Interests/Thesis Work: 
Addressing Inequities in Mental Health Service Use Among Migrant Youth in Canada
Twitter: 
@Mahdiskamali
Email: 
kamalim@mcmaster.ca

Maram Khaled

Program: PhD
Supervisor:
 Dr. Maura Marcucci
Research Interests/Thesis Work:
 Postoperative Pain and Neurocognitive Outcomes After Non-Cardiac Surgery in Older Adults
Twitter: 
@Maram_A_Khaled
Email: 
khalem3@mcmaster.ca

Mark Phillips

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Dr. Mohit Bhandari
Research Interests/Thesis Work:
 Network Meta-Analysis Presentation Methods
Twitter: 
@M_Phillips44
Email: 
phillimr@mcmaster.ca

Maryam Ghadimi

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Dr. Gordon Guyatt
Research Interests/Thesis Work: 
Systematic review and meta-analysis methodology, focusing on comparative safety and efficacy of pharmacotherapy interventions in organ transplantation and infectious diseases
Email: 
ghadimim@mcmaster.ca

Mei Wang

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Dr. Anne Holbrook
Research Interests/Thesis Work:
Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) drug interaction
Email: 
wangm59@mcmaster.ca

Myanca Rodrigues

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Dr. Lehana Thabane, Dr. Zena Samaan
Research Interests/Thesis Work: 
Network meta-analysis, biostatistics, depression, outcome measurements, geriatric psychiatry
Twitter:
@MyancaRodrigues

Peter Emary

Program: PhD
Supervisor:
 Dr. Jason W. Busse 
Research Interests/Thesis Work: 
Medication prescribing rights in the chiropractic profession, quality of mixed methods in chiropractic research
Email:
 emaryp@mcmaster.ca

Rebecca Correia

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Dr. Andrew Costa 
Research Interests/Thesis Work: 
Health services, geriatric models of care, medical education
Twitter: 
@RebecccaCorreia
Email:
 correirh@mcmaster.ca

Ryan P. Strum

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Dr. Andrew Costa 
Research Interests/Thesis Work: 
Development and validation of the PriCARE patient classification for ambulance diversion from emergency departments
Twitter: 
@Ryan_Strum

Sandra Ofori

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Dr. PJ Devereaux
Research Interests/Thesis Work: 
Perioperative smoking cessation intervention for long-term health
Email: 
oforis@mcmaster.ca

Sujane Kandasamy

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Dr. Sonia Anand
Research Interests/Thesis Work:
Early origins of chronic disease (cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes) and chronic disease risk factors across the life-course, with a special attention on Indigenous Peoples health and the health of South Asian immigrants
Twitter:
@NonPlainJane
Email:
kandas3@mcmaster.ca

Tamara Lotfi

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Dr. Holger Schünemann
Research Interests/Thesis Work: 
Adolopment and development of tools for access and dissemination of COVID-19 and WHO tuberculosis (TB) recommendations
Twitter: 
@tamaralotfi88
Email: 
lotfit@mcmaster.ca

Tea Rosic

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Dr. Zena Samaan
Research Interests/Thesis Work: 
Addictions psychiatry and concurrent disorders, focusing on treatment of opioid use disorder, as well as cannabis use

Vanessa De Rubeis

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Dr. Laura Anderson
Research Interests/Thesis Work: 
Obesity, early life adversity, life course epidemiology, population and public health
Twitter: 
@VanessaDeRubeis
Email: 
derubevg@mcmaster.ca

Xue Li

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Dr. Feng Xie
Research Interests/Thesis Work: 
Development and Validation of Health Related Quality of Life Instrument for Cardiovascular Patients in China
Email: 
lix330@mcmaster.ca

Yi Wang

Program: PhD
Supervisor: 
Dr. Anne Klassen
Research Interests/Thesis Work: 
Quality of life, patient-reported outcomes, health economics
Email: 
wang254@mcmaster.ca