Who we are

Toronto, ON

As a 33 year breast cancer thriver and a retired medical lab technician who worked at St. Michael’s Hospital for 23 years, as well as a personal support worker at Princess Margaret Hospital and various agencies in the local communities, I bring extensive experience to my role as a volunteer and patient partner. My lived experience as a first-generation Canadian allows me to advocate for improved Healthcare for ethnic and marginalized communities with diverse needs. Drawing from my experience as a patient and family caregiver, I support the Upstream Lab at Unity Health Toronto and the SPARK* project as a Patient Partner. I enjoy working with the research team at the Upstream Lab –  my opinions and suggestions are always heard and resolutions are reached through meaningful discussions. Together, we can let the SPARK fly for a healthier Canada!

Projects

Presently working with Dr. Tiffany Lee helping community pharmacists to screen for the social determinants of health (SDoH) using the Spark Tool which I helped develop and validate with the Upstream Lab. This project aligns with my passion for increasing access to care for our communities. My goal is to use my experience and voice to improve health care outcomes and accessibility for all individuals especially those in underserved populations.

*The SPARK study is a CIHR-funded national study that was birthed out of the lack of data on social determinants of health in primary care settings in Canada.

Halifax, NS

Ms. Eunice Abaga has a Master-level qualification in Adult Education and Public Administration. She has extensive experience in program development, strategic planning, program evaluation, public relations, human resources, and research analysis. She has also been involved in a variety of leadership positions and in key provincial initiatives in the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, Primary Health Care. Her projects include initiating and leading a project to design and develop a Health Literacy and Cultural Competence Guide. This resource is available online. Eunice is also involved in the Your Way to Wellness program, a chronic disease self-management program in Nova Scotia.

Eunice works as a Policy Analyst with the Primary and Acute Care Branch of the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness. Eunice is also committed to community development and volunteering. She serves in various Boards including Health Association of African Canadians (HAAC), New Start Counseling and Bedford Players. She is also passionate about health policy and systems research. Eunice’s interests have inspired her to grow her role in professional training, coaching, speaking, and consulting. She has interest in access, quality, and equity issues with a focus on health, education, employment, disability, workplace accommodation and burnout. Additionally, Eunice is an active patient advocate who volunteers her time as a simulated patient through the Interprofessional Education Simulation Program of the Department of Medicine at Dalhousie, as well as a patient partner with the SPARK Study.

Calgary, AB

Jenny Duong (they/them) is a queer, nonbinary, second-generation Vietnamese-Canadian immigrant, who has lived experience navigating the Canadian healthcare system as a patient with a chronic illness. Jenny's lived experience and health research background informs their work in supporting the SPARK study as a patient partner. Jenny is passionate about the intersectionality of social identities and systems that shape population health outcomes and aspires towards making a difference in health equity research and policy.

Calgary, AB

Fobete is a dedicated community builder and advocate for social justice with over seven years of experience in the settlement, research, and community development sectors. His journey began with the Alberta Community and Cooperative Association (ACCA), where he worked as a researcher supporting cooperative economic and community development, using the cooperative model to enhance growth in rural Alberta. In 2015, they joined the Ethnocultural Council of Calgary (now Action Dignity) as Executive Assistant to the Executive Director, later transitioning into roles as a Community Engagement Officer and Researcher. In these roles, he supported ethnocultural communities through capacity-building initiatives and policy advocacy.

Since 2017, Fobete has worked with the Centre for Newcomers (CFN) in Calgary in various roles, including Welcoming Community Associate, Community Cultural Outreach Associate, and Case Manager. He currently serves as Community Relations Specialist, where they advocate for the empowerment of newcomers in their settlement journey and support stakeholders in creating inclusive, equitable workplaces.

A strong believer in equity and justice, Fobete has volunteered extensively. He was the Co-Chair of Alberta for Health Research (AB4HR), a Co-chair of the Canadian Collaboration for Complex Care (C4), and Board Chair of the Citizen Advisory Committee for Correctional Service Canada. His leadership spans towards community advocacy, policy, and cross-sector collaboration.

Calgary, AB

Rodel is a passionate community advocate and currently serves as a Community Connector at a non-profit organization. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan, specializing in Social Work with a focus on Practice, Policy, and Research. He also completed two programs at the University of Calgary: Patient and Community Engagement Research and the Non-profit Leadership Development Program.

Rodel is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy and Administration at Selinus University of Sciences and Literature. He is also a co-author of the study "What are the barriers and supports to a return to health from long COVID?", published in Qualitative Health Research.

Calgary, AB

Amber Cannon was born and raised in Calgary. She has been involved in a number of projects. She is currently a peer advocate at the Alex Community Food Centre where she also from time to time Co-Facilitates their Community Action Training Program. She recently resigned from her role as a PovertyTalks! steering committee member, and just finished her training to be a leader for the Better Choices, Better Health chronic pain class through Alberta Health Services.

Vancouver, BC

Manreen Punian is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia, studying Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice. As a first-generation Indo-Canadian woman raised in Surrey, BC, she is passionate about health equity, community advocacy, and amplifying the voices of those often left out of healthcare systems. Manreen brings lived experience navigating systemic barriers and is actively involved in survivor advocacy, food security initiatives, and family support programs. She has been a dedicated member of the SPARK team, where she combines academic knowledge with personal insight to support research focused on patient-centered and socially conscious care. Manreen plans to pursue a career in medicine, with the goal of becoming a physician who integrates social justice into every aspect of her practice.