People and Mentorship

Mrs. Dorte Bæk Olsen is a researcher, clinical nurse specialist, and PhD student in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet. Dorte has been engaged in a number of studies that include: A Qualitative Study on Patient Experiences While Waiting for Elective Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery; and  Early physical training and psycho-educational intervention for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. The SheppHeart randomized 2× 2 factorial clinical pilot trial.

Dr. Renata Carvalho holds a PhD and Master’s degree in Nursing, with specializations in nephrology nursing and primary health care from the University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ). She previously worked as a nephrology nurse at two university hospitals and contributed to anti-racist and intersectional policy initiatives. Currently, she is a registered nurse at Access Alliance in Toronto, providing community-based care to underserved populations. Her research focuses on nursing, health education, occupational health, precarious work, psychosocial risks, and mental health among nursing professionals.

Mrs. Dima Nasrawi is an Assistant Professor at Southern Cross University, Australia. Her emerging research programme focuses on implementation science, observational research, and co-design to translate evidence into cardiac surgical and nursing practice. Her work aims to improve perioperative care for adults undergoing cardiac surgery, addressing priorities in clinical practice and health policy. Grounded in implementation science and frameworks such as Participatory Action Research (PAR), her research responds to clinical needs while supporting improved surgical outcomes and reduced healthcare system burden.

Isabella Nita is a fourth-year Journalism student at Toronto Metropolitan University. Through her internship with the Urban Health Research Network, she is developing strong research, writing, and communication skills, including the ability to translate complex ideas into clear, accessible content for diverse audiences. She is also gaining valuable experience creating engaging social media content that highlights the Network’s research, activities, and impact. Her contributions help communicate research findings, strengthen public engagement, and increase awareness of the Network’s initiatives and opportunities for collaboration.

Maurice is currently a first-year student in the Master of Occupational Therapy program at the University of Toronto. Before beginning his graduate studies, he participated in bioinformatics research, gaining experience in literature reviews, statistical modelling, data interpretation, and critical thinking. He continues to build on this foundation as he develops his knowledge of healthcare, research, and evidence-informed practice. His interdisciplinary background supports his interest in understanding how research can inform clinical decision-making and contribute to improving patient care, health outcomes, and quality of life.

Ahmad Shahid is a 4th-year biomedical sciences student at Toronto Metropolitan University. Through his academic and research experiences, he has developed skills in conducting literature searches across multiple databases, as well as article screening, data extraction, data organization, and the critical application of research. Ahmad is also proficient in the interpretation of evidence, identifying gaps or biases, and collaborating with others in a research setting. His research interests include pain management and rehabilitation to improve patient outcomes!

Laksman Murali is a fourth-year Honours Bachelor of Science student in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Currently working with the research team, he contributes to research activities drawing on his experience in literature reviews, structured participant interviews, data entry, and confidential information management. He is also developing his ability to communicate scientific information clearly to diverse audiences. His research interests include patient-centred care, recovery following illness or surgery, health education, and clinical research, with an emphasis on improving patient experiences and outcomes.

Simran Sangha is a fourth-year Biomedical Sciences student at Toronto Metropolitan University with a strong interest in cardiovascular health and recovery following cardiac surgery. Her current research examines the facilitators and barriers to recovery after heart surgery, with a focus on differences between high-income and low- and middle-income countries. Her work explores how health systems and access to care influences post-operative recovery outcomes, and she aims to pursue a future career as a cardiovascular perfusionist while contributing to research that advances equitable cardiac care.

Sarina Dhillon is a Health Sciences student at the University of Waterloo entering her third year of the Honours Health Sciences Co-op program. Through her academic and research experiences, she is developing skills in scientific literature reviews, data collection and management, and research proposal development through a critical health and wellness perspective. She is particularly interested in clinical research and patient-centred healthcare. Through her current work with the research team, Sarina continues to strengthen her research skills and expand her understanding of health research.

Khiem Do is a Registered Nurse and graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. His clinical experience includes medical-surgical, neurosurgical, and cardiac intensive care, with a focus on complex multisystem critical illness. Currently working with the research team, he is developing his clinical research skills and exploring ways to bridge evidence and practice to improve patient outcomes. His research interests include critical care, cardiovascular health, and health equity among immigrant and refugee populations. He is also interested in healthcare leadership and nursing education.

Aaliyan is a fourth-year Bachelor of Science student at Western University, majoring in Biology with a minor in Political Science. Currently working with the research team, he contributes to research activities involving data entry, extraction, analysis, and synthesis. He also supports the preparation of scientific manuscripts through drafting and editing for publication. These experiences are strengthening his research, analytical, and scientific communication skills while expanding his understanding of evidence-based research. Aaliyan is continuing to develop his knowledge and experience in collaborative research and scholarly dissemination.

 Jashanpreet Kaur is a final-year undergraduate Psychology student at Toronto Metropolitan University. Currently working with the research team, she is developing her research skills and applying her academic knowledge to health-related research. Her interests include mental health, well-being, and the social determinants of health. Through her coursework, she has gained foundational knowledge in research methods and statistical data analysis. Aspiring to become a physician, Jashanpreet hopes to integrate research, clinical practice, and community engagement to advance equitable urban health outcomes and improve population health.

Hossein Shayesteh graduated from the University of Toronto with a major in Human Biology and minors in Physiology and Immunology. With prior medical training in Iran, he brings a clinical perspective to his research. Currently working with the research team, he examines health equity and structural determinants of health in urban settings, including how housing instability contributes to healthcare access barriers and preventable hospitalizations among marginalized Toronto populations. He also contributes to biomedical research at St. Michael’s Hospital, focusing on translational applications in vascular disease.

Yamini Bhatt is a PhD candidate in the Urban Health program at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she has studied since September 2023. Her research focuses on immigrant women’s health, particularly cardiovascular disease prevention through culturally tailored lifestyle interventions. Holding a PhD in Human Nutrition from India, she brings extensive research experience in traditional food practices, maternal and child nutrition, and public health nutrition. Her interests include health equity, community-based health promotion, and inclusive public health strategies. She also contributes to interdisciplinary research through community engagement, data analysis, and knowledge mobilization.

Prabhkirat Kaur has been a research trainee since September 2024 and is currently a first-year medical student. Her research experience spans cardiovascular health, exercise, artificial intelligence, and industrial disparities. She previously completed a project with the European Space Agency on space situational awareness, leading literature reviews and developing a traceability matrix. Her research experience also includes multiple pregnancies and arrhythmias. Currently, she is examining the intersections of HIV, insomnia, and cardiovascular disease, with a focus on related health outcomes and implications for patient care.

Arjun Singh was a research trainee from September 2024 to March 2026 and is a second-year medical student at Nova Southeastern University’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine in Tampa Bay. His research focuses on obesity-related neuroinflammation, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive decline, particularly insulin resistance pathways and GLP-1 receptor agonists in Alzheimer’s disease. He contributed to literature and scoping reviews examining metabolic dysfunction, cardiometabolic risk, and neurodegeneration, gaining experience in systematic review methodology, structured data extraction, and synthesis of translational and clinical evidence.

Maria Hayes RGN, BNS, MSc (Clinical Practice), MSc (Advanced Practice), RANP, RNP, RNR (Rad), FFNMRCSI, Honorary Teaching Associate RCSI, FHFA, AFIPC, FESC, is an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Cardiac Surgery at Blackrock Clinic, Dublin, and Assistant Professor of Nursing at University College Dublin. A past president of the Irish Nurses Cardiovascular Association, she previously served as European Nurse Advisor for the Valvular Heart Disease study group. She contributes to ACNAP and CONNECT and holds fellowships from RCSI and the European Society of Cardiology.

Rachel Hamilton is an RN. She is currently working on her PhD in Nursing at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto. Ms. Hamilton’s goals are to engage in innovative research exploring pediatric cancer survivorship and to improve monitoring and evaluation of children following cancer therapy. Ms. Hamilton has previously engaged in a Pediatric Oncology Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) in which data were collected from members of the pediatric oncology community.

Herleen is an undergraduate nursing student from the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Mohammad Goudarzi Rad is an experienced ICU nurse who graduated with the Master of Critical Care Nursing program at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. He is currently a second-year PhD. student in nursing at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto. His research interests are cardiovascular nursing, respiratory depression, and mechanical ventilation. In his Ph.D. project, he is currently evaluating a transcutaneous electrical stimulator for the early treatment of opioid-induced respiratory depression in postoperative patients.

Dr. Salima Hemani is an RN with a PhD in Nursing from the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto. Dr. Hemani has practiced cardiac nursing for over two decades. Her area of research addresses South Asians and their risk for cardiovascular disease, particularly the self-management of chronic disease and adoption of a healthy lifestyle through engagement in preventative strategies such as healthy eating. @SalimaHemani1.

 Dr. Costa was a visiting ( (Fall 2024) ) PhD student in the Clinical Care Nursing and Health graduate program at Universidade Estadual do Ceará (UECE), Brazil. His research evaluated a renal protection protocol for assessing and managing contrast-induced nephropathy in cardiac surgery patients. During his visit, he developed clinical and research skills through mentorship, collaboration, and participation in research addressing cardiothoracic surgical challenges. This experience strengthened his capacity as a clinician and researcher to develop evidence-based interventions aimed at improving patient outcomes and advancing clinical practice.

Dr. Pedrosa is a Nurse Scientist and Assistant Professor from the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Campinas (FEnf-UNICAMP) in Brazil. She currently teaches and engages in cardiac research at FEnf-UNICAMP, in addition to coordinating the Cardiac Transplant program at Hospital de Clínicas da UNICAMP. She is also an instructor of the American Heart Association Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Course and Executive Director of the Nursing Department of the Society of Cardiology of the State of São Paulo (SOCESP) - 2022-2023. Dr. Pedrosa will work closely with Dr. Fredericks on a number of cardiovascular research projects, as part of her training as a Junior Visiting Professor. @rafapedrosa2016

was hosted by Dr. Suzanne Fredericks. Prof. Sanders is the Director of Clinical Research at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and Clinical Professor of Cardiovascular Nursing at William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London. Her area of specialty is cardiothoracic surgery; cardiovascular nursing. She is responsible for developing research and clinical academic career opportunities (internships, MSc, PhD, post-doc) for nurses and allied professionals (AP) in cardiovascular care. She is particularly interested in mortality, morbidity and patient reported outcomes after cardiac surgery; and is the lead for the Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery (SCTS) Nursing. The aim of her research visit was to establish collaboration with international centres and universities to build on her current program of research. @julessanders2

Visiting Researcher from Departamento de Enfermagem; Programa de Pós-graduação em Enfermagem (PPGENF); Programa de Pós-graduação em Saúde Coletiva (PPGSC); Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES). During her research visit, Dr. Primo was provided mentorship related to teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Dr. Primo attended 10 undergraduate, 10 master level, and 5 doctoral classes; participated in class discussion and group facilitation; and developed an understanding of a variety of learning and teaching styles

 Ms. Magboo is from St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom. She visited Canada last summer for her travelling fellowship hosted by Dr. Suzanne Fredericks, co-founder of CONNECT. The aim of the fellowship was to establish collaboration with international centres and universities to further develop Ms. Magboo’s PhD programme of work, which focuses on the health-related quality of life and psychosocial effects of the diagnosis and surgical interventions for aortovascular manifestations in Marfan syndrome (MFS) patients. @magboo_rena

Mohit Prashar is an undergraduate student in Kinesiology and Health Science at York University. He completed research activities in clinical and rehabilitation research, with a focus on advancing mobility among older adults through the use of digital health tools. Mohit also contributed to research aimed at improving cardiovascular outcomes by examining non-pharmacological interventions and enhancing preoperative patient education for individuals undergoing cardiac surgery. Through this work, he contributed to bridging research and clinical practice to support equitable and evidence-informed care.

Simran Sangha completed a research placement under Dr. Fredericks’ mentorship beginning in September 2025. She is a fourth-year Biomedical Sciences student at Toronto Metropolitan University with a strong interest in cardiovascular health and recovery following cardiac surgery. During her placement, she conducted a study examining facilitators and barriers to postoperative recovery across high-income and low- and middle-income countries, exploring how health systems and access to care influence outcomes. Simran aspires to become a cardiovascular perfusionist and advance equitable cardiac care.

oy Anne Gaitmann completed her Master of Nursing Toronto Metropolitan University. She serves as a clinical research coordinator, leading clinical trials within the cardiovascular program. Joy holds specialized certifications in emergency medicine, acute care, and cardiac catheterization. She is dedicated to being a supportive mentor for students, colleagues and clinicians. Her research interests are cardiovascular nursing, medical devices and knowledge translation.

Ms. Arshiya Sahni completed a clinical placement with Dr. Fredericks from May to August 2026. She is a Toronto-based emerging communications professional pursuing a degree in Professional Communication at Toronto Metropolitan University, with minors in Marketing and Public Relations. Her interests include creative strategy, brand storytelling, visual direction, and social media. She is particularly interested in how visual storytelling, audience engagement, and marketing communication translate creative ideas into meaningful digital content. Her broader interests include cinema, media, fashion, and visual culture, particularly their influence on identity and perception.

The Urban Health Research Network strives to share stories that empower voices within Toronto’s urban health landscape. Ava Pearson, an intern with Toronto Metropolitan University’s Urban Health Research Network, has been interviewing experts, photographing Toronto’s urban landscapes, and creating documentary content surrounding the work of PhD student Rezwana Rahman and Nurse Practitioner Erin Ziegler. Through this work, she hopes to promote inclusivity and showcase urban health from a fresh and more personal perspective.