SCIENCE
I am passionate about the use of scientific evidence to inform public health programs and policies. My applied epidemiology and public health journey began with humanitarian field work with Médecins Sans Frontières, where I managed medical relief operations on the frontlines. This experience shaped my approach to community-based research and programming on infectious disease in both high- and low-income countries, emphasizing the critical role of social determinants of health. I am trained in medical anthropology (MSc, University College London), epidemiology (PhD, University of British Columbia), and computational informatics and digital biosurveillance (Fellowship, Harvard Medical School). I bring 20 years of experience in operational and applied research. I spent my academic years designing, developing, and implementing community-based health research programs using primary (real-world) data, and translating research findings directly into public health policies of the United Nations; and published >100 articles in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals, including JAMA, the American Journal of Public Health, PLOS One, and The Lancet. I was an early pioneer of AI-enabled epidemiology (aka digital biosurveillance), and collaboratively built and scaled novel AI (ML/NLP) technologies for consumer drug and food safety and public health surveillance within U.S. Federal Agencies. These experiences in community-based epidemiology and early AI have given me insights into the opportunities and challenges we face today in the development and application of Gen AI to real-world health data. Today my public health interests include new technologies for pandemic preparedness, space technologies and supply chain logistics towards global health. Some of my past and current projects are described here:
Photo credit: Canadarm2. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
SPACE TECH for global health
International government and private sector space agencies have been instrumental in translating space science and technology into terrestrial healthcare and clinical solutions. I’m interested in research that explores how space research & development enhances our ability to save lives on planet Earth through spin-off robotics technologies, communication and observation satellites, global positioning and remote sensing systems. I led Canada’s contribution to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) compilation of best practices, ‘Space Capacity Building in the XXI Century’, published in Nature, and proposed a shared vision for Canadian space science and health technologies towards achieving the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
DIGITAL BIOSURVEILLANCE
Digital biosurveillance leverages real-time data from various digital sources, such as social media, search queries, and electronic health records, to monitor and predict the spread of diseases. By analyzing these digital signals, digital epidemiology enables early detection of outbreaks, enhances public health response efforts, and supports global health security initiatives. I have published several peer-reviewed scientific papers evaluating the use of digital platforms for real-time detection of health risks and pandemic outbreaks such as H1N1, Ebola and Zika. These capabilities can equally be used to monitor food and drug safety across global supply chains. You can read more about the work my colleagues and I have done in this article published by American Scientist.
SUPPLY CHAIN
Supply chain logistics for global health face significant challenges in delivering food and essential drugs to rural and remote populations. The "last mile" is often the most difficult due to infrastructure limitations, geographic isolation, and resource scarcity. However, leveraging transportation systems and digital footprints offers new opportunities to improve efficiency. Technologies like GPS tracking, mobile data, and blockchain can provide real-time visibility and traceability, ensuring that critical supplies reach their destinations safely and on time. I am interested in how the integration of these digital solutions in global health initiatives can enhance delivery accuracy, reduce delays, and strengthen the overall resilience of supply chains in underserved regions.
POPULATION HEALTH
Population health is determined by a complex array of biological, social, economic and political factors. Understanding how these factors influence experiences of health, disease and dignity is essential to designing effective services. My research has sought to unpack determinants of health such as housing, food security, mental health, health system utilization and socio-economic status. I have designed, implemented and led the evaluation of health outcomes within observational cohort studies in local, national and international settings, including the world’s largest HIV treatment program, USAID’s PEPFAR. My findings have been co-published with and endorsed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the World Health Organization and select United Nations agencies.
FOOD & nutrition SECURITY
With over 800 million people affected by hunger and malnutrition, there is an urgent need to identify solutions that work. My work has aimed at understanding challenges and opportunities for sustainable, locally appropriate nutritious and safe household food access - whether in inner city 'food deserts', climate-induced disaster and armed conflicts. I have published extensively on the topic of food and nutrition security; evaluated programs across Africa, Asia and North America; and continue to advise international agencies such as UNICEF, the United Nations World Food Programme and USAID on evidence-based for undernutrition and food security through my affiliation with Nourish Global Nutrition.
HARM REDUCTION
Substance use affects millions of people worldwide and requires an evidence-based clinical and public health solutions. Harm reduction strategies have proven to save lives, reduce adverse health effects and promote dignity among people who use drugs. My research has examined the relationship between drug use and co-morbidities such as HIV and Hepatitis C Virus. I have advised R&D towards the development of digital harm reduction solutions to address the opioid crisis caused by fentanyl poisoning. I continue to support the development and expansion of platform technologies aimed at promoting harm reduction education, safe consumption and timely emergency response.