Meet the team at HELTH
Victoria Bursey
Title: Undergraduate Thesis Student, One Health
Department: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Description of Thesis: My thesis project includes conducting a scoping review of the available literature on the impacts of converting from traditional diesel school buses to electric school buses. I aim to focus on the health and environmental impacts of this transition, noting reductions in diesel air pollutants and the subsequent impact on children’s air pollution exposure. I also aim to incorporate the One Health approach, and examine the Human, Animal, and Environmental impacts of electric school bus adoption.
Emily Airhart
Title/Position: Undergraduate Thesis Student, One Health
Department: Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Research Interests: My research aims to assess the effectiveness of car-free Sundays on reducing air pollution levels in Kigali, Rwanda. Utilizing air quality data collected from 2022 to 2024, my research analyzes hourly PM2.5 measurements before, during, and after car-free periods, comparing these findings to normal Sundays when traffic is not restricted. The goal of this research is to evaluate whether car-free Sundays result in significant reductions in PM2.5 levels, contributing to cleaner air and improved human, animal, and environmental health. By providing empirical evidence on the effectiveness of these interventions, my study aims to inform future urban planning and pollution mitigation strategies.
Augustine Omodieke
Title/Position: Graduate Student, Health Economics
Department: Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Research Interests: My research interest concerns measuring and quantifying the impact of climate-change and air quality/pollution on population health especially maternal and child health in sub-Sahara Africa. This research focus is quite relevant for policy makers both locally and globally to make informed and evidence-driven policy reforms on effective management and monitoring of air quality and its nexus with population health outcomes among the underserved.
Dioumacor FAYE
Title/Position: PhD student in Atmospheric Sciences
Department: Laboratory of Atmospheric and Ocean Physics Siméon-Fongang (LPAO-SF), ESP/UCAD/Dakar/Sénégal
Research Description: My thesis focuses on the application of Machine Learning to improve sub-seasonal to seasonal (S2S) precipitation forecasts in West Africa. I am particularly interested in forecasting S2S precipitation using atmospheric intra-seasonal signals as predictors, as well as in the verification of models from the Sub-seasonal to Seasonal (S2S) database. The aim of my research is to contribute to better anticipating climate variations in the region, in order to assist in the management of water and agricultural reso
Dorothy Namatovu
Visiting Graduate Student
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Western University
Research Focus
My current research examines the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in reducing stigma among individuals living with HIV/AIDS, with a particular focus on the interventions implemented at the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) in Uganda. This research explores how community-based support programs, counselling, and awareness campaigns contribute to stigma reduction and the overall well-being of individuals affected by HIV/AIDS.
Goal of the Research
The goal of my research is to identify effective NGO interventions that can be scaled or adapted to different contexts, thereby contributing to broader efforts in reducing HIV-related stigma globally. My work aims to provide insights into improving the quality of life for individuals living with HIV/AIDS, as well as informing policy and practice in public health and social services.
Bajulaye Oluwaseun Oyindamola
Graduate student
Department: Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Western University
Research Focus
My research focuses on assessing the relative contribution of air pollution in households and schools to the total daily exposure of schoolchildren. By comparing these environments, I aim to identify where children face the greatest risks and how such exposures may affect their health.S.
Goal of the Research
The goal of my work is to generate evidence that can inform interventions and policies to reduce children’s exposure to air pollution. I am also interested in creating awareness about the health effects of air pollution and contributing to strategies that promote healthier environments for children at home and in school.
IKIREZI Ange Lisa
Visiting Graduate Student
Department: Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Western University
Research Focus
My research interest is about climate anxiety and youth decision making. As climate change intensifies, many young people are experiencing eco-anxiety which is a chronic fear of environmental doom. While this emotional response is increasingly recognized, there is limited understanding of how it influences major life decisions like family planning, career choices and migration.
Goal of the Research
My research aims to explore the psychological mechanisms that connect eco-anxiety to these decisions, deep diving into how the the youth interprets and copes with climate threats, and how these concerns shape their identity and future outlook.
Francis N. Acquah
PhD student
Department: Epidemiology and Biostatistics/ Environment and Sustainability
Western University
Research Focus
I am currently training in epidemiology and biostatistics with a collaborative specialization in environment and sustainability. My research focuses on examining the synergistic effects of climate change–related exposures, such as extreme heat and wildfire smoke, on vulnerable populations in Canada and Africa. I employ equity-focused mixed-method designs to better understand how these compound environmental stressors intersect with social determinants of health to shape health risks and outcomes across diverse equity groups of same population.
Goal of the Research
The goal of my research is to generate evidence that informs equitable and sustainable public health interventions in changing climate context. With an interdisciplinary lens, I aim to advance understanding of climate-related health disparities and advance policies that protect vulnerable communities in Canada and globally.
Farhana Rokaiya Ramiza
Graduate Student, Epidemiology
Department: Epidemiology and BiostatisticsWestern University
Research Focus
My research focuses on the intersection of air pollution, cooking fuels, climate and children’s health. I study how exposure to pollutants and heat- in both households and community settings- affects children’s health, cognitive development and overall well-being. The ultimate goal of my research is to generate rigorous, evidence based insights that inform cleaner energy transitions, climate adaptation strategies, and child-centered public health policies, helping to reduce environmental risks for future generations.
Zoha Irfan
Graduate Student, MSc Epidemiology
Department: Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Research Focus
Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on health outcomes in Africa
Allison Pert
Graduate Student, MD+ Track
Department: Medicine, Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Research Focus
I am primarily interested in the intersection of environmental and human health. Mainly, my research focus is on extreme weather events and environmental determinants of health, but have experience studying provincial environmental policy and climate change. I aim to incorporate this work into my career as a physician by leading with the lens that public health, environmental stewardship, and social justice are inextricably linked.
Mofiyinfoluwa Deborah Akomolafe
Undergraduate Researcher
Department: Honour Specialization Neuroscience
Research Focus
I am currently working on a scoping review along with my supervisors Dr Egide Kalisa and Allison Victoria Pert regarding air microbiomes of wildfires. This scoping review focuses on the viability, diversity, dispersal, and impact that these microbiomes have on the environment and our health, as well as ways to detect them.
Contact me
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry Western University
1465 Richmond Street, PHFM 3129 London, ON, Canada, N6G 2M1
Email : ekalisa2@uwo.ca
Office : 519.661.211 ext: 86262
Mobile : +1 647 507 7136
Egide Kalisa
