About Us
What is the SSHINE Lab?
The SSHINE Lab is an interdisciplinary community-based research team dedicated to examining the social factors that shape global sexual and reproductive health and rights, including stigma and discrimination. Our lab is designed to foster global collaboration, community connections, and advance health equity and social justice. We use creative and arts-based approaches to reduce social inequities and generate community-based solutions, including digital storytelling, comics and graphic novels, participatory theatre, body-mapping, mobile health applications, artificial intelligence chatbots, among other multi-media methods.
Dr. Carmen LogieProfessor Dr. Logie is a Professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto, Adjunct Scientist at Women’s College Research Institute at Women’s College Hospital, and Canada Research Chair in Global Health Equity & Social Justice with Marginalized Populations. She works with international, multi-sectored teams around the world that include community leaders, policy makers and decision-makers in the public sector and the non-profit sector, as well as researchers in postsecondary institutions including undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. |  |
The SSHINE Lab team in Canada
Aryssa HashamResearch Coordinator Aryssa holds a master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Toronto and works as a research coordinator in the SSHINE Lab. Her research interests include Indigenous and racialized women’s sexual and reproductive rights and health in the Canadian context, with a particular emphasis on abortion attitudes and access. Miranda LoutetResearch Coordinator Miranda is a PhD student in Epidemiology at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto and Doctoral Fellow in the Collaborative Specialization in Global Health at the Centre for Global Health, University of Toronto. Miranda has experience conducting infectious disease, sexual health and maternal, child and adolescent health research across vulnerable settings including South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Frannie MacKenzieResearch Coordinator Frannie is a Research Coordinator at the University of Toronto with research interests surrounding in the intersections involved in sexual and reproductive health equity, access, and stigma. Zerihun AdmassuPostdoctoral Research Fellow Zerihun is a postdoctoral research fellow with interests in infectious diseases in the Northwest Territories, Canada, and Sub-Saharan Africa. He has experience as an infectious disease program manager and public health researcher. In the SSHINE Lab, he supports data analysis for the Kampala project and various ongoing studies. Sikky ChenPostdoctoral Research Fellow
Sikky is a postdoctoral research fellow proficient in both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Her major research interest lies in adolescent mental health, with a particular emphasis on the impacts of mHealth application use and social media communications. In the SSHINE Lab, Sikky contributes to various mixed-methods research projects on health-related issues among global refugee and displaced communities. Sarah Van BorekPostdoctoral Fellow Sarah is an audiovisual methodologist focused on water and wellbeing through a decolonial lens. Her experience includes work in Sub-Saharan Africa and a growing expertise in knowledge translation. Suliat Fehintola AkinwandeResearch Assistant Fehintola is a PhD student in Social Work at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto. She has extensive experience in implementation research on HIV Epidemic Control. Her research focuses on understanding and addressing food and water insecurities in resource-limited settings. Shannen RoweResearch Assistant Shannen is a PhD student in the Clinical and Counselling Psychology program at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses broadly on critical suicidology, Indigenous suicide, suicide prevention and life promotion. Her dissertation aims to examine suicide prevention policies in Canada and explore the intersections of sociocultural dimensions of suicide, social justice, and well-being. Lauren TailorResearch Assistant Lauren is PhD student in Epidemiology at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. She is also a clinical pharmacist with a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and a Collaborative Specialization in Global Health. Lauren's research interests include pharmacoepidemiology, maternal and child health, global health, HIV, and mental health. Adam FaganResearch Assistant Adam is a recent graduate from the Masters of Social Work program at the University of Toronto and is now working as a Social Worker serving Black youth experiencing homelessness. His research interests include racialized youth, substance use, and the impact of climate change on lower middle-income countries. |
Alyssa McAlpineResearch Assistant Alyssa is a recent graduate from the Master of Social Work program at the University of Toronto and is a Registered Social Worker. Her research work focuses on the health, mental health, and sexual and gender-based violence experiences of refugee youth. Christy AhnResearch Assistant Christy is a first-year Master of Social Work student and a Master of Science graduate from the University of Toronto. Her research interests include mental health, stigma, health inequity, social determinants of health, and social policy. Tara HutchingameResearch Assistant Tara is a first-year MSW student at the University of Toronto. She graduated from Carleton University in 2022 with a BA Honours in Law and Sociology. Her research experience is surrounding the stigma surrounding homelessness in public discourse and community action projects. She also has frontline experience working with youth ages 16-25 experiencing homelessness in Ottawa. Her current research interests are homelessness, addiction, and the criminalization of homelessness and drug use. Tahirah ReynoldsResearch Assistant Tahirah is a second-year MSW student and is interested in art-based interventions to address sexual health and mental wellness, particularly within the diverse African diaspora and youth populations. Laila Al NagarResearch Assistant Laila Al Nagar is a BSc. candidate specializing in Human Biology and Immunology at the University of Toronto. Her work is centered on mobilizing intersectional research for designing and implementing interventions to improve healthcare access and outcomes among the hardest-to-reach populations. Her professional experience includes collaborating with organizations dedicated to improving health services for rural communities, low-income groups, refugees, and internally displaced persons. Research Assistant Alexis is a second-year undergraduate student in the process of completing a double major in Health Sciences and Neuroscience. Her research interests are human disease, traumatic brain injuries, and mental health. Research Assistant Bay is a 4th-year undergraduate at the University of Toronto, double specializing in Global Health and Health Studies, with a certificate in Business Fundamentals. Bay has experience conducting migrant integration and livelihoods research with various populations, including forcibly displaced youth. His interests include improving healthcare access, investigating dynamics between researchers and policymakers, and health promotion in research settings. Research Assistant Isabel is an undergraduate student studying global health, English literature, and political science. She has worked as a research assistant in the Cowen Lab, at Maggie's Barts, a cancer supportive care center, and as an undergraduate executive member for COGS. As part of a Laidlaw Scholarship, Isabel studied the development of 2SLGBTQ+ inclusive cancer care services. She is interested in using qualitative methodologies to inform equitable health policy. Research Assistant Irene is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto pursuing a double major in Peace, Conflict and Justice Studies, and Bioethics. She is interested in public health policy and the impacts of climate change on the health outcomes of marginalized populations. Statistical Consultant Nina is a researcher, program developer, project manager, lecturer and statistician with expertise in child development, mental health, and family well-being. |
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