RESEARCH TEAM
Research Staff
Dr. Lauren Cadel - BSc, MSc, PhD
Fun Fact:
I have snorkeled between two tectonic plates. Favourite Quote: “It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen” ― Muhammad Ali |
Dr. Lauren Cadel is a Research Associate with the OPTI-HEx lab. She recently completed her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto under the supervision of Dr. Sara Guilcher. Her doctoral work focused on co-developing, implementing, and evaluating a medication self-management toolkit (MedManageSCI) for adults with spinal cord injury/dysfunction across Canada. Lauren is also a Research Associate at the Institute for Better Health at Trillium Health Partners, where she supports Dr. Kerry Kuluski’s research portfolio on patient and family centred care. She has a passion for health services research and wants to continually explore ways to improve the delivery of health services and optimize patient experiences and outcomes.
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Dr. Jacob Crawshaw - BSc, MSc, PhD
Fun Fact:
I have climbed to tallest mountain in North Africa. Favourite Quote: "All good things are wild and free." – Henry David Thoreau |
Dr. Jacob Crawshaw holds a BSc in Psychology (Newcastle University, UK), MSc in Health Psychology, and a PhD in Health Services Research (both King’s College London, UK). Jacob’s research program focuses on using systematic methods and theory from behavioural and implementation science to address health-related challenges among patients, providers, and health systems. One area of research he is particularly passionate about is the investigation of how best to support patient-oriented, evidence-based secondary prevention among patients with cardiovascular disease. In 2023, he completed a two-year CIHR Health System Impact Postdoctoral Fellowship at McMaster University addressing this knowledge gap. In addition to working with the OPTI-HEX Lab, Jacob is a Senior Methodologist in the Methodological and Implementation Research Program at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6302-1496
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Dr. Kimberly Devotta - BA, MA, PhD
Fun Fact:
I love musicals and film festivals! Favourite Quote: “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences” – Audre Lorde |
Dr. Kimberly Devotta holds a BA in Geography and Environmental Studies (McMaster University), a MA in Geography (McMaster University), and a PhD in Social and Behavioural Health Sciences (Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto). Her research program focuses on cervical screening and chronic disease prevention, using community engagement and mixed methods. She is a postdoctoral fellow at Women’s College Hospital, and works as a Research Officer with the OPTI-HEX lab within the communications team to develop KTE. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0401-2539
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Dr. Durra Kesibi - BSc, MA, RKin, PhD
Fun Fact: I love trying new recipes and I am always looking for my next favorite dish to make!
Favourite Quote: " The only way to do great work is to love what you do ." — Steve Jobs |
Dr. Durra Kesibi is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the OPTI-HEx Lab. She recently completed her PhD in epidemiology at York University, where her doctoral research examined the relationship between menopausal age and autoimmune disease using large population-based datasets, contributing to research on women's health and healthy aging.
Durra's research interests include women's health, healthy aging, chronic disease, and healthcare outcomes among older adults, with a particular focus on improving healthcare experiences for underserved populations. Her previous research has also explored mental health and refugee health. With a background in kinesiology and experience as a Registered Kinesiologist, Durra brings a clinical perspective to her population health and epidemiological research. As a Postdoctoral Fellow, she contributes to research on hip fractures and hospital harms while continuing to expand her program of research in women's health and healthcare outcomes among older adults. |
Graduate Students
Dr. Laleh Rashidian - MD, MPH, PhD Candidate
Fun Fact:
I have a collection of over 70 board games and host weekly game nights with friends! Favourite Quote: "The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them" – Ernest Hemingway |
Laleh is a PhD candidate at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto. Her research focuses on access to care for individuals living with diabetes in Ontario, with a particular emphasis on how integrated care teams influence access and health outcomes for diabetes. Before pursuing her PhD, Laleh practiced as a medical doctor and earned a Master’s degree in Public Health from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
Since joining the Opti-Hex Lab in April 2023, Laleh has been involved in projects examining hospital harm risk factors for individuals with hip fractures. Her previous projects involved exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with alternate levels of care. |
Research Assistants
Angela Chow - BSc, MSc (in progress) |
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Fun Fact: I love live music!
Favourite Quote: “Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning." – William Arthur Ward |
Angela is an incoming Master's student at the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute at the University of Toronto, a research assistant with the OPTI-HEx Lab, and a research operations volunteer at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). She earned a Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences from the University of Toronto and a postgraduate certificate in Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs and Quality Operations. Her work is driven by a commitment to improving healthcare through transparency, effective health communication, and evidence-informed practice. Angela is passionate about health services research, patient-centered care and experiences, and knowledge translation, with a particular focus on bridging research and practice to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
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Aleena Ahmad - MD (In progress)
Fun Fact: I love fantasy books and have read Harry Potter 10+ times
Favourite Quote: “We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we're curious…and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths” – Walt Disney |
Aleena is a medical student at the University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, and a research assistant in the Opti-HEx lab. She is also a research student in the Paediatric Research and Clinical Summer (PeRCS) program at SickKids. With undergraduate studies in Biology for Health Sciences at the University of Toronto Mississauga, she brings a background in biological and health sciences. Aleena is passionate about supporting research around health equity and patient experiences, and hopes to apply research findings in delivering compassionate, patient-centered care.
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Lab Mascots
Because what would a lab be without mascots?
