Biography
I am a Canadian pharmacist and academic researcher aiming to use my interdisciplinary background in pharmacy and analytical chemistry to advance research at the intersection of chemistry and both public and environmental health (One Health).
In 2014, I graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. I started my pharmacy career in the small town of Deep River, ON, Canada where I helped my patients achieve optimal health outcomes through medication therapy management, education, and interprofessional collaboration. As a licensed healthcare professional, I managed day-to-day pharmacy operations and led the pharmacy team under my supervision.
Inspired by a former university lecture from a forensic toxicologist, I began considering alternative career trajectories with my pharmacy background to fully embrace my scientific curiosity. After some reflection, I left my permanent full-time pharmacy role to pursue a Master of Science in Analytical Toxicology at King’s College London (United Kingdom). This program consolidated my pharmacy knowledge while providing insights into analytical chemistry techniques taught by international experts. I completed my final research project at Abbott Toxicology (formerly Alere Toxicology) where I refined my hands-on laboratory and research skills, and graduated with distinction in 2018.
After graduating I returned to Canada and resumed employment in the pharmacy profession with my previous employer. Seeking to expand my skills, I gained experience in healthcare governance as I served on the Board of Directors for a hospital, long-term care home, and family health team. This gave me insight into the inner workings of the healthcare system and sparked my interest in public health. During the pandemic, I leveraged my clinical expertise to support vaccination efforts and health education in my community, reinforcing my commitment to public health research and policy.
In 2022, I was accepted into the Joint Global PhD programme offered by Monash University (Australia) and the University of Bath (United Kingdom). This program merged my clinical experience with analytical chemistry skills to address pressing public health and environmental issues on a national scale, specifically antimicrobial resistance (AMR), aligning with the World Health Organization’s One Health ethos. Through collaboration with the Welsh Government and multiple academic institutions, my interdisciplinary research assessed the risk of AMR and potential environmental harm from antimicrobial residues in wastewater and the role of hospitals in contributing to this risk. This research identified hospitals as AMR hot spots, prioritized high-risk sites, and guides the implementation of future public policy interventions to minimize the public and environmental health impact (see Publications). These experiences refined my vision to pursue an academic career where I can drive change and shape public policy.
In 2026, I completed my PhD and went on to join the Centre of Excellence in Water-Based Early-Warning Systems for Health Protection (CWBE) at the University of Bath as a Research Associate in One Health, where I am excited to contribute to interdisciplinary research with real-world impact.