Celebrating women’s achievements at Queen’s Health Sciences

Feature Stories | 08 Mar 2023

March 8 is International Women’s Day (IWD), an opportunity to celebrate women’s achievements and bring attention to the issues of gender equity and those affecting women’s health, well-being, and prosperity.

While there are many remarkable women making a difference at Queen’s Health Sciences every day, here is a look at just some of those who are working to create a healthier world.

The Innovators

Dr. Fernanda De Felice is an Associate Professor in the departments of Biomedical and Molecular Science and Psychiatry, and a member of the Centre for Neuroscience Studies, who studies the dynamics of how hormones and metabolism affect Alzheimer’s disease (AD), as well as linkages between AD, diabetes, and inflammation. She is also a Senior Editor at Neuropharmacology.
Women’s Health Equity through Mobile Approaches (WEMA Inc.) is a not-for-profit organization co-founded by Dr. Karen Yeates, clinician scientist and professor, School of Medicine, that is bringing cervical cancer screening to women in low-resource countries through their smartphones. She is a leading voice in health equity working to improve access to care for underserviced populations in Canada and sub-Saharan Africa.
The research focus of Dr. Sandra Fucile looks at how early intervention strategies can help minimize or prevent long-term developmental disabilities in premature infants. Dr. Fucile and her Infant Research Team developed a nipple-monitoring device to evaluate oral feeding disorders in babies with complex health conditions.

The Changemakers

Dr. Setareh Ghahari is the Associate Director and Associate Professor, School of Rehabilitation Therapy, who leads research in health and education access for vulnerable populations including immigrants/refugees, children with disabilities and people with neurological conditions. She has also played a key role in a number of research collaborations through the International Centre for the Advancement of Community Based Rehabilitation (ICACBR).
Mariah Keeling is a third-year Bachelor of Health Sciences student and QHS orientation roundtable coordinator helping to make big changes in how Queen’s welcomes new students. She plans to bring equity to the forefront of all orientation planning and events and improve training for orientation leaders.
Named as one of Canada’s Top 25 Women of Influence, Dr. Rachel Ollivier is currently studying in the Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner certificate program at QHS. The Queen Elizabeth Scholar’s research on global maternal health and postpartum sexual health have had an impact at home and abroad.

The Collaborators

The new Sally Smith Chair in Nursing, Dr. Shahirose Sadrudin Premji, serves as the leader of the Maternal-infant Global Health Team (MiGHT) Collaborators in Research, a global, interdisciplinary group of researchers, clinicians, and policy decision makers from across three continents (North America, Africa, and Asia).
A small and mighty team of women are leading key initiatives for equity, diversity, inclusion, Indigeneity, and accessibility (EDIIA) across QHS. The Nest is the home of all EDIIA initiatives led by, Dr. Colleen Davison, Associate Dean, Equity and Social Accountability, Gisele Valarezo, EDIIA Program Manager, Celina Caesar-Chavannes, Senior Advisor, EDIIA Initiatives, Cortney Clark, Indigenous Recruitment and Student Advisor, and Connie Wighton, Administrative Assistant.
Cha Gheill! Cheer on the Queen’s Gaels women’s basketball team, including two students from the School of Nursing: Emma Weltz and Laura Donovan (who was also named a conference All-Star); and, Bridget Mulhollard (Kinesiology and Health Studies), as they compete in the U SPORTS Women’s Basketball Final 8 Championship in Sydney, Nova Scotia this week. Mulholland was named the Tracy MacLeod Award recipient in recognition of her, “determination, perseverance, and unwavering spirit.”

The Leaders

Gernique Dondji is building a welcoming community for Black nurses and students as the founder of the Queen’s chapter of the Canadian Black Nursing Alliance (CBNA).
Dr. Janet van Vlymen, Associate Professor, Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, recently completed her term as President of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) which is responsible for regulating the practice of medicine in the province.
Dr. Patricia Lima, Assistant Professor (Adjunct) and Research Scientist, Queen’s Cardiopulmonary Unit (QCPU), is committed to building and protecting her community. She is the founder of the Women in Science at Queen’s (WiSQ) employee resource group and is a volunteer firefighter and trainer at the Athens Fire Department.

IWD Webinar: Beyond the Glass Ceiling featuring Dean Jane Philpott

Beyond the Glass Ceiling - How to lead with confidence and grow your career: Panelists Dean Jane Philpott, Queen's Health Sciences and Dean Wanda Costen, Smith School of Business, and leadership consultant Kim Fulton offer insights and stories. Wednesday, March 8, 1 – 2 p.m.

Queen’s Women’s Luncheon

Queen’s Women’s Network (QWN), Women in Science Queen’s (WiSQ), and Women in Engineering (WiE) are co-hosting a luncheon to promote resources and events organized by the three groups. Come enjoy a free lunch and take part in an art project to embrace this year’s theme – Embrace Equity. Register online.