Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Program: Master of Science in Population and Public Health
What attracted you to your field?
The opportunity to gain hands-on research experience, paired with learning about important public health topics, is what really drew me to pursuing a MSc in Population and Public Health. I’ve always been interested in the study of physical and mental health and how health intersects in so many areas of research.
What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?
There are several moments that come to mind, including connecting with classmates, exploring campus and lunches with lab members. However, if I were to distill it down to one thing, it was the overall feeling of community and support. I am very grateful for the wonderful fellow students and faculty who made my program so memorable.
What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?
Trust that you deserve to be here! Also, remember to challenge yourself. Some of my most notable growth stemmed from taking courses and extra curriculars outside of my comfort zone. Lastly, make friends and connect with faculty and staff — it is always nice to have a familiar face on campus.
Tell us briefly about your research in layperson’s terms, and the impact you hope it will have?
Mental health and opioid use disorders often occur together and can share several causal factors. Over the last two decades, injectable opioid agonist treatment (iOAT) — an injectable treatment for opioid use disorder — has been offered, in restricted settings, as a treatment option in Canada. However, there is limited iOAT research examining factors associated with mental health. My thesis focused on exploring several factors and their association with depression and anxiety among individuals receiving iOAT. These findings add to the growing literature on opioid use disorder and mental health, and can be used to help inform personalized treatment plans within iOAT programs.
What’s next for you?
I have been fortunate to join the Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis in Vancouver. And on a personal side, I hope to do some traveling and enjoy all the great activities this city has to offer. I’m looking forward to the next stage in my career and seeing where I go from here!