Our Team

Dr. Mucsi is a clinician investigator and transplant nephrologist at the Ajmera Transplant Center and Division of Nephrology at the University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto. He is also an Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto. His current research focuses on understanding and reducing barriers and disparities in access to kidney transplantation and living donor kidney transplantation (KT) and assessing the impact of physical symptoms and psychosocial distress on clinical outcomes of kidney transplant recipients. Read more @ https://nefros.net/about-us/our-team/dr-istvan-mucsi-md-phd/

Beth Edwards is a qualitative researcher with over 15 years experience conducting research in the areas of health, illness, and health care. Beth is a skilled qualitative methodologist, with expertise in individual interviews and focus groups with patients, caregivers, health care providers, and administrators. Beth completed her PhD in the Social and Behavioural Health Sciences Department at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Her thesis research used a critical, interpretivist lens to explore the recovery experiences of colorectal cancer survivors. Beth’s research is primarily focused on how social, cultural, political, and economic factors contribute to individual experiences and behaviours with respect to health, illness, and health care. Her current projects with the team include ACTION, a joint project to reduce inequities in access to living kidney donation and transplantation in the South Asian and Black, African and Caribbean (ACB) communities in BC and Ontario, and ePROMs, a project to develop an electronic patient reported outcome measures toolkit to improve patient centred solid organ transplant care. Beth has a passion for teaching and mentoring students new to qualitative health research.

Heather comes to the group with varied work experience and education. Along with a Bachelor of Technology in Graphic Communications, she has a MA in Environmental Education and Communication. During the latter, she began working in clinical trials for the Multi-Organ Transplant program and found an interest in research and the transplant program. She is excited to be working with Dr. Mucsi and his research team, examining psycho-social and ethno-cultural influences on kidney transplantation access, a very important step to determining and improving the quality of life of those with kidney disease

Highly interested in data analytics and predictive modeling, I completed my studies at the University of Toronto, in Actuarial Science & Statistics. The academic interests developed during my studies are geared towards advanced programming, statistical analysis, and scientific research. Since joining KHERG in 2016, my role has advanced to the Data & Analytics Manager where I supervise a highly skilled and professionally diverse team of engineers & developers. My team is critical for designing databases which manage our patient populations; automating data management processes; supporting statistical analyses for our researchers and building front end portals for our external & internal users.

Rebecca Starkman is a qualitative researcher with over 10 years’ experience conducting research in academic and community settings. Rebecca has expertise in qualitative methodology and in numerous qualitative data collection tools including individual interviews, focus groups, and participant observation. Rebecca has conducted research with academic research teams in the fields of Education and of Childhood Study, as well as with education, culture, and arts-focused non-profit groups in Canada and the U.S. Rebecca completed her PhD in the Curriculum and Pedagogy Department at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Her thesis research used feminist lenses to explore the experiences of religious girls who attended public secondary schools in Toronto. Rebecca’s research examines how social, cultural, and political factors shape individual experiences of institutions such as education and health care. In addition to her focus on qualitative research, Rebecca is also passionate about designing mixed-method studies that effectively utilize qualitative techniques. Rebecca is part of the KHERG qualitative team and supports the development and implementation of qualitative aspects of ongoing team research.

Sambea is a 3rd year Industrial Engineering student at the University of Toronto who is working as our Lead Data Coordinator for her PEY co-op. She is passionate about the intersection of industrial engineering and healthcare, and aims to have a career which incorporates both elements. She is particularly excited about her role here in KHERG because not only does it provide the perfect starting point through which to do so, but allows her to see first-hand how engineering work alongside medical research can translate into hugely positive outcomes for real patients. In her spare time, she enjoys playing & writing music, reading, and cooking.

Sara Macanovic is the team manager for the Kidney Health Education and Research Group at UHN with a background in neuroscience and mental health. In September 2019, she joined the ENKAT-LD Education Pillar Team as an ENAKT-LD, Core Transplant Curriculum (CTC), and Explore Transplant Ontario (ETO) coordinator.

Hello! My name is Alyssa and I am a first-year Masters student at the University of Toronto, pursing a degree in medical science. I have earned a Bachelor's of Medical Science at Western University, specializing in Physiology and Pharmacology. I am passionate about knowledge translation, patient education, and psychosocial implications of transplantation. As a member of KHERG, I explore my research interests through the Explore Transplant Ontario (ETO) and Emotion and Symptom-focused Engagement (EASE) projects, which aim to improve access to transplant education and psychosocial services following transplant, respectively. I aim to improve patient advocacy and awareness of transplantation. I hope to pursue a career in medicine and public health.

Hello! My name is Tibyan and I'm a graduate student at the University of Toronto, pursuing a Master of Science in medical science. My current projects with the team include enhancing patient centred care through ePROMs and addressing inequities in access to living donor kidney donation and transplant in African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) communities. My work on the team has greatly increased my passion for social determinants of health and being an advocate for racialized populations. I hope to pursue a career in medicine and public health.

Wajiha holds a Master degree in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor degree in Sport Science (Exercise and Fitness) from Qatar University. Her current research project is focused on prehabilitation of dialysis patients using intradialytic exercises waitlisted for kidney transplant. Wajiha is passionate about promoting health through exercise and physical activity. She has been actively working in chronic disease prevention and management programs in Toronto.

I am a medical student interested in understanding how the views and beliefs of individuals towards medical care- particularly organ transplantation, are influenced by their psychosocial, cultural, and religious backgrounds.

Transplant Nurse and Medical Student with interest in Psychometrics, Education, and Patient-Reported Outcomes

I became interested in kidneys at a young age because of my grandpa who lived with renal failure. This interest led to various experiences that let me explore and develop a profound passion for transplantation. As part of KHERG, I aim to make transplantation more equitable and accessible to everyone by identifying and eliminating barriers through education, cultural competency, and patient-centred communication.

Hi! I am medical student at the University of Toronto and have had the pleasure to work with the team as an undergraduate and master student. I am passionate about the work we do with interests in improving the quality of life of patients with end-stage kidney disease and reducing barriers related to the access to kidney transplantation.

I recieved my HBSc. from the University of Toronto in June 2016 and joined the team as a research trainee in September 2014. Here I completed my undergraduate thesis on the topic of health related quality of life of kidney transplant recipients. My interests focus on investigating the impact of psychosocial factors on access to kidney transplantation and quality of life. I also enjoy working with the data management team. In the future I plan to integrate my passion for health research with a career in medicine.

Medical student working on barriers to kidney living donor kidney transplantation and patient reported outcomes and measures in liver transplantation.

Hi, I'm a medical student at the University of British Columbia. I have been with this team since 2018. I am interested in studying patient reported outcomes, ethnic disparities and distress measures in the ESKD population.

I am an MD student at the University of Toronto. I have been with the group since 2017, in various capacities. My clinical and research interests are translational work studying health disparities impacting marginalized patient populations.

My name is Christina Commisso and I am a fourth-year undergraduate at University of Toronto specializing in Health and Disease. My role on the team is a clinical research assistant helping with patient recruitment for the PROMIS longitudinal study. My research interests include whole-person care and holistic treatment approaches towards chronic illness.

Hey! My name is Emma, and I'm currently a third-year student at the University of Toronto. I've lived in the Greater Toronto Area my whole life, but I'd like to move to England once I graduate from university. I hope to one day pursue a career in medicine, specializing in either paediatrics or obstetrics. Fun Fact: I competed in synchronized skating for eight years, and my dream is to see it become an Olympic sport.

I recently graduated from the Master of Education program at the University of Toronto. As an aspiring physician, I hope to empower my patients to make informed decisions on their health and be their advocate in their journeys to health! I especially love the synergy between medicine, research and teaching. I am also a competitive powerlifter!

My name is Ghazaleh Ahmadzadeh and I'm currently studying life sciences at University of Toronto. When I'm not bearing my head in textbooks and studying, I'm usually enjoying my time outdoors, singing and playing the piano or writing leisurely. I am really grateful for being a part of Dr. Mucsi's clinical research team and hope to grow my clinical research skills through this opportunity.

I help with PROMIS recruitment at the Brampton site (Brampton Civic Hospital).

My current roles at KHERG are Junior Statistician and Lead Database Admin, and I am primarily responsible for cleaning, managing, and analyzing participant data to supplement abstract and manuscript drafting. I am currently an undergraduate student in Medical Sciences (specializing in Epidemiology and Biostatistics) at Western University, with interests in the validation of PROMs and psychosocial epidemiology.

I am a recent graduate at the University of Toronto with a major in Health & Disease and a double minors in Buddhism, Psychology & Mental Health and Physiology. I am now a first year Nursing student at the Lawrence St. Bloomberg at the University of Toronto. I am currently involved with recruitment, Ethno-Sociography specifically with South Asian Cultural project. My goal is to help establish ways for easier access to health care by improving healthcare infrastructure, meeting the needs of its population while also maintaining international standards and protocols.

I am an MA candidate in Health Policy and Equity at York University. My research interests include access to health, health-seeking behaviours, health-related knowledge, and socioeconomic disparities in health in diasporic communities in Canada. The end goal of my research is to create innovative, community-based interventions that address disparities found through my research. My career destination(s) include medicine, public health, and research.

Hi! My name is Nicole and I've just finished up my undergraduate degree at Queen's University. Here I studied Life Sciences with a specialization in Biomedical Discovery. During my time at Queen's, I completed an undergraduate research thesis looking into the ion channel basis of the pharmacological effects of amiodarone on electrophysiological properties. I'm planning to complete a Master's degree with U of T in the Pharmacology and Toxicology program and later apply to medical school. My goal is to contribute to the field of pharmacology and cardiology through innovative research to improve patient outcomes and experiences.

I'm a recent graduate from UofT with a double major in Biology for Health Sciences and Psychology. I'm mainly involved with recruitment, communications, focus groups and the Muslim cultural project. My research interests are in social determinants of health, patient reported outcome measures, health equity, and quality of life in transplant recipients. I’m also an advocate for using science communication to bridge gaps in science, healthcare and the public.

Hi! My name is Vishva and I’m in my 4th year of undergrad completing an Honors Specialization in Physiology and Pharmacology at Western University. I have always had in interest in social determinants of health. My academic goals include continuing research on patient reported outcome measures and other ways to improve the health of all Canadians as well as pursuing a career in medicine.

Yuelee(Ben) Khoo graduated from Western University with a specialization in Psychology (H.BSc, 2018) and is completing a Masters in Biostatistics at the University of Toronto. He is passionate about psychometric research and helping Canadian newcomers, immigrants, and refugees feel welcomed and healthy. This has led to his Social Difficulty Inventory validation and Chinese community outreach work with KHERG. When he's away from keyboard, you can find him trekking along nature trails in Toronto.

Hello! My name is Anushka Sharma and I am an undergraduate student in my third year studying computer science at USTG. I will be working on the team as a Python Developer. I am eager to contribute my best efforts here at KHERG!

My name is Ben Kopman and I am a volunteer for the Kidney Health Education and Research Group at the UHN. I recently graduated from the University of Guelph with an honors degree in Psychology. My goal is to pursue a masters degree and PhD in Clinical psychology with the hope of becoming a professor. I look forward to contributing to meaningful research projects that will strengthen the knowledge of mental health in the context of Patient-reported outcomes.

My name is Caroline Carruthers, and I am a Physiology and Health and Disease double major at the University of Toronto, with a minor in Immunology. My role on the team is a clinical research assistant and project manager assistant for the longitudinal PROMIS study, assisting with patient recruitment and data collection. My research interests include wholistic care approaches to chronic diseases and transplants, and I hope to pursue a career in medicine working on transplant teams. A fun fact about me is that I have been a competitive swimmer for over 12 years and represent the University of Toronto, but I'm afraid of open water!

Cindy is an undergraduate student at Western University, completing an Honours Specialization in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. She is currently the Team Lead of the Chinese Health Equity Project which examines potential barriers to living donor kidney transplantation among Chinese Canadians. More broadly, her research interests lie in examining the social determinants of health and understanding ethnocultural and gender disparities that create inequitable access to care. Outside of research and academics, Cindy is deeply passionate about literature and spends most of her free time reading. She also enjoys staying active by participating in long-distance running, ultimate frisbee, and figure skating.

My name is Erin Federico and I am a 4th year Undergraduate Student at the University of Toronto. I am pursuing a double major in Biomedical Ethics and Political Science with a minor in Critical Studies in Equity and Solidarity. My passions for healthcare largely revolve around rare disease and the multi-faceted ways they impact patients both individually and from a public health perspective. I have been with the KHERG team for just over a year now and I have greatly enjoyed my time as a Clinical Research Student in the PROMIS Longitudinal Studies. I find great joy in getting to interact with patients and having the opportunity to learn something new every time I come on site! A fun fact about me is that I have been riding horses for over 16 years and I live for any opportunity I can get to spend time with them!

Fabiha Razzak is a third-year undergraduate student in the Life Sciences program at the University of Toronto, St. George Campus. She is completing a specialist degree in Fundamental Genetics and its Applications. As a clinical research assistant, Fabiha directly interacts with patients and healthcare providers within various clinics and inpatient units at Toronto General Hospital to recruit transplant recipients for current studies at KHERG. Some of Fabiha’s notable experiences include working as a research assistant at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and the University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies. She has also volunteered with Wellspring Cancer Support and the Temerty Faculty of Medicine Office of Access and Outreach. Her goal is to pursue a career in medicine. Outside of the classroom and her research activities, Fabiha enjoys calligraphy, travelling, and spending time with friends and family.

Hi everyone! I'm a third-year Neuro and Psych double major at UTSG with a career dream of opening my own clinic for neuropsychiatric research. I'm passionate about youth health and ensuring better outcomes for neuro-related mental disorder medications. I'm very involved in and around the U of T community as well as back home in Calgary. I speak 3 (almost 4!) languages, and outside of academics, I'm a competitive pianist, figure skater, and national lifeguard!

I am a second year medical sciences student at the University of Western Ontario. At KHERG, I will primarily be involved with the Chinese cultural project and my research interests are in health equity and determinants of disease. I am hoping to specialize in biochemistry next year and then eventually pursue a research and/or medicine related career. In my free time, I love spending time with my dog and going for runs.

Katalin is a volunteer for the Kidney Health Education and Research Group at UHN. She has a background in mental health, having graduated from the University of Toronto with a specialist in psychology and a minor in french. Currently, Katalin is involved in the Emotion And Symptom-focused Engagement (EASE) project, an intervention for the management of emotional and physical symptoms among solid organ transplant recipients. In the future, she hopes to pursue her masters and PhD in clinical psychology, with the goal of becoming a clinical psychologist. When she is not conducting research, you can find Katalin reading fantasy novels, doing jazz-funk dance and hiking.

I am enthusiastic about joining the KHERG and hope to contribute my best efforts to facilitate challenges. I am a Neuroscience major at the University of Toronto looking to participate in research in the field of medicine and explore potential career pathways. Aside from academics, I enjoy the arts such as dancing and digital painting. I look forward to bringing forth new discoveries and projects with the KHERG.

Hello! I am currently in my 3rd year of undergraduate studies at McMaster, studying biology. Recently, I have begun to get involved in organ donation and transplantation awareness. It is something that holds personal value to me and I hope to clear misconceptions while starting the conversation in my community. In my free time I love travelling, spending time with my big family and playing sports, particularly ice hockey.

I am a medical student at the University of Toronto. I am interested in improving patient outcomes and quality of life following discharge from the hospital.

My name is Maria Pucci and I am a research analyst on the team. I recently completed an honours bachelor of science from the University of Toronto, specializing in Health and Disease. My research focuses on the social health of kidney transplant recipients. I help out with patient recruitment, data analysis, and project management. Outside of research, I love to dance, cook, and spend time with friends and family.

I am a University of Toronto St. George Life Sciences student entering my second year. I am glad to have the opportunity to work for the research team of Dr. Istvan Mucsi.

A hard-working and highly motivated student in the Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences program at McMaster University. Adapts to novel situations effectively, learns procedures quickly, and has experience in virtual labs, cellular research, and design projects. Passionate about the field of medicine, and looking to further develop analytical and technical skills in the lab environment.

Hi! My name is Mursal and I'm in my third year of studies at UofT, double majoring in psychology and physiology. My role in the team is clinical research assistant, and I am interested by the various interactions between mental and physical health in transplant patients. In my free time, I like to read or spend time in nature.

Hi, my name is Nadija! I am a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, completing a psychology specialist and biology minor. I am passionate about science communication and understanding the connection between physical and mental health. I am thrilled to be a part of the KHERG as a clinical research assistant on the SymptomCare and Qualitative Analysis teams.

Hi! My name is Nishat Syeda and I am a research volunteer at the KHERG! I am currently pursuing my undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, where I am double majoring in Health and Disease & Molecular Genetics. In my spare time, I enjoy watching horror movies and hiking!

Hi! My name is Nolan, and I am in my second year studying global health and medical anthropology at UofT. I am really excited to learn more about supporting equitable access to healthcare and promoting community wellness. In my free time, you can find me doing music or making good use of my bike share membership!

Hey, I am an undergrad student doing my fourth year at UTSC. I'm majoring in Neuroscience & Human Biology and minoring in psychology. I will be working on the team as a Clinical Research Assistant and will also be involved in the South Asian cultural project. I am excited to contribute here at KHERG!

Ram is a 4th-year undergraduate student in the biomedical sciences program at York University. He is passionate about studying neuroscience and the sociological factors related to healthcare. In the future, Ram hopes to delve deeper into his interests by continuing his education in a graduate program or pursuing a professional degree.

Zain Ahmad is an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, majoring in health & disease and cinema studies. He is interested in applying an anti-oppressive, equity-based approach to medicine and clinical research.

My name is Saebom and I am a PhD student at the Institute of Medical Science @ UofT. I graduated from McMaster University in 2023 with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Integrated Science, concentrating in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour. At the KHERG, I will be involved in the performance study and prehabilitation pilot--I'm interested in exploring how physical activity and exercise and can be used to promote health and psychosocial well-being in patients with kidney disease & other illnesses. Outside of school & research, I have a passion for the sport of powerlifting, and I love to cook!

As a third-year HBSc student at the University of Toronto Scarborough, I am currently completing a double major in Human Biology and Molecular Biology, Immunology, and Disease. In addition, I am also pursuing the Biological Sciences Research Excellence certificate. With nearly two years of experience as a Research Assistant and as a Research Student in the biotechnology and pharmacogenomics industries, I have developed skills in clinical research, scientific communication, and literature reviews. My passion for clinical research and healthcare has led me to my current position as a Clinical Research Assistant I at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, where I am now working under Dr. Istvan Mucsi, MD, PhD, in the field of nephrology.

I am a Life Science student entering the 4th year of my undergraduate degree at University of Toronto Scarborough. My hobbies include cooking, working with children, and visiting low income countries and assisting local populations with healthcare needs. I am looking forward to interacting with patients and working as a team to produce meaningful research!

Hi! My name is Sahil and I recently graduated from Western University with a Bachelor's in Medical Science with specialization in interdisciplinary studies. I am currently working as a part of the ePROM and cultural research teams at KHERG. I am passionate about the psychosocial aspect of healthcare and its contribution to overall patient well-being. I am hoping to pursue a career in medicine in the future.

Hi! I’m Xiaohan. I’m a Master of Engineering student at the University of Toronto. I'm thrilled to be serving as the Full-stack developer here at KHERG. I'm excited to work with both new and returning team members, and I'm here to support everyone in developing an up-to-date website and management of databases.

Hi! My name is Xinyi Zhao. I am currently a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, majoring in Health & Disease and Cell & Systems Biology, with a minor in Statistics. I am a work-study student in the recruitment team, and am also actively involved in the Chinese Health Equity research project.

Hello! I'm Xinyue, a second-year student at the University of Toronto specializing in Computer Science and also pursuing a minor in Statistics. Taking on the role of a full-stack developer in the team, my tasks involve building new features and keeping things updated. I'm enthusiastic about making meaningful contributions here at KHERG!

My name is Yonathan, and I am an undergraduate student enrolled in McMaster University’s Honours Life Sciences program. I am keenly interested in health equity at both a global and local scale, and seek to address the socioeconomic factors that impede marginalized communities from getting access to proper healthcare. I am looking forward to working with KHERG, and hope to learn new skills and gain valuable experience. In my free time, I like to play soccer, read books, and play the drums.