“My experience in the Masters of Health Sciences program at Lakehead taught me the importance of community connections. Trust, respect, and reciprocity are crucial in building relationships within our community. 

During my Masters degree, I had the pleasure of working closely with the North West Dementia Working Group (NWDWG), an advocacy group for people living with dementia and their care partners. This incredible group of people started programs like Dementia Café: A Place to Belong and Dementia Gardens: A Place to Grow. The passion that the Working Group members have is admirable. They welcome everyone into the group, including students, families, friends, and professionals. They taught me that I can make a difference in my community. Whether it’s at an individual or a group level, they make me feel like my contributions matter. My relationship with this group has grown into more than a student-participant relationship, but into one that feels more like family. The NWDWG has shown me how building relationships creates meaningful change within our community.”

-Maaja Sepa, Master of Health Sciences 2025

"In 2022, I began a Masters of Health Science specializing in Indigenous and Northern Health. Throughout my time at Lakehead, I enjoyed the small cohort sizes and discussion focused co-learning that went on in the classroom. The professors’ guidance, and peers’ support created an amazing place to grow as a researcher. After completing the program, I was encouraged to write an article with my thesis supervisors based on my thesis, which was published the following fall.

The skills I learned and the connections I made in my time at Lakehead continue to be valuable. After graduating, I continued to work with a remote community I had done research with during my thesis, and shortly after began working as a Climate Change Policy Analyst with the Métis Nation of Ontario under the Rights, Research, and Policy Branch. While working in this role, it’s been exciting to work with people from other organizations, who, after hearing about my time at Lakehead, have spoken highly of classmates of mine that they’ve connected with through their own work.'

-James Beck, Master of Health Sciences 2024

Thesis: Distracted Driving and Crash Responsibility in Fatal USA Collisions 1991 - 2015

"My time in the Master of Health Sciences program has certainly shaped my life in more ways than one. I owe my direction in finding the MHSc program to the late Dr. Michael Stones. He was my undergraduate supervisor and was soon retiring. He encouraged me to complete a masters degree, and to apply for the MHSc program under the supervision of Dr. Michel Bédard. Dr. Stones had also supervised Dr. Bédard, so I decided to take his advice. I joined Dr. Bédard at the Centre for Research on Safe Driving, where I chose to study distracted driving, and had several mentors for support. Had it not been for Dr. Stones, I wouldn't be where I am today.                     

Within the MHSc program, I was taught by a wide variety of faculty members and professors. I appreciated the diversity of knowledge that was shared. After graduation, I worked in the community for a few months, and then I was offered a research position with one of my previous professors. I currently work at the Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health at Lakehead University as a Research Coordinator & Research Manager. I am privileged to work in the field of gerontology. I truly enjoy working with older adults and people living with dementia. 

Through the MHSc program, I also met one of my best and closest friends. I met and have kept in touch with many other friends from the MHSc and MPH programs, too. The friendships that I made throughout my masters degree have lasted well beyond the program. I fondly look back on my memories from my MHSc."

- Carlina Marchese, Master of Health Sciences, 2019

Andrea Fortin and Ambili Kariaparambil Rajan presented their poster presentations at the 2018 APHEO (Association of Public Health Epidemiologists in Ontario) Conference & Workshop which was held November 25-27 at Crown Plaza, Niagara Falls. Both completed their theses on cancer patients and multimorbidity in Ontario. Andrea explored the effect of socio-demographic and health system factors on the association between multimorbidity and colorectal cancer survival. Her supervisors were Dr. Anna Kone Pefoyo and Dr. Lindsay Galway. Ambili examined (a) whether the effect of comorbidities on survival in cancer patients is modified by the presence of depression and (b) among cancer patients with depression whether the effect is modified by minimally adequate pharmacotherapy for depression. Her supervisors were Dr. Anna Kone Pefoyo and Dr. Deborah Scharf.

- Andrea Fortin (2021) and Ambili Kariaparambil Rajan (2020), Master of Health Sciences with Specialization in Epidemiology

Thesis: Closing the Northern Gap: Care Provider Perspectives on the Sustainability of an eHealth App for Maternal Mental Health in Northwestern Ontario

"Exceptional and unconventional. These are the words that we live by at Lakehead University. But how are these values embodied in our everyday lives as students at LU? For me, they are exemplified in the extraordinary experiences that I have had during my graduate education. Experiences such as guest lecturing, coordinating research projects, and working as a graduate assistant, which have presented unique opportunities for collaborative learning and personal growth as both a researcher and academic.

My thesis research has been a particular highlight during my time at LU. This project has involved working with an incredible team of interdisciplinary women to explore the suitability of an eHealth app for screening, monitoring, and treating maternal mental health disorders in Northwestern Ontario. Through speaking with care providers from a wide range of health care backgrounds, our goal is to eventually generate a care option specific to the diverse needs of Indigenous, Arab Muslim, and Euro-Canadian women living in rural and remote communities. The app will provide an additional support option for women in these underserved regions and will hopefully contribute to more positive overall health outcomes.

As I enter my final year of graduate studies, I am so thankful for the overwhelming support that I have received at LU. These accomplishments would not have been possible without the unwavering encouragement of my supervisor, mentors, and peers. My advice to new students is to lean on these exceptional support systems as you explore each of your professional interests."

- Abigale Kent, Master of Health Sciences with Specialization in Indigenous and Northern Health, 2020

Thesis: Age and Sex Influences on Health Care Utilization through the Ontario Telemedicine Network

 Why Lakehead Health Sciences?:

"I chose to further my education at Lakehead University as I am interested in directing my education and career paths towards northern health, particularly improving access to specialized health care for those residing in northern, rural communities. The experiences and opportunities I have gained thus far in the MHSc Program have been overwhelmingly positive. I initially entered the program unsure of how I wanted to focus my research. The insight and guidance provided by students and faculty within the department helped focus my interests and ideas, leading to the development of my thesis research exploring virtual health care utilization among Ontario residents."

- Jessica Lowey, Master of Health Sciences with Specialization in Epidemiology, 2019