About the sephgsa

We are the School of Epidemiology & Public Health Graduate Student Association at the University of Ottawa. We exist to discuss problems common to graduate students at SEPH, plan academic and social events, and advocate on behalf of students on committees at SEPH, the Faculty of Medicine, and the Graduate Student Association of the University of Ottawa (GSAED).

If you have any event ideas you would like to see, please reach out to uo.sephgsa@gmail.com! We value your input!

Membership in the sephgsa is comprised of all students enrolled in degree programs in the School of Epidemiology & Public Health. Our association is entirely student run and changes year to year based on the needs and interests of our members. Whether you are a current student at SEPH and want to get involved, or a prospective student interested in studying at SEPH, we would love to hear from you!

Objectives

1

To provide a medium for the exchange of ideas of an academic and social nature between graduate students and the greater University of Ottawa community;

2

To establish a basis for the organization of academic, social, and sporting activities;

3

To discuss problems common to graduate students in the School of Epidemiology & Public Health, and to assist in carrying these problems to the appropriate agency, when necessary, on or off campus;

4

To promote and defend the rights, welfare and interests of members of the association and provide a central body which may represent graduate students within the greater University of Ottawa community; and

5

To act as a representative of the graduate students in the School of Epidemiology & Public Health on the University of Ottawa Graduate Student Association (GSAED).

Executive Council

The sephgsa Executive Council manages the day to day affairs of the association. Members stand for election at our Annual General Meeting held in the Fall term of each year and vacancies are filled by council at our monthly council meetings. Executive Council Meetings are open to all members and we encourage you to attend and voice any concerns you may have!

Read our Meeting Minutes

Read our Constitution

Council Members

Co-President

Sophie Bezanson (she/her) is a first-year Master of Public Health student, concentrating in Global Health and Spanish. She recently graduated from St. Francis Xavier University with a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Health, and is interested in human rights, health in humanitarian contexts, and global health governance. As Co-President, Sophie is excited to strengthen connections among students across the MPH and EAHR programs. She is open to all feedback and is looking forward to amplifying student voices within the Faculty of Medicine. Outside of class, Sophie can be found swimming, enjoying a concert, or exploring the nature around Ottawa. Feel free to reach out at any time if you wish to connect!

Vice President

Mkeila Sowa (she/her) is a first-year MPH student in the Public Health Policy stream. She is interested in chronic disease prevention, advocacy and health equity. As Vice President, Mkeila looks forward to working with the SEPHGSA team to foster a supportive and welcoming environment for all SEPH students and representing SEPH's interests within the uOttawa Faculty of Medicine. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching tv shows, and long walks.

Public Health Academic

Nana Yaa is a first year MPH+ student in the practice stream. She has an academic background in health sciences also from uOttawa. As VP of Academic Affairs for MPH, Nana Yaa hopes to work with students to optimize their time in their graduate studies and enjoy the journey. She enjoys reading, writing and singing outside of school. She is excited for what this year holds!!

Wellness

Naana Duah is an MPH student in the Public Health Practice stream. She is passionate about fostering connection within the SEPH community and promoting overall well-being. As VP Wellness, Naana hopes to support students' mental health through restorative activities and practices. In her free time, she enjoys singing and songwriting, reading, travelling, volunteering, and rewatching Avatar: The Last Airbender!

Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion

Isabel Ghiara is an MPH practice student dedicated to embedding equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging principles into public health practice and student life. Her public health interests include mental health, maternal/perinatal health, and paediatric health, with a commitment to advancing equitable access, culturally safe care, and inclusive practices. She aims to bring a collaborative, reflective approach to EDI work and values continuous learning. Outside of school, Isabel enjoys working with animals, travelling, and trying new recipes.

Events

Julia DaSilva is a first-year MPH student in the Policy stream, with an undergraduate background in Life Sciences from McMaster University. She is passionate about evidence-informed public health policy, particularly upstream approaches to youth health and preventing chronic disease by addressing barriers to access and care. As VP of Events, Julia is excited to create fun, inclusive social events that strengthen community within SEPH and help make grad school more than just coursework. Outside of class, she enjoys cooking, baking, board games, exploring Ottawa, and spending time outdoors.

MPH Representative

Maeve Kinsman (she/her) is a first year Master of Public Health student in the public health policy stream. She is passionate about child and youth mental health as well as accessible education and trauma informed approaches to health. As an MPH representative, she is excited to work alongside her cohort, and make sure that all voices and opinions are heard. Outside of school, she enjoys running, crocheting, and playing with her roommate's cat Squeak!

International Representative

MSc EPI Representative

Nardin is a first-year student in the MSc Epidemiology program (Clinical research stream). She is also a third-year General Surgery resident. As one of the MSc Epidemiology representatives, she aims to advocate for the interests of her fellow classmates and work with the SEPH GSA to create a positive experience for all SEPH students. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time in the operating room, cycling, traveling and exploring the Ottawa food scene.

GSAED Representative

Karim is a second year MSc Epi Student doing his research in predictive algorithm development as part of the Big Life Lab at The Ottawa Hospital. As GSAED representative to the Board of Directors, Karim aims to voice student body concerns, issues, and perspectives about academic and financial policy changes, student support services, and student governance initiatives to decision making bodies at all levels of university administration. In his free time, Karim is a big soccer fan, having thoroughly enjoyed Atletico Ottawa's dramatic CPL playoff final win late last year.

Co-President

Aaya Mahdi (she/her) is an MSc Epidemiology student at the University of Ottawa with a strong interest in global health and health equity. She currently works as a Research Assistant at the CHEO Research Institute contributing to evidence-informed public health research and policy initiatives. Aaya is also actively involved in student leadership, including serving as Editor-in-Chief of the University of Ottawa Global Health Journal. She is passionate about translating research into meaningful action and fostering collaborative, inclusive spaces.

Epidemiology Academic

Sara Siddiqi is a PhD student in epidemiology at SEPH, co-supervised by Dr. Jess Fiedorowicz and Dr. Ian Colman. She is interested in investigating the relationship between mental illness and cardiovascular disease. Outside of school, she enjoys baking, hiking, and finding allergen friendly places to eat! As VP Academic Affairs Epidemiology, Sara aims to represent students and advocate for their needs in SEPH and the uOttawa community.

Wellness

Maimonah Al-Dulaimi is an MPH student in the practice stream. She did her undergrad at Carleton University in Health Sciences with a focus in Global Health. Fun fact: she loves F1, reading, cafe hopping, and Arsenal FC!

Communication

Emma is a Master of Public Health student in the Practice stream with a background in Health Sciences and Psychology. Her academic and professional interests centre on maternal and infant health, with a strong focus on health equity, social determinants of health, and population-level prevention. She is particularly interested in improving access to culturally safe, evidence-informed care for families facing systemic barriers, and in translating public health research into meaningful, community-driven action.

Finance

Maryn MacLeod is a first year MPH student in the Public Health Practice stream. She recently graduated from her undergraduate degree at Queen’s University with a major in Life Science and a minor in Linguistics. As VP of Financial Affairs, Maryn plans to maintain an organized budget, use funds wisely to improve student experiences, and promote equity and inclusion for the SEPH community. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, cooking gluten-free foods, and going on long walks.

Events

Maryam Yassin (she/her) is a first-year Master's student in Epidemiology and Applied Health Research, concentrating in Clinical Research. As co-VP of Events, she is excited to plan events that allow SEPH students to unwind, learn, connect, network and celebrate! She is passionate about health equity, improving clinical trial outcomes and health policy for children with rare genetic diseases. Outside of class, Maryam enjoys crafting, volunteering, staying active and trying new activities!

MPH Representative

Anna Bien is a first-year Master of Public Health student in the Public Health Policy stream. She graduated from the University of Waterloo in 2025, and has a background in community outreach initiatives. As an MPH Representative, she is committed to fostering a supportive and welcoming environment for all students. Outside of academics, she enjoys reading, exploring Ottawa, and spending time with family and friends.

MSc EPI Representative

My toxic trait is believing everyone should love math as much as I do. I’m an Epi grad student, my research is building video games where I can 1v1 viruses to see who blinks first. You can usually find me at 850 PMD, drinking mate, frantically writing on a whiteboard and talking to myself. I'm convinced math is beautiful enough to justify the suffering. *sobs*

PhD Representative

Our Logo

The sephgsa logo was designed by former council member Sebasitan Srugo and represents the interconnected continuity of the sephgsa. As members of the sephgsa we each provide a unique perspective and contribution during our time in the association and the collaboration of those diverse experiences creates a single continuum which no one individual could support.