Tell us about your role at UHN.
I am a postdoctoral researcher at Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (TGHRI), co-supervised by Dr. David Cherney and Dr. John Floras. My research focuses on understanding the interactions between the heart, kidneys, and nervous system in individuals with cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and diabetes.
How long have you been at UHN and what led you to this role?
I have been in this role for a year. I am an exercise physiologist with a doctorate in kinesiology and have had a longstanding fascination with integrating exercise as a treatment modality for chronic diseases.
During my graduate studies, I worked as an exercise therapist in cardiac rehabilitation and had the opportunity to travel to the United States, Denmark, and New Zealand to study with leading exercise physiologists.
What are you passionate about in your role at UHN? What does health research mean to you?
I am passionate about working with a collaborative team of world-renowned experts in nephrology and cardiology at UHN, which allows me to develop a unique interdisciplinary skill set. This has provided me with an opportunity to ask innovative questions that have direct translation to patient care.
How does your work help to advance UHN's vision of A Healthier World?
My research contributes to UHN's vision by enhancing our understanding of how specific medications used to treat cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and diabetes work within the body. By employing integrative physiological approaches, we aim to unravel the complex heart-kidney connection, potentially leading to the identification of new therapeutic targets and improving treatment outcomes for these conditions.
What makes UHN an ideal place to advance health research?
UHN is a leader in innovation, pushing the boundaries of heart and kidney research. UHN provides numerous opportunities to engage with world-class researchers to ensure research questions are being addressed with the highest level of rigor and expertise.
Do you have any interests outside of work?
In my leisure time, I maintain an active lifestyle through my favourite hobbies of jogging and hiking.
What do you see for the future of health research, and what gets you excited about it?
The integration of novel data analytical tools, such as machine learning, is transforming how we approach health research. I'm excited about the potential to leverage these tools to enhance our ability to conduct integrative physiological research, leading to deeper insights and more effective treatments.
How to Participate in You @TeamUHN
You @TeamUHN is a campaign to highlight the important scientific contributions that research lab staff, trainees and learners, administrative staff, core facilities staff, Research Solutions & Services staff, and volunteers make towards A Healthier World through discovery and innovation. If you’re interested in sharing your story, we invite you to complete this form here (Open to UHN staff, trainees and volunteers).