EqHS Team
The work of the Equity in Health Systems (EqHS) Lab is supported by an amazing group of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Manager
Wendy Chong, MHA
Wendy Chong comes to the Manager role from a decade working in community-based primary care with a focus on health equity and the social determinants of health. With a Master of Health Administration (MHA), she has extensive leadership experience in strategy, quality and change management. She is interested in collaborating with members to move forward on EDIA initiatives that deliver impact and sustainability.
Coordinator
Jade Alcantara, BN, MSc
Jade Alcantara holds an MSc in Health, Science, Technology, and Policy and a Bachelor in Nursing. While her clinical specialization is in Neonatal ICU, her research interests broadly include family-centered health promotion toward healthy life trajectories, health innovation, and knowledge mobilization. Jade is passionate about community engagement (in both clinical and public settings) and its role in promoting culturally and contextually appropriate research and practice to address underlying health inequities.
Coordinator
Jayne Beselt, MSc
Jayne Beselt holds an MSc. in Sport, Exercise and Health Psychology from the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary where she studied how older adults at increased risk of social isolation experience social support through physical activity. Most recently, she worked as a Research Coordinator at the Brenda Strafford Centre on Aging promoting aging research and education undertaken by faculties across the University of Calgary.
Coordinator
Kelly Bute-Seaton, BSc, MBA, PMP, MSc
Kelly Bute-Seaton holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Zoology, an International MBA, and most recently graduated from Brock University with a Master of Sustainability. She is also a PMP-certified project manager with experience at leadership levels in strategic planning, business development and stakeholder relations. She is passionate about organizational sustainability and sustainability in general. In her current role, she is interested in using her extensive background to understand and remove barriers to health inequities.
Coordinator
Bizav Jaffer, BSc
Bizav Jaffer is a graduate of the University of Ottawa where she completed her Bachelor of Science, Honours in Biomedical Science in 2022. Bizav comes to the Coordinator role with experience in patient care and developing the volunteer program at The Ottawa Hospital. She is passionate about community building, advocating for underserved populations and health reform. She hopes to work towards building a more representative health care system that better serves a diverse and growing population.