Ten outstanding Ontario university scholars will share more than $370,000 through the Ontario Women’s Health Scholars Awards to improve women’s health through research into such issues as contraception, breast cancer and alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
“The Women’s Health Scholars Awards recognize researchers working to improve the lives of women across the province and around the world,” says David Lindsay, President and CEO of the Council of Ontario Universities (COU), which administers the awards that were established in 2001. “We thank the Ontario government for funding this research and helping to attract outstanding scholars to our universities.”
“The wide ranging pursuit of knowledge and research in Ontario universities benefits every aspect of our society and our diverse economy. These awards bring particular focus to research in women’s health.”
The 2016 recipients include postdoctoral, doctoral and master’s students from six Ontario universities. They each will receive scholarships of $25,000 to $50,000, along with research grants of $1,000 to $5,000.
This year’s recipients and their areas of research are:
Alisa Grigorovich, University of Toronto – how to create effective policies that address the sexual harassment of female workers by clients in Ontario residential long-term facilities.
Jocelyn Wessels, McMaster University – how female sex hormones found in contraceptives affect vaginal health and susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections.
Lori Chambers, McMaster University – the challenges and benefits to African immigrant women who are living with HIV and choose to work in prevention, treatment and advocacy for others with HIV.
Komal Shaikh, York University – assessing the effects of education-based therapy in treating and rehabilitating cancer survivors with cancer-related cognitive dysfunction.
Amanda D. Timmers, Queen’s University – how sexual arousal patterns vary across genders and how these variations can inform the treatment of sexual dysfunction.
Kelly Coons, Laurentian University – how to improve the ability of future health care professionals to counsel pregnant women on drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
Sara King-Dowling, McMaster University – how the development of girls’ motor skills affects their overall health and activity levels over time.
Denise Jaworsky, University of Toronto – how living in rural and Northern areas of Canada affects the ability of women living with HIV to access care.
Justin Michael, Western University – developing tools to allow for a single-visit radiation treatment for women with breast cancer to make things easier for those living far from treatment facilities.
Shira Yufe, York University – how to encourage breast cancer survivors to adopt healthy lifestyle and weight management habits.
Click here to learn more about this year’s recipients.
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