Ever since I was young, my parents emphasized the importance of giving back to the community and this has always been at the forefront of my career search. Being passionate about science, I had always thought that research was a way to pursue my passions while having a significant impact on the community. During my BSc, I was an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Peng Huang’s laboratory where I studied spinal cord development and muscle regeneration. From this experience I learned about the scientific process and how important research is for improving patient outcomes. This sparked my desire to extend my skills from the bench to the bedside and pursue clinical research through graduate training. Prior to enrolling in graduate studies, it was imperative that I was able to financially support myself, thus, I worked as a pharmacy assistant. During this time, I noticed the number of people taking antihypertensive medications and the lack of blood pressure control among patients, especially women.  These experiences led me to pursue graduate training in Dr. Sofia Ahmed’s laboratory, where she leads a world-class program of research in women’s cardiovascular health, with an emphasis on patient-oriented research. Through this program I aim to improve women’s cardiovascular health in Canada and beyond.

My ultimate career goal is to become a leader and advocate in the field of women’s cardiovascular health. Through my current graduate program I aim to develop research expertise in women’s cardiovascular health. My work to date has been recognized and supported by numerous institutional, provincial, national, and international awards including the Janssen Fund Graduate Scholarship for Equity and Inclusion (2023), Libin Cardiovascular Institute Doctoral Scholarship in Women’s Cardiovascular Health (2024), Research Impact Canada (2022) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research through a Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s Award (2022). Furthermore, organizations such as Hypertension Canada, have shown their support for my research as they believe my research findings have the potential to have a significant impact on enhancing gender equity and improving health and well-being. I also hope to inspire and train the next generation of scientists, while encouraging them to consider the importance of sex and gender in their own work to enhance inclusivity and improve the well-being of all individuals.