Meet the Team
Amina Benmessaoud
Amina is a Research Coordinator and her passion lies in the integration of technology in healthcare systems, to enrich the patient and clinician experiences. Today we increasingly face new challenges with the rapid rate of technological evolution, access to health data and from the rising numbers of patients. Her vision is to support and overcome these challenges by finding the right balance between patient empowerment and clinician efficiency and effectiveness by through technological facilitation. She has an undergraduate degree in Biology and Masters in Engineering Design. Amina has worked on several projects doing user research and solution design, which can be found on her online portfolio at: https://amibenmes.myportfolio.com. In her free time she also loves to read, travel and socialize.
Email: amina.benmessaoud@unityhealth.to
Matt Castelo
Matt Castelo is a General Surgery Resident enrolled in the Surgeon Scientist Training Program at the University of Toronto. He is a graduate student in the Clinical Epidemiology Program at the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation. His thesis work is focusing on delays to diagnosis and treatment in young adults with colorectal cancer.
Colin Sue-Chue Lam
Colin Sue-Chue-Lam is a General Surgery resident enrolled in the Surgeon Scientist Training Program at the University of Toronto. He is a graduate student in the Clinical Epidemiology program at the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation. His thesis work attempts to identify and mitigate cancer risk in the Lynch syndrome population. His broader interests include surgical oncology and clinical decision making. Outside of work, Colin enjoys rock climbing, food and music.
Email: colin.sue.chue.lam@alum.utoronto.ca
Anne Sorvari
Anne Sorvari holds the position of Research Program Manager with in the research team. She has over 20 years of experience in healthcare, specifically within the Division of General Surgery. She started her career in healthcare with the Office of International Surgery, working on projects building surgical capacity and research in low income countries. Anne then moved to the position of trauma education coordinator at St. Michael’s Hospital, overseeing the trauma education (ATLS, ATCN, ATOM, ASSET, RTTDC) courses and coordinating the ThinkFirst Injury Prevention Strategy for Youth (TIPSY) program. In 2014, she transitioned over to work on Dr. Baxter’s research team and is currently responsible for the management of the overall research program under Dr. Baxter’s supervision. In her spare time, Anne enjoys boxing, powerlifting and scuba diving.
Email: anne.sorvari@unityhealth.to
Our Former Team Members:
Arlinda Ruco
Arlinda Ruco is doctoral student at the University of Toronto within the Institute for Health Policy Management and Evaluation. Her thesis work focuses on strategies for maximizing screening participation within the provincial colorectal cancer screening program. Prior to beginning her doctoral studies, Arlinda worked as a Project Manager in Practice-Based Research and Innovation where she was responsible for designing, implementing and evaluating programs to build research capacity in point-of-care clinicians. In addition, her interests include quality improvement methodology, leadership and patient safety.
Fahima Dossa
Fahima Dossa is a general surgery resident and a trainee in the Surgeon Scientist Training Program at the University of Toronto. She is a graduate student in Clinical Epidemiology at the Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation. Her thesis work focuses on health services utilization by women who undergo BRCA testing, specifically how test results impact decisions for screening and prophylactic surgery. Her broader interests include the evaluation of diagnostic and treatment options for surgical patients, the use of technology in medical education, patient and physician decision-making, and statistical methods.
Tari Little
Tari Little is a research assistant with a background in human biology and genetics. A recent graduate from The University of Western Ontario, she is eager to learn the ins and outs of health services research. Her role with Dr. Baxter’s team involves providing support for patient recruitment and assessment, as well as research ethics documentation. She is currently focused on data abstraction for a provincial research project focused on analyzing the real world utilization of screening, prevention and treatment strategies for women receiving BRCA 1/2 genetic testing in Ontario. Outside of the office, she is an avid reader and always has her nose in a true crime novel.
Maria Cusimano
Maria Cusimano is a resident in Obstetrics & Gynaecology and a trainee in the Women’s Health Scholar Program and Clinician Investigator Program at the University of Toronto. She is a graduate student in Clinical Epidemiology at the Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation. Her thesis work focuses on outcomes following prophylactic surgery for women with BRCA1/2 mutations. She has research interests in benign and malignant gynaecologic disease, pregnancy outcomes, and medical education.
David Zhang
David Zhang is a general surgery resident at the University of Toronto currently enrolled in Surgeon Scientist Training Program. He is a graduate student at the Institute of Health Policy, Evaluation and Management, and his thesis work is centered on outcomes of smoking cessation in surgical and cancer patients. His additional research interests include preoperative optimization, surgical decision-making and public health issues surrounding nicotine products.
Arden Corter
Arden Corter is a Post Doctoral Research Fellow in the Department of General Surgery at St Michael's Hospital, and an Honorary Research Fellow at the Department of General Practice & Primary Health Care at Auckland University. Prior to completing her PhD in Health Psychology at the University of Auckland, Arden worked as a health and social service research and evaluation consultant. Arden’s research specializes in bridging patient-centred and health systems approaches to care. She is particularly interested in e-health, mental health, patient adherence, and in furthering the development of services that take account of the individual and dynamic needs of patients along the continuum of care. Arden also loves music and can be spotted from time to time singing jazz at a local club.
Sarah Moore
Sarah Moore is a newly trained Colorectal Surgeon from the University of Toronto. She is a graduate student in Clinical Epidemiology at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation. Her thesis work focuses on fertility in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and the effect of surgery on such. Her broad research interests include health services research and outcomes in IBD and surgical patients.
Andrea Simpson
Andrea Simpson is an Obstetrician/Gynaecologist who is currently enrolled as a Fellow in Minimally Invasive Gynaecologic Surgery at St. Michael’s Hospital, and is completing her Masters of Health Services Research at the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at U of T. Her thesis work with Dr. Baxter is the evaluation of wait times for surgery and care pathways for obese women diagnosed with endometrial cancer.
Brittany Speller
Brittany Speller has recently completed her Master of Science in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto with Health Services Research as her primary area of study. Brittany has research experience in breast cancer and with older adults in assisted living facilities. As part of Dr. Baxter’s team she has developed a fertility decision aid titled Begin Exploring Fertility Options, Risks and Expectations (BEFORE decision aid) for young women with breast cancer in Canada. With an interest in qualitative methodologies and patient engagement her research has involved many health care providers and breast cancer survivors from across Canada. In her free time, she likes to travel and explore the always expanding sweet treat spots in Toronto.
Amina is a Research Coordinator and her passion lies in the integration of technology in healthcare systems, to enrich the patient and clinician experiences. Today we increasingly face new challenges with the rapid rate of technological evolution, access to health data and from the rising numbers of patients. Her vision is to support and overcome these challenges by finding the right balance between patient empowerment and clinician efficiency and effectiveness by through technological facilitation. She has an undergraduate degree in Biology and Masters in Engineering Design. Amina has worked on several projects doing user research and solution design, which can be found on her online portfolio at: https://amibenmes.myportfolio.com. In her free time she also loves to read, travel and socialize.
Email: amina.benmessaoud@unityhealth.to
Matt Castelo
Matt Castelo is a General Surgery Resident enrolled in the Surgeon Scientist Training Program at the University of Toronto. He is a graduate student in the Clinical Epidemiology Program at the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation. His thesis work is focusing on delays to diagnosis and treatment in young adults with colorectal cancer.
Colin Sue-Chue Lam
Colin Sue-Chue-Lam is a General Surgery resident enrolled in the Surgeon Scientist Training Program at the University of Toronto. He is a graduate student in the Clinical Epidemiology program at the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation. His thesis work attempts to identify and mitigate cancer risk in the Lynch syndrome population. His broader interests include surgical oncology and clinical decision making. Outside of work, Colin enjoys rock climbing, food and music.
Email: colin.sue.chue.lam@alum.utoronto.ca
Anne Sorvari
Anne Sorvari holds the position of Research Program Manager with in the research team. She has over 20 years of experience in healthcare, specifically within the Division of General Surgery. She started her career in healthcare with the Office of International Surgery, working on projects building surgical capacity and research in low income countries. Anne then moved to the position of trauma education coordinator at St. Michael’s Hospital, overseeing the trauma education (ATLS, ATCN, ATOM, ASSET, RTTDC) courses and coordinating the ThinkFirst Injury Prevention Strategy for Youth (TIPSY) program. In 2014, she transitioned over to work on Dr. Baxter’s research team and is currently responsible for the management of the overall research program under Dr. Baxter’s supervision. In her spare time, Anne enjoys boxing, powerlifting and scuba diving.
Email: anne.sorvari@unityhealth.to
Our Former Team Members:
Arlinda Ruco
Arlinda Ruco is doctoral student at the University of Toronto within the Institute for Health Policy Management and Evaluation. Her thesis work focuses on strategies for maximizing screening participation within the provincial colorectal cancer screening program. Prior to beginning her doctoral studies, Arlinda worked as a Project Manager in Practice-Based Research and Innovation where she was responsible for designing, implementing and evaluating programs to build research capacity in point-of-care clinicians. In addition, her interests include quality improvement methodology, leadership and patient safety.
Fahima Dossa
Fahima Dossa is a general surgery resident and a trainee in the Surgeon Scientist Training Program at the University of Toronto. She is a graduate student in Clinical Epidemiology at the Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation. Her thesis work focuses on health services utilization by women who undergo BRCA testing, specifically how test results impact decisions for screening and prophylactic surgery. Her broader interests include the evaluation of diagnostic and treatment options for surgical patients, the use of technology in medical education, patient and physician decision-making, and statistical methods.
Tari Little
Tari Little is a research assistant with a background in human biology and genetics. A recent graduate from The University of Western Ontario, she is eager to learn the ins and outs of health services research. Her role with Dr. Baxter’s team involves providing support for patient recruitment and assessment, as well as research ethics documentation. She is currently focused on data abstraction for a provincial research project focused on analyzing the real world utilization of screening, prevention and treatment strategies for women receiving BRCA 1/2 genetic testing in Ontario. Outside of the office, she is an avid reader and always has her nose in a true crime novel.
Maria Cusimano
Maria Cusimano is a resident in Obstetrics & Gynaecology and a trainee in the Women’s Health Scholar Program and Clinician Investigator Program at the University of Toronto. She is a graduate student in Clinical Epidemiology at the Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation. Her thesis work focuses on outcomes following prophylactic surgery for women with BRCA1/2 mutations. She has research interests in benign and malignant gynaecologic disease, pregnancy outcomes, and medical education.
David Zhang
David Zhang is a general surgery resident at the University of Toronto currently enrolled in Surgeon Scientist Training Program. He is a graduate student at the Institute of Health Policy, Evaluation and Management, and his thesis work is centered on outcomes of smoking cessation in surgical and cancer patients. His additional research interests include preoperative optimization, surgical decision-making and public health issues surrounding nicotine products.
Arden Corter
Arden Corter is a Post Doctoral Research Fellow in the Department of General Surgery at St Michael's Hospital, and an Honorary Research Fellow at the Department of General Practice & Primary Health Care at Auckland University. Prior to completing her PhD in Health Psychology at the University of Auckland, Arden worked as a health and social service research and evaluation consultant. Arden’s research specializes in bridging patient-centred and health systems approaches to care. She is particularly interested in e-health, mental health, patient adherence, and in furthering the development of services that take account of the individual and dynamic needs of patients along the continuum of care. Arden also loves music and can be spotted from time to time singing jazz at a local club.
Sarah Moore
Sarah Moore is a newly trained Colorectal Surgeon from the University of Toronto. She is a graduate student in Clinical Epidemiology at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation. Her thesis work focuses on fertility in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and the effect of surgery on such. Her broad research interests include health services research and outcomes in IBD and surgical patients.
Andrea Simpson
Andrea Simpson is an Obstetrician/Gynaecologist who is currently enrolled as a Fellow in Minimally Invasive Gynaecologic Surgery at St. Michael’s Hospital, and is completing her Masters of Health Services Research at the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at U of T. Her thesis work with Dr. Baxter is the evaluation of wait times for surgery and care pathways for obese women diagnosed with endometrial cancer.
Brittany Speller
Brittany Speller has recently completed her Master of Science in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto with Health Services Research as her primary area of study. Brittany has research experience in breast cancer and with older adults in assisted living facilities. As part of Dr. Baxter’s team she has developed a fertility decision aid titled Begin Exploring Fertility Options, Risks and Expectations (BEFORE decision aid) for young women with breast cancer in Canada. With an interest in qualitative methodologies and patient engagement her research has involved many health care providers and breast cancer survivors from across Canada. In her free time, she likes to travel and explore the always expanding sweet treat spots in Toronto.
