Highlights from 2019

Over the last year, our department competently navigated changes, hosted a number of events, and experienced a myriad of further successes. The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics had a great year, some of the highlights being:

  • In January the department website was upgraded to the newest template and our Research Cluster pages were completed.

  • Our Research Cluster Booklets were printed and distributed.

  • Assistant Professor, Kelly Anderson, PhD, received a Schulich Educator Award at the Awards of Excellence Ceremony.

  • Our department was well represented by our graduate students at London Health Research Day, including poster award winners Michael Hong, PhD Candidate, and Yue Niu, MSc Candidate. 

  • Dr. Brian G. Feagan, Professor of Medicine at Western University and Senior Scientific Officer at Robarts Clinical Trials, Inc., presented the 2019 Allan Donner Lecture, “Clinical Trials in Inflammatory Bowel Disease – Better Methodology Means Better Patient Care.”

  • Jordan Edwards and Klajdi Puka, PhD Candidates, were awarded inaugural research fellowships from the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division. The doctoral students were selected on the strength of their ongoing research about mood and anxiety disorders in migrant populations and the long-term mental health implications of childhood-onset epilepsy.

  • Sisira Sarma, PhD, as leader of the Health Economics Research Cluster, organised and hosted the first annual Health Economics Research Day at Western University

  • In July, the Western Epidemiology and Biostatistics Student Council (WEBSC) successfully administered the 2019 Summer Workshop Series, a week of methodology training for students, faculty and staff interested in improving their skills.

  • September Orientation ran smoothly and the department introduced 30 new graduate students and 17 new undergraduate students to the department.

  • Kathryn Nicholson, co-leader of the Chronic Disease and Multimorbidity Research Cluster, organised and executed her plan for the 2019 International Symposium on Multimorbidity.

  • In November, Professor Kathy N. Speechley, PhD, presented the Annual Carol Buck Lecture, "The journey to a better quality of life for those living with childhood-onset epilepsy: Seizing the observations." Also at the event, Mayanca Rodrigues, MSc Candidate, was awarded the Carol Buck Graduate Scholarship.

  • This fall, the department welcomed two new administrative team members, Diana Lee, Manager, Administration and Finance, and Darrell MacNeil, HR & Finance Coordinator. They bring valuable experience and new perspectives to help guide our department's progress in the year to come.