Shamara Baidoobonso, PhD

Shamara Baidoobonso holds a PhD in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Western University and is the Provincial Epidemiologist for Prince Edward Island.

While at Western, Dr. Baidoobonso collaborated with community partners to conduct research focused on primary HIV prevention. Her keen interest in leveraging research for decision-making led Dr. Baidoobonso to a career in evidence-based practice, which combines her skills in research and program and policy development with her ability to work collaboratively across disciplines and sectors.

She has worked as a Clinical Epidemiologist at Health Quality Ontario, where she conducted health technology assessments on policy-important topics. She then served as the Team Lead for Evidence and Program Integration at Cancer Care Ontario, where she advised Ontario’s cancer screening programs on using evidence to inform program design and managed a team of research associates who conduct knowledge syntheses.

In her current role in Prince Edward Island’s Chief Public Health Officer, she manages the team of public health epidemiologists. Her team is responsible for disease surveillance, population health assessments, applied public health research, disease surveillance, outbreak investigations, and program evaluation.

Outside of work, Dr. Baidoobonso remains actively involved in building capacity to use evidence and in Ontario’s response to HIV. She is a Collaborator with the pan-Canadian SPOR Evidence Alliance, serves as the Chair for the Research Committee of the African and Caribbean Council on HIV/AIDS in Ontario, and is a Co-Investigator for the AC Study, a research project that aims to assess risk and protective factors related to HIV/AIDS.

Over the years, Dr. Baidoobonso has received scholarships and awards in recognition of both her academic and community work, including a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.