Our Team

Dr. Basem Gohar

PhD, MSc, C.Psych

Dr. Gohar is an Assistant Professor at the University of Guelph’s Department of Population Medicine. He holds academic appointments at the University of Waterloo’s School of Public Health Sciences and Laurentian University’s Centre for Research in Occupational Safety & Health. He is also a registered clinical psychologist in Ontario. With a unique educational, research, and clinical background, Dr. Gohar teaches communication and ethics to veterinary students. He also teaches qualitative health research and knowledge synthesis at the graduate level.

Dr. Gohar’s research interests are in public health, specifically occupational health and workplace mental health. He has a successful funding track record, including tri-council (CIHR & SSHRC) and industry funding. His previous research examined predictors of sickness absenteeism and the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 in various occupational groups. His findings have led to his interest in identifying factors contributing to staff shortage and organizational commitment. He applies various research methods, including knowledge synthesis (e.g., meta-analyses & scoping reviews), quantitative, and qualitative methods

Dr. Marianne Saragosa

RN, PhD

Dr. Saragosa is a registered nurse with a Ph.D. in Health Services Research from the Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation at the University of Toronto. In 2021/22, Dr. Saragosa was the recipient of a CIHR Health Systems Impact Fellowship (trainee), where she was embedded within a home care organization and conducted a mixed methods study on the care transition experience and readmission rates of home care clients in Ontario.

Since then, Dr. Saragosa has transitioned to a postdoctoral fellowship at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute at Sinai Health. In this role, she actively engages in program evaluation and care transition research using novel visual research methods. Dr. Saragosa has extensive experience conducting rapid reviews and applied qualitative research in care transitions, young carers, and dementia care. As an emerging early career researcher, Dr. Saragosa is interested in being a connector by building quality relationships and sharing knowledge, ideas, and connections. 

Karli Longthorne

PhD Student

Karli (she/her) is a mental health and well-being researcher, currently pursuing a PhD project that aims to investigate, develop and evaluate institutional well-being interventions for veterinary academic employees who work at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). The project, which is co-advised by Dr. Andria Jones and Dr. Basem Gohar brings together psychological and epidemiological inquiry and mixed-method research to drive positive social change and transformation at the OVC and similar veterinary institutions. Karli’s work is inspired by her commitment to addressing complex social issues related to mental health and well-being in vulnerable populations; and by her passion for using science to inform systematic issues through knowledge mobilization.

Ayesha Khan

HBSc., MSc Student

Ayesha previously graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelors of Science (HBSc) in the fields of Psychology and Biology in 2022. She took these two majors because she felt they strongly complimented each other and surely, the big picture came to view at the end of her degree. Throughout her degree, Ayesha was promoted to an Infection Control Supervisor at two hospital sites across the William Osler Health Care System where she saw the direct effects of COVID-19 on patients, visitors, health care staff and their resources. Still working in such environments, she decided to continue her education and begin her masters in Population Medicine in hopes to learn and research more in population health.

Patricia Nicole Dignos

HBSc., MSc Student

Patricia graduated from the University of Toronto where she completed an Honours Bachelor of Science with a double major in Biology for Health Science and Psychology and a minor in Anthropology. With an interest in healthcare, Patricia volunteered and worked in a variety of healthcare settings where she developed a newfound interest in the field of public health and epidemiology. This led her to pursue a Master of Science in Population Medicine at the University of Guelph.

For the last number of years volunteering and working at local hospitals, she has witnessed the significant challenges that healthcare workers face. As such, she is interested in researching the effects of occupational stress on mental health and the psychosocial risk factors associated with adverse health outcomes to promote mental well-being and ensure resilience in healthcare professionals. 

Katy Oada

BSc., MSc. Student

Katy Oada completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics. At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Katy worked at the University of Guelph mass vaccination clinic. She witnessed firsthand the stress heath care workers endured during this public health crisis. Her elective studies and work experiences have now led her to pursue a Masters of Science in Population Medicine focused on Public Health. As part of the Gohar lab team, Katy will be looking at occupational health and workplace mental well-being of health care workers. 

Thomas Habib

BSc. Student

Thomas is a third-year Bio-Medical Science student at the University of Guelph. He joins Dr. Gohar and his team in their research regarding moral injury in the veterinary domain. His roles include data extraction and literature review. After he completes his BSc., he aspires to further his education in the medical field. Outside of academics, Thomas is a responder with the University of Guelph First Response Team, attending to medical emergencies on campus. He also enjoys playing soccer and discovering new music.

Farwa

BSc. Student

Farwa is a fourth-year student at the University of Guelph, pursuing her BSc. in Biomedical Sciences. Her research focuses on the mental health of healthcare workers. Farwa is deeply passionate about mental health and wellness, driving her dedication to this research area. Upon graduation, Farwa aims to further her education and expertise in mental health through a combination of research and patient care. Beyond her academic commitments, Farwa is a responder and social coordinator of the University of Guelph’s First Response Team, which plays a vital role in addressing medical emergencies on campus. In her free time, Farwa enjoys spending time with her loved ones and birdwatching.

Sara Hussein

BSc. Student

Sara Hussein is a fourth year Bio-Medical Sciences student at the University of Guelph. Throughout her undergraduate degree Sara has collected various experiences that have fostered her interest in occupational health and workplace well-being. With the completion of introductory psychology and epidemiology courses as well as a physician observership at her local hospital, a curiosity for research in this area was established. Sara is focused on understanding the challenges faced by communities to eventually develop solutions to generate direct impact on the lives of others. In her fourth year, Sara is conducting a thesis project at the UGROHW Lab to further explore her interest in population medicine and psychology research. Outside of her research pursuits, Sara loves working with youth in her local community, listening to music and spending time with family. 

Frances Serrano

Frances Serrano is a research assistant working at the Gohar Lab where she is responsible for organizing and planning research projects. Frances has graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Family & Child studies. Her research interests are related to I/O psychology and Clinical Psychology, specifically looking at mental health and well-being in the workplace. She plans to further her education and pursue a career as a Clinical Psychologist working with children and young adults.

Michael Gardiner-Davis

BSc.

Michael graduated from UofG in 2023 with a Bachelors of Science in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in Neuroscience. He joined the UGROHW Lab as a research assistant during his undergrad where he focussed on a CIHR-funded research project on the mental health of healthcare workers during the pandemic. He shifted to a volunteer role as he completed his undergrad and currently assists with research on moral injury in healthcare. Michael is also responsible for the content and upkeep of this website.

Since graduating, Michael has been working as a Volunteer and Program Coordinator at a non-profit organization that provides affordable transportation to those in need across York Region.

Celine Said

Celine is a first-year student in OVC’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program and was previously in the Animal Biology Program. She works with Dr. Gohar and his team on research in moral Injury in the veterinary field. Celine aspires to conduct clinical research after graduating. She believes that research in moral injury within the veterinary field is essential to creating a safe and sustainable work environment. Beyond her interest in clinical research, she enjoys volunteering with sheep and cattle and working in veterinary clinics. When she is not working or volunteering, she enjoys running, reading, crocheting and spending time with family and friends!

Monique Nasser

Monique is a second-year Biomedical Science student at the University of Guelph. She works with Dr. Gohar and his team on research related to the mental health of occupational workers. Upon completing her undergraduate degree, Monique aspires to enter the medical field. In terms of extracurriculars, Monique is an RnD member of the Journal of Health Advocacy and Medicine club, where she conducts reviews on research pertaining to those topics. Outside of school, Monique enjoys reading, exercising, and spending time with her family. 

Dr. Jason Coe

DVM, PhD

Dr. Jason Coe holds the VCA Canada Chair in Relationship-Centred Veterinary Medicine (2021-2026) and is a Professor at the Ontario Veterinary College. After graduating from the College as a veterinarian in 2001, he returned from mixed-animal veterinary practice to complete a PhD in veterinary-clinical communication in 2008. In the same year, Jason joined the Ontario Veterinary College in the Department of Population Medicine where he has established an active research program examining the human-animal bond as well as the role of interpersonal communication on the outcomes of veterinary care.  In his current role at the College, he coordinates the clinical-communication curriculum across all 4 years of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program and is involved in teaching students about the relationships that exist between people and animals.  

Over the past decade and a half, Jason has also established an international reputation for his leadership in research relating to veterinary communication, primary-care veterinary education and understanding of the human-animal relationship.  In his research, Jason incorporates the use of qualitative and quantitative methodologies to perform research that has the goal of achieving the greatest practical learnings for the veterinary profession. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, contributed to several book chapters and is regularly invited to speak nationally and internationally at scientific and continuing-education conferences. In 2021, Jason was honoured by the American Veterinary Medical Association with the AVMA Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award for his notable contributions to the veterinary profession.

Dr. Andria Jones

DVM, PhD

Dr. Andria Jones is a veterinarian, epidemiologist, and Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Population Medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), University of Guelph. She is developing evidence-based well-being curriculum across the 4 years of the DVM program at the OVC. Her research centres on the epidemiology of mental health and resilience in the veterinary and agricultural sectors and she uses a mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) research approach. Andria has completed a certificate program in Applied Positive Psychology and is a certified resilience trainer. She has been awarded the Brigid Rivoire Award for Champions of Agricultural Mental Health, two Distinguished Professor Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Teaching, and the Ontario Veterinary College Alumni Association Distinguished Young Alumnus Award. 

Dr. Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia

OT Reg. (Ont.), PhD, FRSA

Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia, PhD, is an assistant professor at the University of Toronto in the Department of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science, where he also holds the inaugural Emily Geldsaler Grant Early Career Professorship in Workplace Mental Health. Through an occupational lens, his research program is a systematic study of occupations in the areas of work disability prevention, return to work, and disability management. This approach is designed to produce results directly applicable to identify and assess risk and to develop interventions for preventing or improving high-risk behaviours in the workplace. Dr. Nowrouzi-Kia’s work is motivated by efforts in the field of work disability prevention that extends beyond the efforts to prevent or cure diseases from a purely physical perspective, towards more holistic approaches.

Dr. Andrew Papadopoulos

PhD, MBA, BASc, CIPHI(C)

Dr. Andrew Papadopoulos is a Professor and Coordinator, MPH at the University of Guelph. Much of his research focuses on public health policy and administration, risk communication, student wellness, and the organization and delivery of public health education. Prior to joining the University of Guelph, he was the Director of the School of Occupational and Public Health at Toronto Metropolitan University. He is the former executive director of the Association of Local Public Health Agencies.

Dr. Papadopoulos is the current chair of the National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools, as well as the past chair of the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health and the Canadian Network of Schools and Programs of Public and Population Health. He has authored or co-authored over 100 scientific papers. Additionally, he has over 15 years of experience working in local public health.