Our Team

Krystal Kehoe MacLeod, PhD

Executive Director

Dr. Kehoe MacLeod is a public policy and health services researcher with expertise in qualitative, mixed methods, and community-based research, as well as professional experience working in health policy in the public service in Ontario and New South Wales, Australia. Her research program on improving patients’ access to timely, equitable, and high-quality health and social care that meets their expressed needs as they age, is seeing increasing success through equity-focused research approaches leading to funded, collaborative, and impact-focused results. Krystal has taught at the University of Ottawa and at Carleton University in the Department of Health Sciences, the School of Public Policy and Administration, and the School of Social Work. When she is not overseeing the exciting work going on at CCAER, Krystal co-owns and operates Gael Glen Farm and Apiary with her partner and three young children. She is also a Director on the Board of Carefor, Eastern Ontario’s largest home care and community support services charity, and Founding Director of the not-for-profit community organization, the Ottawa Valley Food Security Project.

kmacleod@bruyere.org

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Eunice Hammond, MA

Research Coordinator II

Eunice Hammond is a Research Coordinator at the Bruyère Research Institute. She works on qualitative projects in various research areas including food security, retirement home regulation and emergency department avoidance. Her other research interests include mental health studies among ethnic minorities, housing affordability and immigrant health. Eunice has a Master of Arts in Health Policy and Equity from York University and completed her undergraduate degree in Health Studies at the University of Waterloo. Eunice is passionate about working to improve healthcare outcomes through policy, research and community advocacy. Outside of work, Eunice enjoys spending time with family, reading, watching TV shows and listening to podcasts.

ehammond@bruyere.org

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Sarisha Philip, MPH

Research Coordinator II

Sarisha is a Research Coordinator at the Bruyère Research Institute. Her area of research involves addressing food insecurity, specifically in older adults living in rural settings. She works alongside Family Health Teams and community paramedics in the Champlain region to develop comprehensive tools for food insecurity screening and assessment.
Sarisha received her Master’s in Public Health at the University of Ottawa. As an always curious person, she enjoys exploring various aspects of public health and health services research. She has experience conducting interviews, performing statistical analysis, and evaluation research. Outside of work, Sarisha enjoys reading, mostly epic fantasy, but makes some room for non-fiction. She also enjoys cooking/baking, even though her kitchen persona can be a tad bit chaotic at times.

sphilip@bruyere.org

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Olivia Ballantyne, MA

Research Coordinator I

Olivia is a Research Coordinator at the Bruyère Research Institute. She coordinates the team’s Indigenous research projects including; our project on Change Champions in Indigenous communities in the North and our Food as Medicine project focused on promoting healthy aging for Indigenous older adults through cultural food programming. Olivia has a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation and Sport Business and a Masters of Arts in Recreation and Leisure Studies from the University of Waterloo. She has spent the past three and a half years working in the Indigenous non-profit sector working on program design, implementation, and evaluation with Indigenous communities across the country. Olivia is passionate about health and well-being, community development and the social impact of non-profit and community organizations. Outside of work, Olivia enjoys spending time outdoors and being physically active. She is also an avid traveler and has visited 18 countries.

oballantyne@bruyere.org

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Victoria Wicks, MSc

Research Coordinator I

Victoria Wicks is a Research Coordinator at the Bruyère Research Institute. She supports our food insecurity portfolio and is involved in research exploring the role of food as part of person-centred palliative care. Victoria’s other research interests include patient experiences of healthcare and the use of lay navigators to support equitable access to care. Victoria has a Master of Science in Family Medicine degree from McGill University and completed her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at the University of Toronto. Victoria is passionate about health, improving patient and caregiver experiences and supporting community initiatives. In her spare time Victoria enjoys exploring new running routes around the city, swimming and spending time with friends and family.

vwicks@bruyere.org

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Rebecca Valade, MSc

Research Coordinator I

Rebecca is a Research Coordinator at the Bruyère Health Research Institute, where she coordinates the Brain-Heart Interconnectome and Emergency Department Avoidance research projects. Passionate about knowledge mobilization, she relishes making scientific findings accessible to everyone. She has research experience in both academic and government settings, ranging from bench-style to community-based research. Rebecca holds a Master of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science with a concentration in the biological foundations of cognition from Carleton University. Outside of work, she enjoys going to the gym, spending time with her family and two cats, and wandering through personal care and home fragrance stores—test-sniffing the latest lotions, perfumes, and candles for hours on end!

rvalade@bruyere.org

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Alixe Menard, PhD(C)

Research Coordinator I (part-time)

Alixe is a Research Coordinator at the Bruyère Health Research Institute, where her work focuses on improving health and social services for older adults and equity-deserving populations. She is currently involved in projects that explore decision-making in long-term care and support care transitions for older adults across care settings. Alixe is also a doctoral candidate in Population Health at the University of Ottawa, where her thesis focuses on rethinking dementia care in hospitals and addressing stigma to improve care outcomes. She brings experience in qualitative and implementation research, knowledge user engagement, and is particularly passionate about using the patient voice as a driver of research and policy. Outside of work, Alixe is an avid reader, a big fan of reality television, and enjoys arts and crafts in the company of friends.
amena069@uottawa.ca
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Marie-Ève Tittley, MN, RN

Research Assistant

Marie-Ève Tittley recently completed of her Master’s in Nursing at the University of Ottawa and is involved in research that examines language concordance within healthcare settings. Her current project explores the experiences of nurse practitioners in the Champlain region. With both English and French proficiency and a background with Ottawa Public Health, Marie-Ève is adept in project management and public health initiatives. Her drive for evidence-based practices in healthcare is as strong as her love for the great outdoors. Marie-Ève isn’t just about the care in healthcare; she’s about living it up in the fresh air too. On any given day, she might be found lacing up her sneakers for a sunrise jog or pirouetting on ice skates. For Marie-Ève, fun and health go hand in hand!

mtitt044@uottawa.ca

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Paul Ioudovski, MPH

Research Assistant

Paul is a 2nd year medical student at the University of Ottawa who is passionate about improving emergency department access and care for vulnerable populations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Paul developed a background in quantitative analysis working for Correctional Services Canada on COVID-19 infection and vaccination rates across Canada’s prisons. After that, he moved on to the Department of National Defence where he analyzed and prepared reports on health survey data, injury rates, and mortality among military members. Outside of school and work, he can be found in a squash court, on a softball diamond, cycling around Ottawa, or on an Elgin Street patio.

paul.ioudovski@uottawa.ca

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Sophia Kara, BSc

Research Assistant

Sophia Kara is a Master of Public Health summer practicum student, where she is supporting the work of the Brain-Heart Interconnectome project. Sophia’s passion for health systems strengthening and addressing health inequities stemmed from her 1 year work experience in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where she was tasked with leading a donor-funded project investigating the impact that the issues of mental health, climate change, and gender inequities have on the country’s progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Sophia completed her undergraduate degree in Nutrition Science and Kinesiology from Western University and is currently a Master of Public Health student at the University of Ottawa, where she also serves as Vice President of Wellness for the School of Epidemiology and Public Health’s Graduate Students’ Association (SEPH GSA). With her MPH, Sophia hopes to improve mental health care delivery and access in Canada and East Africa. In her free time, you can catch her practicing yoga, reading a good book, volunteering in the community, and spending time with her loved ones.
skara@bruyere.org
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Grace Gorman, BSc

Research Assistant

Grace Gorman is a Master of Public Health student at the University of Ottawa, currently completing her practicum as a Research Assistant on a project that compares regulatory frameworks for the assisted living and retirement home sectors in British Columbia and Ontario. Her other research interests include healthy aging and infectious disease, including vaccine accessibility and antimicrobial resistance. Grace is passionate about promoting health equity and ensuring inclusive and accessible care for all communities. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences with a concentration in Population and Public Health from the University of Ottawa. Outside of work, Grace enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family.
ggorman@bruyere.org
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Jia Qi Adam Bai, BSc

Research Assistant

Adam is a second-year medical student at the University of Ottawa and is involved in research that examines language concordance within primary care settings. His current research interests involve primary care, oncology, and dermatology. He is passionate about advocacy and promoting equitable healthcare, especially for marginalized populations. Outside of school and work, he enjoys going to the gym, playing golf and skiing, and watching movies.
Adam.Bai@uOttawa.ca
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Skylar Gruner

Research Assistant

Skyler Gruner is a third-year Bachelor of Health Sciences student at Queen’s University with a strong passion for health and healthcare, particularly as it relates to Indigenous populations in Canada. She has contributed to national research as a student with the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, supporting the assessments on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and antimicrobial use and resistance in food producing animals in Canada. With experience in project management, she is currently leading the revitalization of the Northern Initiative for Queen’s Health Outreach. Her commitment to healthcare is deeply connected to her love for the outdoors, where she finds balance and wholistic well-being through hiking, canoeing, mountain biking, and running.

skyler.gruner@queensu.ca

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Perla Nabhan, BSc

Research Assistant

Perla is a third-year medical student at the University of Ottawa, dedicated to advancing healthcare for cultural and linguistic minorities. She currently contributes to an Emergency Department Avoidance research project aimed at testing a person-centered care tool to enhance emergency room visits. Her previous research has focused on barriers to mental health services in immigrant communities and access to sexual health services among LGBTQ+ populations. Perla holds a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences with a Research Focus from the University of Ottawa. In addition to her academic pursuits, she volunteers at the uOttawa Faculty of Medicine’s open-door days, encouraging high school students to explore careers in health sciences.
pnabh068@uottawa.ca
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Kirstin Moreau, BSc

Research Assistant

Kirstin holds an Honours Bachelor of Biomedical Science degree with a minor in the social sciences of health from the University of Ottawa and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health at the same institution, with an expected graduation date of December 2025. She has worked with the Indigenous community before, interviewing youth and elders regarding an e-resource for youth mental health services with the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, and is a registered Metis citizen of the Georgian Bay Metis Community. In Kirstin’s free time she particpates in sports such as Volleyball, golf, tennis, and pickleball. Additionally, she loves travelling, with her favourite place so far being the Netherlands. You can also catch Kirstin playing the saxophone as she was classically trained as a child.

kmore025@uottawa.ca

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