Emily Milko, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Emily’s particular research interests are in the field of chronic disease prevention and management on a national and global scale. Her interest is partially based on her personal experience with diabetes, and in spring 2011 she founded the support group All Things Diabetes, to facilitate collaboration and discussion between adults with Type 1 diabetes. She has also been a team leader with the McMaster chapter of Leave the Pack Behind, which allowed her to experience the challenges and intricacies of health promotion and disease prevention related to smoking cessation. In her role as a Forum Fellow, Emily will help to synthesize research evidence for a stakeholder dialogue on chronic disease management. Emily is also interested in the intersection of social media and health, and will use her knowledge of community building with social media to expand online engagement between the student subcommittee and the McMaster community and beyond, via the Forum’s student-led blog and Twitter. In her role as co-chair of the student subcommittee, Emily will focus on producing tangible outcomes for online dissemination from student-led events. Emily is in her fourth year in the Honours Arts and Science program with a minor in biology, and is writing her thesis in the area of health policy.

Sherna Tamboly, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Sherna’s interest in the complexities of health systems began at an early age, when her family helped operate a local charitable hospital in India that relied on limited resources. Her studies in the Bachelor of Health Sciences program at McMaster, with a specialization in global health, has given her the opportunity to investigate theoretical and practical approaches to addressing challenges related to the delivery of healthcare. This past summer, she spent time in India working with the Chinmaya Organization for Rural Development, on projects that promote sustainable and comprehensive rural development in local villages. Through her role as a Forum Fellow, she will pursue her interest in understanding how research evidence can help decision-makers effectively address pressing health issues, and continue to use her experience in coordinating student activities to aid in events planned by the student subcommittee. Sherna has also been active in several other student groups on campus, including the Health Sciences Outreach Club, the Bachelor of Health Sciences Society and the McMaster Student Union Teaching Awards Committee.