Researchers
Dr. Melody Morton Ninomiya is a researcher, educator, and mediator with experience in Indigenous health and wellness, critical public health, mental health and addictions, community-based and decolonizing research methods and methodologies, and knowledge translation.
Prior to starting at Laurier, Dr. Morton Ninomiya held a CIHR postdoctoral fellowship at Well Living House, St. Michael’s Hospital, and postdoctoral position at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Since 2018, she has been a project scientist at CAMH on projects with First Nation communities in Ontario and Labrador. Dr. Morton Ninomiya received a PhD in Medicine (Community Health and Humanities) from Memorial University, MEd (Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning) from Memorial University, BEd from Queen’s University, and BA from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Nicole Burns (she/her) is a settler to Turtle Island. She is a Research Assistant and Project Coordinator for Dr. Morton Ninomiya's research lab. Nicole graduated with a master's degree from Wilfrid Laurier's Community Psychology program in 2020 and is currently a PhD student in Global Governance at the Balsillie School of International Affairs. She has been engaged in community-led capacity building for the last several years, primarily working with Indigenous communities across Canada. Nicole's work centers around Indigenous Peoples right to self-determination; as an ally, she focuses on holding Western governments accountable to supporting and protecting Indigenous Peoples inherent rights.
Rajni Sharma (she/her): I am Canadian-born South Asian cis-female living in traditional territory of the Attawandaron (Neutral), Anishnaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. My PhD research focuses on ways of transforming the psychotherapy practice for racialized communities. Specifically, how therapy can address experiences of racial trauma and ways in which processing and healing can occur. I am also a practicing Art Therapist and Psychotherapist. I have worked with a range of diverse clients and communities in clinical and community spaces. My passion and work are centered around creating healing spaces where people can feel supported and not alone in their mental health journey. My work and research are informed by critical social theories, including critical race theory, intersectionality, decoloniality, Black feminist psychology and liberation psychology. I believe that many mental health challenges are connected to larger-systems and structural realities that can lead to racism and oppression.
Lauren Gnat is a first-year Masters of Community Psychology candidate studying Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) under the supervision of Dr. Morton Ninomiya. Lauren graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree, majoring in psychology, in April 2022. Throughout her degree, Lauren volunteered with many volunteer organizations designed to support, empower, and provide compassion towards many individuals and communities. She also got involved in psychology research, which sparked her passion for using research to achieve positive change within communities. She admires the work Dr. Morton Ninomiya and her lab have done over the years. She is excited to be part of the lab and conduct research with the hopes that it can empower and provide opportunities for self-determination for individuals with FASD.
Lauren O’Neill grew up just outside of the Six Nations of the Grand River reserve, on the unceded lands of Brant County, which is on the Haldimand Tract and traditional lands of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, and Neutral peoples. The Six Nations reserve now comprises less that 5% of the approximately 950, 000 acres granted by the Haldimand Treaty to the Haudenosaunee people of Six Nations. This positionality gave Lauren an early awareness of health inequities due to ongoing settler-colonial systems and mindsets. She completed her Psychology (Honours) degree with double minors in Indigenous Studies and Youth & Children’s Studies at Wilfrid Laurier’s Brantford campus in 2022, where she graduated with high distinction. She has previous experience as a doula and childbirth educator, with a focus on support and education as a means of preventing negative health outcomes. With interests in development, family health, and social determinants of health inequities, she is thrilled to be joining the IIPW Lab as a Masters Community Psychology student under the supervision of Dr. Melody Morton Ninomiya where she will be exploring the knowledge gaps and implications for further education programming in systems as a preventative measure for FASD and a support for positive health outcomes.
Past
Siann Gault is a Masters of Community Psychology candidate studying Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) under the supervision of Dr. Morton Ninomiya. Siann was drawn to exploring the social determinants of mental health for people living with an FASD. In her own research, Siann is working with community partners to evaluate best practices in supportive housing for adults living with an FASD. She is pursuing a career in mental health promotion and hopes that her current research helps lay the groundwork for a lifetime promoting FASD-informed intervention and support.
Current
Paula Bonilla is a fourth-year undergraduate student in the Health Sciences program. Her interests in the field of Social Determinants of Health research stemmed from her personal experiences being an immigrant and the challenges she and her family faced when immigrating to Canada. During her third year, she completed a directed study focusing on factors which influence the risks of cardiovascular disease among immigrants in Canada. Further into her research experience, she became interested in studying the gaps within the literature concerning health disparities faced by different ethnicities and visible minority groups throughout Canada. Throughout her undergrad, she posed further interest to explore research in Indigenous Health and FASD, ultimately leading her to pursue a thesis under the supervision of Dr. Morton Ninomiya. Paula looks forward to expanding her knowledge of FASD prevention along with Indigenous Health inequities and building meaningful research and academic writing skills to apply to her future career in the healthcare field.
Student Volunteers
Maria Raphael is in her fourth year of her Health Sciences Program. She chose to get involved out of interest and desire to be better educated about Indigenous People’s health and current realities. The
opportunity to work in the lab as allowed her to acquire many new and valuable skills, such as transcription and research knowledge translation. Volunteering has provided opportunities to further develop skills that will be an asset, moving forward.
Carol Ragheb started working at Dr. Morton Ninomiya’s lab during her second year at Wilfrid Laurier University while studying Health Sciences. She decided to volunteer in the area of Indigenous health, as she was compelled to examine the determinants of health and wellness in their communities, work towards improving accessibility, and to be part of a great team that positively contributes to communities in need. Carol’s work with Dr. Morton has helped her future in the medical field by acquiring research skills, competency in knowledge translation, and working in a team-oriented environment for a study she had great interest in. From working on this research project, Carol has learned about the different issues surrounding the health and wellness of Indigenous communities, and how she can play a role in helping improve their communities. She is now in her fourth year.
Hannah Makar is working with the IIPW team in her fourth year of the Health Sciences Program. She was keen to learn more about the history and realities that Indigenous Peoples face in Canada. By joining IIPW, she hopes to thrive and develop new skills that apply to academic work, or future career work in the medical field. She is learning how to transcribe, create animations summarizing research, and getting involved in other forms parts of research projects.
Monica Youssef is a fourth year student in the Health Sciences Program. Monica chose to volunteer in Dr. Morton-Ninomiya's lab to broaden her knowledge and understanding about Indigenous health. Her past experiences as a volunteer on-reserve inspired her to gain a deeper understanding of the Indigenous ways of knowing. Monica hopes to gain further insight, knowledge, and understanding of Indigenous Peoples’ health and develop skills in research, teamwork, and communication.
My name is Marina Youssef, I am in my fourth year in the Health Science program at Wilfrid Laurier and I live in Vaughan Ontario. I have Egyptian upbringings, however I was born and raised in Mississauga, Ontario. I am volunteering in this lab as an effort to get involved and educate myself on Indigenous Peoples' health. My volunteer work with a group of experts helping migrant farm workers has pushed me to learn more about marginalized groups of people and how I can possibly be more educated and responsive through meaningful and collaborative research.
Erin Allison started in the Health Sciences program at Laurier in 2019. Since taking a course taught by Dr. Morton Ninomiya in her first year, she’s been interested in contributing to research in the area of Indigenous Peoples’ health and wellness, as well as community and culturally-defined indicators of wellness. Erin wants her volunteering experience as a research assistant to advance her research skills, critical thinking, and make meaningful contributions that will also inform her future academic and professional careers.
Clara Nakhla is a second-year student in the Health Science program at Wilfrid Laurier University. She showed interest in Dr. Morton Ninomiya’s lab to better understand Indigenous health and wellness and to raise awareness, challenge assumptions, and change norms, to ultimately create a more culturally safe healthcare system. Clara has acquired many transferable research skills applicable to all aspects of her education and emerging career including critical thinking and problem solving to understand connections, knowledge mobilization, as well as clear communication and active listening in collaboration. With a strong desire to pursue a career in the healthcare field, Clara hopes that her participation in this research will be of benefit to Indigenous communities, taking one step towards health equity.
Past
Hannah Denberg was an undergreatuate researcher in her fourth year of the Health Sciences program. During her third year, where she participated in a directed studies course focusing on health communication, Hannah was introduced to the challenges and disparities faced by individuals impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). This led her to pursue an honours thesis concentrating on FASD under the supervision of Dr. Melody Morton Ninomiya, focused specifically on identifying the gaps in knowledge and misinformation among key stakeholders. This thesis project provides Hannah with the opportunity to participate in meaningful research while gaining invaluable skills, which will help guide her ambitions of pursuing a career in the healthcare field.
Lauren Benchetrit was a fourth-year undergraduate student researcher while enrolled in the Health Sciences program at Wilfrid Laurier University. She is very passionate about Canada’s universal healthcare system, including its current structural health inequities. Her interest in Canadian healthcare inequities was influenced by the Canadian Health Care System course taught by Dr. Morton Ninomiya during Lauren’s second year. Her lectures on this topic sparked Lauren’s interest in the area of Indigenous health and wellness. Since then, she has developed a profound fervor to study and think critically about privilege, self-location, and responsibilities in relation to health inequities. Additionally, Lauren brought strong academic skills such as critical thinking, teamwork, communication, and task management to Dr. Ninomiya’s research team. Volunteering with Dr. Morton Ninomiya’s lab provides Lauren with a meaningful, educative research opportunity and invaluable experience which will assist her in working towards a future career in the healthcare.
Alexandra Burman was a fourth-year undergraduate student in the Health Science Program while working with Dr. Morton Ninomiya. In her third year, she completed a directed studies course in Health Communication which sparked an interest in the topic of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Alexandra completed an honours thesis on FASD focused on the lack of awareness and misinformation surrounding the disorder. This was an opportunity to build skills in meaningful research and a knowledge base on the disparities in health care that she will be able to apply when working in the future in the health field.
Asal Eshghabadi was in her fourth year of undergraduate studies in the Health Sciences Program while working as an undergraduate researcher. She became interested in the area of Indigenous Health through various courses instructed by Dr. Morton Ninomiya. Her work in the area of social determinants of health in relation to FASD, and learning about disproportionate effects from colonization on Indigenous communities, has enhancing her interest in community-engaged research. Her position in Dr. Morton Ninomiya’s lab will allow her to expand her knowledge in the area of FASD and potentially contribute to work with Indigenous communities. As a volunteer research assistant, she is developing and using research skills that will expand her knowledge in areas that she is passionate about.
Francesca lee graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in April 2022 with her Honours Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Health Sciences and minoring in Chemistry and Biology. Francesca joined Dr. Morton Ninomiya’s during the Second year of her undergraduate degree as a research volunteer motivated by the goal of expanding her research skills and gaining further understanding of the health inequities faced by Indigenous populations. In this role Francesca researched the transition faced by individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). In her fourth year, Francesca conducted her own research to evaluate the scope of supporting housing for individuals with FASD. Francesca’s involvement in Dr. Morton Ninomiya’s lab has provided her with a deeper understanding of inequities face by the caregivers and individuals with FASD, academic writing and knowledge translation.
Nardin Ayoub was an undergraduate student researcher in her fourth year of the Health Science program at Laurier. After hearing Dr. Morton Ninomiya's lectures about determinants of Indigenous People’s wellbeing and learning more about the health disparities and inequities, she reached out to be part of the IIPW research group. Nardin brings strong graphic design, critical thinking, and teamwork skills. This volunteer work was an opportunity to engage in meaningful and fulfilling research and will undoubtedly inform her future career in healthcare.
Tatiana Baziw was a fourth-year undergraduate student researcher in Health Sciences and is passionate about public health. She hopes to pursue a Masters in Public Health. Her honours thesis was inspired through her volunteering in this lab, and is now helping with her academic writing skills and teamwork skills. Volunteering in the lab has provided opportunities to work collaboratively within the Waterloo Region community.
Brianna’s honours thesis is a marriage between a rapid review requested by Dehcho First Nations and Brianna’s desire to do work aimed at healthcare practices in relation to different Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Brianna looks forward to applying her knowledge about wise Indigenous healthcare practices and incorporating them into her future career within the healthcare field.
Past Student Volunteers
Kadriye Candas attended Dr. Morton Ninomiya’s course, Canadian Health Care System, where she learned a segment of Indigenous people and Indigenous health, in the third year of her Health Sciences program. In order to learn more, get involved and work collaboratively with others, she showed interest in Dr. Morton Ninomiya’s lab. Kadriye’s volunteer work at this lab will contribute towards her future goals as this opportunity has expanded her aptitude in academic writing, research, teamwork, and more.
Amrit Grewal volunteered in Dr. Mortan Ninomiya's lab during the Fourth year of her Health Science Degree. Her interest in Dr. Mortan Ninomiya's lab sprung from her passion to help create change in Canada's current Healthcare System in which she felt strongly for communities such as the Indigenous People who are unfairly disadvantaged. She hoped to gain first-hand knowledge and experience on the subject matter of Indigenous Health and acquired a skill set that would allow her to have the largest impact. She felt that this volunteer position would help to develop skills and knowledge on research practices, academic writing, critical thinking, data collection and data analysis, and more. All this would contribute greatly to her educational and career goals of one day working in the healthcare field where she hopes to create a change.
Jessica Star began volunteering in Dr. Morton Ninomiya’s lab following her guest lecture in one of Jessica’s Health Science courses. Initially motivated to further both her research skills and education on Indigenous issues, Jessica joined a team to work on a scoping review that looked at transitions in people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). As an aspiring physician, Jessica’s work in Dr. Morton Ninomiya’s lab will contribute to her understanding of disabilities and the need to provide such individuals with adequate support.
Nora Morrison graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in April 2020 with her Honours Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Health Sciences and minoring in Chemistry and Psychology. Her interest in working in Dr. Morton Ninomiya’s lab developed because she wished to gain specialization in Indigenous Health through research experience. Working in Dr. Morton Ninomiya’s lab provides a deeper understanding of Indigenous health issues, research methods, academic writing and other skills, which will be transferable to her future academic and career endeavors in the public health domain.
Enola Ghobrial joined a Health Sciences program as an undergraduate degree in order to work towards her career in healthcare. Over the summer, she had the opportunity to volunteer at a First Nations reserve where she built strong relationships with the community. She found her visit to be of educational value towards persisting Indigenous issues which consequently attracted her to volunteer at Dr. Morton Ninomiya’s lab because she recognized it presented the greatest potential for her to learn more and work towards a change. Due to her aspirations to follow a career in healthcare, Enola would like to expand her knowledge and experience in various aspects including research, knowledge translation, academic writing and effective teamwork.
Olivia Gilbert joined Dr. Morton Ninomiya’s lab as a volunteer during the third year of her Health Science degree. She became interested in working with Dr. Morton Ninomiya after hearing her lecture on the social determinants of health of Indigenous people. She knew this opportunity would expand her knowledge of the Indigenous community of Canada and enhance her skills in research, teamwork and graphic design. This volunteer work will assist her educational path and future career in the health science field.
Matthew McGarrity volunteered in Dr. Morton Ninomiya’s lab during the third and fourth year of his Health Science degree. Matthew was drawn to Dr. Morton Ninomiya’s research focuses because he is passionate about both understanding and working to eradicate the health inequities faced by Indigenous peoples. Matthew’s experiences with his research opportunities will help him maintain a holistic approach to social inequities and bring a social determinants of health mindset to the medical field. Matthew has learned about the complex issues that diverse populations are exposed to and how these inequities can manifest into physical, mental, and social health.
Emily Schneider, a student volunteer in her fifth year as an undergraduate health science student, is passionate about public health and preventative healthcare. Her interest in health equity began from learning about the social determinants of health and making a research poster on health disparities that Indigenous women face. Working with Dr. Morton Ninomiya has helped her develop skills in data analysis, critical thinking, research presentation design, and team collaboration. Volunteering with Dr. Morton Ninomiya will help her in graduate school as she has had the opportunity to experience research in a hands-on way.