The UOHI Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in Research Award honors students or fellows who challenge systemic barriers, promote inclusive research practices, and create opportunities for under-represented groups — whether through innovative study design, mentorship, outreach, or workplace improvements. Awardees are distinguished by their commitment to making research more generalizable, accessible, fair, and impactful for all.
Congratulations to Sumali Mehta, PhD Candidate, recipient of the 2025 UOHI EDI in Research Trainee Award! Ms. Mehta is recognized for her exceptional commitment to advancing equity in her community and globally through participatory research.
Co-supervised by Jodi Edwards, PhD and David Birnie, MD. Ms. Mehta is currently addressing the critical paucity of data on the epidemiology of cardiac arrhythmias and outcomes in Nunavut’s Inuit communities. She developed a comprehensive and culturally-informed community engagement plan, established a partnership with a local Inuit community health team, and built collaborations with Indigenous clinicians and researchers. Together they developed materials to conduct interviews with Inuk individuals during their UOHI inpatient admission.
Ms. Mehta developed a comprehensive conceptual model of the intersectionality between clinical, health access, lifestyle/behavioural and Indigenous cultural factors. She is leading in-community talking circles on-site in Nunvaut and applying co-developed research questions to assess arrythmia prevalence, risk and outcomes in Indigenous data sources.
Ms. Mehta has honed her policy expertise through internships with WHO, PHAC and the International Development Research Centre. She is a Member of the Gender Rights Specialized Team for Amnesty International Canada, and a Junior Editor for PHAC’s Communicable Disease Report. She has been recognized with the 2024 Department of Family Medicine Global Health Travel Bursary, and a Global Affairs International Youth fellowship which includes co-developing Ugandan community-based gender equity projects.