2021-2022 Forum Fellows in Strengthening Health and Social Systems

The McMaster Health Forum is pleased to announce that Tushar Sood and Vikita Mehta have been selected as Forum Fellows in Strengthening Health and Social Systems for the 2021-22 academic year. The Forum Fellows Program is part of the Forum’s commitment to prepare action-oriented leaders to creatively address pressing health and social systems challenges. Each fellow will support various Forum initiatives, interact with regional, provincial, and international health and social systems stakeholders, and will end their fellowships with an internship through the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship program.

Tushar is a third-year undergraduate student in the Honours Integrated Science (iSci) program at McMaster University, working towards a Concentration in Biology and an Interdisciplinary Minor in Community Engagement. He has previously worked on several research projects affiliated with McMaster University, conducting work in knowledge translation, public health, and epidemiology. As a Forum Fellow, Tushar strives to use his interests in public health policy, epidemiology, research methodologies, and health systems innovation to inspire positive change in the community.

Vikita is a third-year undergraduate student in the Arts and Science Program at McMaster University. As a Research Lead at Hemoglobal and Outreach Coordinator at Incentives for Global Health, she analyzes the barriers to accessing quality healthcare in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and advocates for equitable solutions. These endeavours have incited Vikita’s strong interest in reducing health disparities through evidence-informed research and policymaking. During her time as a Forum Fellow, Vikita hopes to explore how knowledge translation tools can be used to strengthen health and social systems and improve health outcomes for marginalized populations. 

We look forward to having Tushar and Vikita join the Forum team for the year ahead.