Tushar Sood

At the time of the Forum Fellowship and QE Scholarship, Tushar was an 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 previously worked on several research projects affiliated with McMaster University, conducting work in knowledge translation, public health, and epidemiology.

As a Forum Fellow, Tushar aimed to use his interests in public health policy, epidemiology, research methodologies, and health systems innovation to inspire positive change in the community. Specifically, he hoped to better understand the evidence-informed decision-making process. During his fellowship, Tushar aimed to play an integral role in stakeholder dialogues and citizen panels, as well as rapid evidence profiles, to better inform and support decision-makers during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

As an outbound Queen Elizabeth Scholar, Tushar travelled to New Delhi, India to work at the George Institute for Global Health. Here, he helped develop local capacities for rapid evidence synthesis to support health systems decision-making in India. He also contributed to a review focusing on health services provision in Southeast Asia. Through his internship, Tushar hoped to further develop his skills in evidence synthesis and support health policy and systems research initiatives.