Virtual Mentoring
These short videos feature mentors working in both “traditional” and “non-traditional” roles, showcasing how PhD holders are applying skills gained through their graduate training to their careers. By doing so, they are contributing to the improvement of the health and well-being of women, trans, and non-binary people. Professors, clinician-scientists, research managers, and government policymakers share valuable advice and key takeaways for mentees, drawing on their own professional journeys.
Dr. Jenna Haverfield
Scientific Research Manager, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Topic: Non-linear career paths inside & outside academia
Dr. Jenna Haverfield, a bench scientist, discusses straddling academia and non-academic roles, highlighting how these positions can be mutually beneficial. She also emphasises the importance of building a career that leverages your strengths and fuels your passions. She shares key lessons on networking and taking the initiative for positions that align with your interests.
Dr. Melissa Tremblay
Assistant Professor, Department of Education, University of Alberta
Topic: Community-based, feminist research that honors Indigenous worldviews
Dr. Melissa Tremblay, a qualitative researcher and clinician-scientist (psychologist), explores how research, clinical practice, and advocacy align with her commitment to and accountability for reconciliation. Drawing from her professional career, she reflects on how exposure to multiple research methodologies and research groups, including community-engaged research, has been formative.
Dr. Stephanie Montesanti
Associate Professor, School of Public Health, University of Alberta
Topic: Applying research on gender-based violence to policy and practice
Dr. Stephanie Montesanti, a social scientist, offers a concise overview of health policy and systems research, sharing her own professional journey from working with grassroots organizations in global health to being an academic.
Dr. Astrid Christoffersen-Deb
Medical Director, Population and Global Health, BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre
Topic: Service, Science, and Clinical Care: A global health journey
Dr. Astrid Christofferson-Deb, a clinician scientist (obstetrician/gynecologist) and medical anthropologist, emphasises how our concerns and motivations are deeply rooted in our personal histories. Sharing her own story, she highlights the importance of staying connected to what we love and continually engaging with it to nurture our professional work.
Dr. Christine Cassidy
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University & Clinician Scientist, IWK Health
Topic: Doing health system implementation science on the tenure track
Dr. Christine Cassidy, a clinician scientist (nurse) discusses the challenges and rewards of conducting implementation science that makes an impact on clinical care, while simultaneously achieving the markers of success in an academic environment.
Dr. Tihut Asfaw
Senior Policy Analyst, Health Canada
Topic: From PhD to public service
Dr. Tihut Asfaw dispels myths about working in government and offers valuable tips for transitioning skills from graduate training into a public service career. Drawing from her own experience, she highlights the many opportunities for personal learning and professional development provided by the federal government.
