For International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Unity Health Toronto innovators offer their best advice for the next generation

Through mentorship programs, professional development opportunities, and institutional support, Unity Health Toronto is working to remove barriers for women in science and foster an environment where women continue to lead, drive innovation and discovery, and inspire the next generation.

Today, on the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science we spoke to three distinguished scientists – driven by curiosity, a love of problem-solving, and a strong desire to help others – who are making a difference for our patients and communities. We asked them about their work, what inspires them and what advice they have for the next generation.

Chloe Pou-Prom

Chloe Pou-Prom

Senior Data Scientist, St. Michael’s Hospital

Can you describe the type of research you do?

I work with the Data Science and Advanced Analytics (DSAA) group. Our aim is to deploy applied healthcare solutions to the hospital. I work with healthcare data and build data science tools to help improve patient outcomes and healthcare system efficiency.

What do you love most about your job?

I love that I get to work on real-world problems and I love being able to combine data science with healthcare! I enjoy problem-solving and love learning!

Can you share a moment in your career that made you especially proud?

My team developed and deployed CHARTWatch, an early warning system for detecting patient deterioration. It has been very rewarding to see the positive impact the tool has had on the hospital.

What advice do you have for young women and girls who might be considering a career in science?

Be curious, ask questions, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, and avoid comparing yourself to others. There are so, so many different paths that can lead to a career in science.

Mikaela Gabriel

Mikaela Gabriel (Mi’kmaq of Ktaqmkuk)

Scientist, MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions & Well Living House

Can you describe the type of research you do?

My research looks at how culture and community connections can support Indigenous Peoples navigating housing and homelessness – unfortunately, it’s an intersection of multiple systemic barriers and personal losses. My job is to listen to the experiences of people, work to shape systems to meet our needs, while uplifting how our traditions can heal us.

What do you love most about your job?

Listening to people – finding their strengths, identifying the barriers, and then working to keep them safe. A huge bonus is meeting fellow scientists and clinicians who are equally devoted to helping others.

What inspired you to pursue a career in science?

I pursued psychology to help my people – I believe, very powerfully, in the importance of safe relationships to help us through the human experience. But in my graduate training, I saw just how much oppressive systems impact people’s daily lives, and how research can be a vessel to foster system change toward equitable care.

Can you share a moment in your career that made you especially proud?

I was recently awarded a Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Women and Two-Spirit Mental Health and Homelessness. While this honour will help me advance the needs of the population I serve in my clinical practice every week, I’m most proud of the healing created when patients trust me to join them. After all the hardships, both personal and systemic, finding a new way to live can seem impossible…until you do it. My CRC will help spread this work on a larger scale.

What advice do you have for young women and girls who might be considering a career in science?

Do it! Join us! I once told a dear friend, Dr. David Newhouse, that I was surprised to find myself as a scientist when I very fundamentally am an artist. He told me, “Science requires artistry, to look at things in a different way.” Bring your art, your science, your logic, your heart. Apply discipline and rigour to make excellence. You can call me if you need some help.

Dr. Claudia dos Santos

Claudia dos Santos

Scientist, Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Hospital and Tier 1 Canada Research chair in Accelerated Critical Care Medicine.

Can you describe the type of research you do?

My research is aimed at making new discoveries to prevent, limit or reduce morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. We use precision medicine tools like multiomics and bioinformatics to understand acute organ failure in patients. New understanding helps us to make new discoveries that in turn may lead to new therapies which we test using cell and in-vivo preclinical models. Ultimately our goal is to translate novel discoveries to new drugs and treatments that will improve the lives and futures of critically ill patients.

What do you love most about your job?

There are three things that I love about my job. First, that it has the potential to change lives. Thinking about my patients is the motivation behind everything that we do. Second, the people I work with. Over the years I have been fortunate to work with wonderful professionals and trainees, all over Canada and abroad, committed to innovation in critical care. Finally, I like the challenge of being at the forefront of innovation. No day is alike and every day is a challenge and an opportunity to find solutions to sometimes impossible problems.

What inspired you to pursue a career in science?

A desire to be useful, to make people’s lives better. Curiosity. I always loved biology, genetics, and understanding how things work. I was always a bit of a nerd and enjoyed much more studying than doing anything else. I wanted to be a teacher, I loved medicine and being a doctor, although I never conceived of having my own research laboratory! I am a student at heart! So being a professor of medicine and a research scientist is a dream come true!

Can you share a moment in your career that made you especially proud?

My proudest moments are as a mother to my two sons. In my career, the moments that have resonated with me the most are when I feel I have done right by a patient and their loved ones, when my students excel, and when I know I got the science right! These moments are often not the loudest or most visible, but they are profoundly important to me. So much in life, and medicine, is uncertainty and obstacles, and when we can be part of the solution – it feels good!

What advice do you have for young women and girls who might be considering a career in science?

Go for it! Science is creative, inspires curiosity, encourages an attitude of exploration, a life of discovery and awe. If that is not enough, it has the potential to improve lives!

By: Kevin Van Paassen

Originally published on Unity Health Toronto