In honour of International Women’s Day, we are celebrating the incredible women at HSN who play integral roles in providing exceptional, patient-centered care and are leading the way to healthcare excellence across Northeastern Ontario.
Anu Nair, Ella Cocco, and Dania Andino are three of the incredible women engaged in bench research at HSNRI. These women are a vital piece of the bridge between scientific discovery and improving medical outcomes for patients at HSN, and we are proud to highlight them in honour of International Women’s Day.
Anu and Dania collaborate on influenza, COVID-19, and STI wastewater testing and tracking projects in their roles as research technicians within Dr. Gustavo Ybazeta’s scientific research team. They have learned a lot from each other and the other women they work with, including the importance of doing your best while not being afraid to make mistakes. As women in a male-dominated field, being collaborative and open to sharing perspectives helps drive their work forward.
Equity in science, to Anu, means that “every person’s perspective is heard, and the workplace maintains respect for one another.” “We should celebrate the diversity of our individual backgrounds, and focus on the strength of those shared points of view towards accomplishing our objectives.” added Dania.
Completing her thesis under the supervision of Dr. Chris Verschoor, Ella is conducting work focused on the impacts of chronic stress on immune cell function.
“Visibility and representation of women in leadership roles, along with access to mentorship and networking are crucial.” shared Ella. Women and girls’ “unique perspectives in historically male-dominated fields will bring fresh, enriching insights to human health research.”
Thank you to all the women in research who help to advance innovation in patient care!
Thank you to Anu Nair, Ella Cocco, Dania Andino, and to all the women who make a positive impact on healthcare in our community, region, and beyond!