About Us

Arjun Law, MD: Clinical Haematologist, Stem Cell Transplant Physician, Assistant Professor of Medicine – Princess Margaret Hospital and University of Toronto

Sonya MacParland, PhD: Scientist and Assistant Professor, Ajmera Transplant Program, University Health Network and University of Toronto

Paula Neves, PhD: Lead, Center for Living Organ Donation – Ajmera Transplant Program, University Health Network

Nicole Woods, PhD: Associate Professor & Education Scientist, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto; Institute Director, The Institute for Education Research; Senior Director, Education and Research Integration; Associate Director & Education Scientist, The Wilson Centre, University Health Network.

Jacqui Getfield, PhD

Dr. Getfield is an adjunct member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, York University. Her research interests include mothering, blackness, race, disability, and home-school-community partnerships. She theorizes through the lenses of Black feminisms, Critical Disability Studies and Critical Race Theory.  Dr. Getfield is the Vice-President of the Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators (ONABSE) and a board member of the Caribbean African Canadian Social Services (CAFCAN).  She lectures at the Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), Seneca College and Centennial College.

Teniola Ajani

Teniola Ajani is a third-year medical student at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. She is deeply passionate about advancing equity in healthcare and ensuring that African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities are fully supported and represented within medicine. Her interests lie in strengthening the relationship between healthcare providers and ACB community members, with an emphasis on culturally responsive and patient-centered care. Teniola is committed to advocating for greater inclusion, improving access to care, and fostering initiatives that empower ACB individuals to thrive in clinical and academic spaces.

Fola Ayibiowu

Folayemi Ayibiowu is a third-year Medical Student at University College Dublin in Ireland. She is a Nigerian-Canadian with a passion for Human Rights activism, clinical research, and regenerative medicine. Folayemi began her research experience at the Hospital for Sick Children, performing laboratory experiments and investigations into phagocytosis, kidney health, and cell biology. She currently works as a Student Volunteer at UHN with Dr. Mucsi’s KHE-ACB and CARM laboratories, while also volunteering in the SickKids Rheumatology research lab. Through working with CARM and KHE-ACB, Folayemi hopes to educate others, especially black youth, about regenerative medicine and clinical research. 

Mowa Ayibiowu

Mowa Ayibiowu is a fifth-year medical student at University College Dublin with research experience at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). She is passionate about advocating for African, Black and Caribbean patients and currently works at Toronto General Hospital Research Institute as part of the Kidney Health Education and Research Group.  

Kayla-Rae Barnes

Kayla-Rae Barnes is a second-year Health Sciences student at Queen’s University. She is passionate about promoting health equity and education in marginalized communities. As an aspiring healthcare professional, she is dedicated to making a positive impact in the healthcare industry. 

Dream Tuitt-Barnes

Dream Tuitt-Barnes is an incoming second-year medical student at Queen’s University with a strong commitment to community-centered research and health equity. At CARM, Dream supports research exploring the relationship between adult attachment theory and chronic kidney disease, while advancing regenerative medicine education within African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities. With a background in both quantitative and qualitative research—including work in plastic surgery, mental health, and public health policy—Dream brings an interdisciplinary lens to projects that aim to build trust and foster dialogue in historically underserved populations.

Marwa Douelrachad

Marwa Douelrachad is a 4th year Honours Global Health student at York University, specializing in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Her work explores health systems strengthening and the use of community-led research to inform policy. She is dedicated to advancing equitable, accessible, and community-centered approaches to care both locally and globally.

Sidoné Grange

Sidoné Grange is a Master’s student in Biomedical Engineering at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is committed to advancing health equity for African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities through research, advocacy, and mentorship. Sidoné aspires to become a physician and healthcare advocate for women, children, and racialized communities by addressing systemic gaps in health education and access. She is especially passionate about fostering inclusive, culturally responsive practices across medicine, research, and education.

Hayden John

Hayden John is an incoming medical student at Queen’s University. He is currently a research student with the Kidney Health Education Research Group (KHERG). In this role, Hayden is examining risk and benefit perception to kidney failure treatment options among ACB Canadians. Outside of academics, Hayden is passionate about mentorship and community engagement.

Daniel McDonald

Daniel McDonald is a first-year medical student at Queen’s University. He is passionate about the advancement of surgical and oncological outcomes globally, especially in underserved regions. Daniel’s work spans projects in neuroscience outcomes, cardiovascular disease prevention, medical device bias, and mental health. Beyond academics, he is committed to advocating for marginalized communities, community engagement, and policy work. He aspires to bridge cutting-edge innovation with culturally responsive care worldwide.

Mahmoud Noweir

Mahmoud Noweir is a recent graduate and research assistant at UHN. He is deeply committed to supporting African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities in both healthcare and research. Mahmoud’s work focuses on addressing systemic barriers and promoting culturally relevant care, with the goal of creating more inclusive and accessible health systems for ACB individuals and families

Emmanuel Olaonipekun

Emmanuel Olaonipekun is a final-year medical student at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He is passionate about supporting ACB communities through equitable and informed healthcare. With a strong interest in musculoskeletal medicine, Emmanuel is driven by the connection between personal experience and clinical understanding. He is committed to helping build spaces where ACB individuals feel represented, empowered, and equipped to lead in both academic and healthcare settings.

Robin Olaonipekun

Robin Olaonipekun is a penultimate-year medical student at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. She has contributed to research, student advocacy, and initiatives aimed at improving equity and representation within medical education. Her work is rooted in a deep commitment to advocating for African, Caribbean, and Black communities in healthcare, with a focus on addressing systemic barriers and promoting culturally responsive care. Robin is committed to ensuring that ACB individuals are empowered to claim space in academic and clinical settings and to pursue prominent roles where their presence and leadership can drive meaningful change.

Osa Osadolor

Osa Osadolor is a third-year Biomedical Science student at the University of Guelph, with a minor in Black Canadian Studies. She’s passionate about exploring the intersection of race and medicine, aiming to integrate this understanding into her future healthcare career. Currently, she is assisting in the Dawson lab’s research on establishing a zebrafish model for cardiac actin variants. 

Devron Swaby

Devron Swaby is an Honours Life Sciences student at McMaster University. His research and community work focus on health equity for ACB communities, psychosocial factors in chronic kidney disease and transplantation, systemic barriers faced by neurodivergent Black youth and biomedical research methodology. He is dedicated to promoting health equity and educational access for ACB communities.