Current Trainees
Mari Somerville (she/her)
Health System Impact Postdoctoral Fellow Email: mari.somerville@dal.ca Mari is a Registered Dietitian and CIHR Health System Impact Fellow (Postdoctoral Stream) with the STIC Lab. Her program of research involves understanding the science of learning health systems and using these findings to implement evidence-based patient safety recommendations across IWK Health. Previously, Mari worked in a pediatric oncology ward in Bangladesh where she helped improve the nutritional status of newly diagnosed patients. After completing a Master of Public Health at the University of Toronto, Mari moved to Australia to complete her PhD at Griffith University. Mari also has a BSc in Nutrition. She is excited to return to Nova Scotia and work with the STIC lab, helping to facilitate the EDUCATE Project. 
Emily Devereaux (she/her)
Registered Nurse and PhD in Health Student Email: emily.devereaux@dal.ca Emily is a doctoral student in the PhD Health program under the supervision of Dr. Janet Curran. She completed her Bachelor of Nursing in 2016, and Master of Science in Medicine (Clinical Epidemiology) in 2023 through Memorial University of Newfoundland. She has previously worked as a research coordinator with the Nova Scotia Health Implementation Science Team with a role in quantitative data analysis. In addition, Emily has worked as a registered nurse in the emergency department of the Janeway Childrens Hospital and IWK Health. Her area of research interest includes pediatric emergency department utilization and the effect of community programs on emergency department presentations. Her research is supported by the Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship (Doctoral) and BRIC NS Student Research Award. 
Chloe Flynn (she/her)
Registered Nurse and MSc in Nursing Student Email: ch289183@dal.ca Chloe graduated from the University of Prince Edward Island in 2022 with a BSc in Nursing. Since graduating, Chloe has worked as a registered nurse at IWK Health. Chloe is passionate about working with children and their families and offering her support during the difficult times of their hospitalization. Chloe began her MSc in Nursing at Dalhousie University in September 2022 under the supervision of Dr. Janet Curran. Since this time Chloe has worked on several projects within the STIC lab as a Research Assistant. Chloe is excited to continue her education in research with the mentorship of the STIC lab. |
Maddie Gallant (she/her)
Registered Nurse and PhD in Nursing Student Email: Maddie.gallant@dal.ca Maddie graduated from the University of Prince Edward Island in 2017 with a BSc in Nursing. Currently, Maddie is studying at Dalhousie University in the PhD in Nursing Program. Maddie is a perinatal nurse consultant with the Reproductive Care Program of Nova Scotia. She also works as a Research Assistant with Dr. Christine Cassidy. Maddie’s background and expertise is founded in perinatal nursing, and implementation science. Maddie has a passion for improving health outcomes for mothers/pregnant persons with substance use disorder and their infants diagnosed with neonatal abstinence/opioid withdrawal syndrome. When not studying, or working in the health care system, Maddie enjoys spending time at home with her two little ones under the age of two. Maddie is involved in a variety of research projects within the STIC lab and is excited to continue growing in her research capacity under the mentorship of Dr. Janet Curran and Dr. Christine Cassidy. 
Madison Hickey (she/her)
Registered Nurse and MSc in Nursing Student Email: Erin graduated from Dalhousie University in 2018 with a BSc in Nursing. Since graduation, Erin has worked as a Registered Nurse and Research Coordinator. Her background is in adult care, specifically in nephrology and transplant. Erin started the MSc in Nursing program at Dalhousie University in 2022. Erin enjoys keeping active, spending time outside, and reading. She also has a BSc in Biology and is an animal lover. Erin is excited to learn more about knowledge translation and grow her research experience and skills under the mentorship of the STIC lab. 
Brittany Barber (she/her)
Health System Impact Postdoctoral Fellow Email: brittany.barber@dal.ca Brittany is a CIHR-funded Health System Impact Postdoctoral Fellow at IWK Health and Dalhousie University. Brittany completed her PhD at Dalhousie University where she investigated how to adapt health interventions for prevention of chronic diseases by applying geo-spatial methods and behavioural economic principles to collect spatiotemporal information about the contexts of patients’ day-to-day routines to strengthen behaviour change interventions. Her doctoral research provided expertise of interdisciplinary theory and methods for addressing complex health challenges, like integrating contexts of patients’ behaviours within clinical settings to improve design of health services. Working with IWK Health, Brittany will address complex health system challenges by improving implementation of data for decision-making and advance a culture of rapid learning to improve effectiveness of health service delivery. Her program of work advances implementation of a learning health system and contributes innovative ways of using real-time clinical and administrative data for informed decision-making in practice. |
Allyson Gallant (she/her)
PhD in Health Student Email: allyson.gallant@dal.ca Allyson is a doctoral student in the PhD Health Program under the co-supervision of Dr. Janet Curran and Dr. Audrey Steenbeek. She completed a BSc (Honours) at the University of Prince Edward Island and a Master of Public Health from the University of Saskatchewan. Previously, she has worked as a Research Coordinator with Dr. Curran in the STIC Lab. Allyson also spent time working as a Research Assistant in Scotland. Her areas of interest include behaviour change research and vaccine hesitancy among high-risk adults. 
Erin McConnell (she/her)
Registered Nurse and PhD in Nursing Student Email: erin.mcconnell@dal.ca Erin graduated from Dalhousie University in 2018 with a BSc in Nursing. Since graduation, Erin has worked as a Registered Nurse and Research Coordinator. Her background is in adult care, specifically in nephrology and transplant. Erin started the MSc in Nursing program at Dalhousie University in 2022. Erin enjoys keeping active, spending time outside, and reading. She also has a BSc in Biology and is an animal lover. Erin is excited to learn more about knowledge translation and grow her research experience and skills under the mentorship of the STIC lab. |
Former Trainees
Dr. Sydney Breneol
Dr. Andrea Bishop
Dr. Christine Cassidy
Dr. Logan Lawrence
Danielle Shin
Dr. Andrea Bishop
Dr. Christine Cassidy
Dr. Logan Lawrence
Danielle Shin
