The Community Health Sciences Student Executive Team

Meriem Aroua, Co-Chair

Meriem (she/her) is the 2025-26 CHSSE Co-chair. She is a MSc student specializing in Population and Public Health. She has a background in community rehabilitation and several years of experience working in clinic administration. She has led multiple community organizations supporting newcomers, women, and those experiencing financial challenges. Her research and thesis work focus on immigrant health and exploring strategies to improve health research with marginalized populations. She is committed to advocacy, equitable research, and community-based approaches. In her spare time, Meriem enjoys squash at the University of Calgary courts, boardgames, and re-watching her favourite Doctor Who episodes.

Ariba Bajwa, Co-Chair

Ariba (she/her) is the 2025-26 CHSSE Co-chair. She is a second year MSc student in Community Health Sciences. Specializing in Medical Education, her research interests are interprofessional work and foundations taught in medical training. She previously worked as a high school science teacher and as a student technician at the University of Calgary. She has previously led a team with the Create Change Foundation, volunteered with AHS and the Mustard Seed. In her free time she enjoys film photography, reading, and listening to music. She is a huge Swiftie; making friendship bracelets and hosting Taylor’s Version listening parties are part of her culture. Her top three values are education, communication, and advocacy. Ariba is extremely excited to serve as a Community Health Science Student Executive.

Amanda Herman, Treasurer

Amanda (she/her) is the 2025/26 CHSSE Treasurer. She is a first year MSc student specializing in Health Services Research. She completed her undergraduate studies in Lethbridge and has worked internationally in the space of patient experience research before pursuing her graduate education. Her research focuses on understanding challenges regarding implementation of patient-reported outcome measures in a paediatric setting. Outside of academics, Amanda loves to play sports like volleyball or disc golf, enjoys playing board games with her family and in the winters cozying up with a good book.

Simrit Rai, Communications Coordinator

Simrit (she/her) is one of the 2025-2026 CHSSE Communications Coordinators. She is a first year Master’s student in Community Health Sciences specializing in Epidemiology. She holds dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Psychology and in Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology from the University of Calgary. For her Master’s, she is studying how infant feeding practices, including formula, human donor milk, and breastfeeding, shape the gut microbiome and neurodevelopment of infants delivered via c-section. Outside of research, Simrit is passionate about advocating for children with mobility issues and neurodevelopmental disorders. In her free time, she enjoys baking, crafting with clay, and exploring new coffee shops.

Kristine Lyn Pesigan, Communications Coordinator

Kristine (she/her) is one of the 2025-26 CHSSE Communication Coordinators. She completed her BSc (Hons) in psychology at the University of Calgary and is currently pursuing a MSc in Community Health Sciences, specializing in Epidemiology. Her research interests aim to bring together psychology and epidemiology to inform potential interventions and public health practices to support hospitalized or at-risk populations for chronic illnesses. Outside of research, Kristine enjoys trying new sports, Olympic weightlifting, and tinkering with keyboards.

Eshleen Grewal, Academic and Mentorship Coordinator

Eshleen (she/her) is a PhD student in the Health Services Research specialization. Her academic background spans kinesiology, public policy, and counselling psychology. Her current research is focused on the collection of data about social determinants of health within electronic health records, and she has previously been involved with research projects related to homelessness. In her spare time, Eshleen loves baking (and eating) sweet treats, dancing (she recently signed up for a belly dancing class with her mom, but sadly, it was cancelled), and playing field hockey (which she is not very good at but looks forward to every week nonetheless).

Olivia Buth, Academic and Mentorship Coordinator

Olivia (she/her) is the 2024-25 CHSSE First Year Representative (MSc). She received her Honours Bachelor’s in health sciences from the University of Ottawa in 2021 and is excited to return to academia to pursue an MSc with a specialization in Population/Public Health. Her research focuses on using blood-based biomarkers to identify concussions in youth athletes. 

Born and raised in Ottawa, Olivia has worked and volunteered in a variety of healthcare and hospital settings, including the delivery of health services to members of the Canadian Armed Forces. 

Outside of her studies and research, Olivia enjoys travelling, hot yoga, playing sports, and trying out new cafes around the city.

Douyin Abatan, Academic and Mentorship Coordinator

Doyin (she/her) is one of the 2025-26 CHSSE Academic and Mentorship Coordinators. She is a first MSc student specializing in Epidemiology. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Calgary where she studied Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology. While there, she was involved in a variety of research projects ranging from qualitative to quantitative analyses. The topics she focused on include data management in cardiovascular and stroke trials, examining the responses of medical schools across Canada to the #BLM movement and investigating protein expression in mice brains. She is passionate about ensuring healthcare research is representative of the complex landscapes of the population. Her thesis research examines data management practices in clinical trials for stroke management, intending to strengthen equitable and accurate patient outcomes. Beyond her research she loves to read, go to spin class and watch her comfort show, a Different World. 

Katrina Fras, Social Events Coordinator

Amanda Sherwin, Social Events Coordinator

Amanda (she/her) is one of the social events coordinators for CHSSE in 2025/2026. She is a second-year MSc student specializing in Population and Public Health. Amanda studied nutrition and food science at the University of Alberta and her research focuses on understanding the intersection of body image and food choices after pregnancy. Amanda has leadership and event planning experience from her time as the president of the Rock Climbing Club at the University of Alberta. Her work as a youth group leader also gave her lots of ideas for creative events to bring people together. When she isn’t on campus you can find Amanda training at one of the many rock climbing gyms around Calgary.

Anita Szabo, First-Year Representative

Anita (she/her) is the 2025-26 CHSSE First-Year Representative. She's a first year MSc. student with a foundation in clinical neuroscience and a passion for inclusive learning. She holds a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from the University of Calgary.  Now pursuing a Master’s in Community Health Sciences with a specialization in medical education, Anita is committed to fostering inclusive and reflective environments in medical education that embrace neurodiversity. She aims to create space in medicine where unique, neurodivergent skills and ways of thinking are not just accepted but celebrated. Outside of academia, she finds joy by frolicking in nature and indulging in the occasional sweet treat.

Halle Deakin, First-Year Representatives

Halle (she/her) is a Master’s student specializing in Epidemiology. She has a background in biochemistry and pathology, with undergraduate research focused on proteins, novel chemical techniques, and microscopy. Building on this foundation, she is committed to advancing patient-oriented research in women’s health and strengthening science communication during her graduate studies. In her spare time, Halle enjoys choreographing dances, volunteering in her community, playing intramural sports, and spending time in the mountains.