Team Members
Core Team
Iwona Bielska – Lead Investigator
Dr. Iwona Bielska is an epidemiologist and health services researcher with work experience in academic and government settings. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management, Institute of Public Health at Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland, as well as an Assistant Professor (Part-Time) in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact (HEI), Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. Dr. Bielska completed a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)-funded Health System Impact Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Department of HEI and the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis (CHEPA) at McMaster University. She holds a PhD (Epidemiology) from the Department of Public Health Sciences at Queen’s University. Dr. Bielska is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP). Previously, she held the position of Lead for Business Intelligence and Analytics at Ontario Health. Currently, Dr. Bielska is the Principal Investigator of a research project examining high use of the emergency department (“HEDU”), co-funded by the Polish National Science Centre and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement through the POLONEZ BIS Grant, undertaken at Jagiellonian University. The title of the project is “Establishing evidence-based strategic recommendations for patient-centred health care options for individuals experiencing high use of the emergency department”. Dr. Bielska is knowledgeable about health data analytics to support the equitable distribution of health resources, monitoring of health system performance, health systems planning, and hospital capacity assessments in response to system pressures. Through her employment and education, Dr. Bielska has developed a broad understanding of the public health system across numerous jurisdictions. She has experience conducting quantitative and qualitative studies, as well as analyzing and interpreting research findings from large clinical databases, administrative datasets, and population health surveys.
Iwona Kowalska-Bobko
Professor Iwona Kowalska-Bobko is the Head of the Department of Health Policy and Management at Jagiellonian University. She has over 20 years of work expertise in health system planning and policy in governmental agencies and making evidence-based resource allocation decisions in emergency services. Professor Kowalska-Bobko is an expert in conducting political and economic evaluations of health care programs and technologies and analysing real-world data. She has authored more than 100 papers and books, as well as supervised and mentored 6 PhD students/post-doctoral fellows. She is involved in international projects, including EuroWHO (European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies) and has held grants from the European Union, including “Health promotion and prevention of risk – action for seniors” (Pro-Health 65+: 2014-17).
Natalia Petka
Natalia Petka is a doctoral student at the Jagiellonian University Medical College in Kraków, Poland, in the discipline of Health Sciences. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from the Academy of Physical Education in Kraków and a Master’s degree in Public Health at the Institute of Public Health at the Jagiellonian University Medical College. She completed an internship at the Department of Health Policy and Management and was also an employee of the Office of the Bioethics Committee of the Jagiellonian University. For her scientific work, she focuses on topics related primarily to health policy, the organization of health care systems in European countries, the competences of medical and allied health care staff, disease prevention, and health education. She is a scholarship holder with the POLONEZ BIS 1 project, “Establishing evidence-based strategic recommendations for patient-centred health care options for individuals experiencing high use of the emergency department” (HEDU).
Michał Frączek
Michał Frączek completed his Bachelor’s degree in Health Care Management at Jagiellonian University Medical College in Kraków, Poland. Currently, he is studying in the same field of study for a Master’s degree. He completed an internship at the Agency for Healthy Technology Assessment and Tariff System. He was a Global Ambassador and campaign creator in the “This is Public Health – Global” Action as a representative of Jagiellonian University Medical College. He has worked with the Healthy Polish Cities Association (SZMP), Ukryte Skrzydła Foundation, and KDM Foundation. He has a PRINCE 2 Foundation Certificate. He is interested in politics, project management, emergency management, non-governmental organisations, and social marketing. He is a scholarship holder with the POLONEZ BIS 1 project, “Establishing evidence-based strategic recommendations for patient-centred health care options for individuals experiencing high use of the emergency department” (HEDU).
Tomasz Bielski
Tomasz Bielski is a trained paramedic. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Medical Services at Jagiellonian University Medical College in Kraków, Poland. He expanded his education by completing a Master’s degree in Public Health at the Faculty of Health Sciences at Jagiellonian University Medical College. His thesis compared systemic activities during the COVID-19 pandemic with a particular emphasis on human resources, examining the opinion of medical staff working during the pandemic. As an active paramedic, he was associated with the Temporary Intensive Care Unit of the University Hospital in Kraków. Currently, he works in the Emergency Department of one of the hospitals in Lesser Poland and as a member of the Kraków Emergency Service. He is in the process of completing his medical studies and continues to develop his qualifications by participating in specialist courses. He is a Collaborator with the POLONEZ BIS 1 project, “Establishing evidence-based strategic recommendations for patient-centred health care options for individuals experiencing high use of the emergency department” (HEDU).
Estera Wieczorek
Estera Wieczorek is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Health Economics and Social Security, Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum in Kraków, Poland, and in the Department of Health Services Research, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, the Netherlands. She holds a Bachelor of European Public Health, a Master of Global Health, and a Master of Healthcare Policy, Innovation, and Management from Maastricht University, the Netherlands. During her studies, Estera completed internships at the European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, Trimbos-Instituut (the Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction), and Basel University in Switzerland. Moreover, she completed an exchange at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom and Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand. She lived in 6 different countries on 2 continents (Europe and Asia) where she gained the knowledge of specificities of various health systems. In 2019, Estera became an Early-Stage Researcher in the TRANS-SENIOR project funded by the European Union under Horizon 2020, Marie Skłodowska Curie Innovative Training Networks. The focus of Estera’s Ph.D. research is on organizational and financial aspects affecting care transitions, specifically, on avoiding unnecessary care transitions and improving those that are needed. She is knowledgeable about long-term care and transitional care of older adults, and the health and long-term care systems provision and financing. She has experience conducting qualitative and quantitative studies, as well as developing assessment tools and analyzing policy documents. She is a Collaborator with the POLONEZ BIS 1 project, “Establishing evidence-based strategic recommendations for patient-centred health care options for individuals experiencing high use of the emergency department” (HEDU).
Collaborators
Gina Agarwal
Professor Gina Agarwal holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Vulnerable Individuals in Primary Care in Canada. She is a Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and the McMaster Family Medicine Levitt Scholar. She has been a practicing Family Physician for 25 years both in the United Kingdom and Canada. She is a Primary Care Epidemiologist and Associate Faculty in the Departments of HEI (Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact) and Health, Aging and Society. She is the Director of the Vulnerable Individuals in Primary Care (VIP) Research Lab, which focuses on improving primary health care access for vulnerable populations. She is the Principal Investigator of the McMaster Community Paramedicine Research Program. She has driven health system change with the innovative Community Paramedicine at Clinic (CP@clinic) program which is scaling-up nationally in Canada and internationally. Professor Agarwal is the co-founder and co-chair of the Emergency Data Analysis and Geospatial Mapping (EDGE) Consortium, a collaboration initiated between the University of Lincoln, UK and McMaster University, Canada. She has worked extensively in social housing to improve the health of this vulnerable population and identify healthcare usage patterns. Her research establishing a cohort of individuals in social housing across Ontario forms the basis for fundamental inquiry into the health disparities this vulnerable population faces. Her quantitative and qualitative research, including complex pragmatic studies and economic analyses, use rigorous methods to produce novel insight into the unmet health needs of traditionally difficult-to-reach populations and determine cost-effective and targeted healthcare solutions nationally and globally. Her research interests include community programming for the management of chronic health conditions. She leads research in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) providing low-cost primary care innovations to prevent the disproportionate rise of chronic diseases among vulnerable populations in low-resourced communities.
Hanna Cholerzyńska
Dr. Hanna Cholerzyńska is a doctoral student at the Poznań University of Medical Sciences in Poznań, Poland. She graduated as a valedictorian from Poznan University of Medical Sciences as a Doctor of Medicine. Currently, she is completing her internship at the University Clinical Hospital in Poznań. Her scientific research focuses on health care resource utilization, disease epidemiology, and patients’ quality of life. She values international cooperation and the exchange of knowledge and skills in clinical medicine and research. She was a highly active member of the International Federation of Medical Students Associations IFMSA-Poland, responsible for promoting medical education, and now, as a member of the Young Physicians Committee in the Regional Chamber of Physicians in Greater Poland, she is responsible for facilitating young doctors’ development.
Tomasz Kłosiewicz
Dr. Tomasz Kłosiewicz is an emergency physician, paramedic, academic educator, and scientist in Poznań, Poland, who has dedicated his career to the advancement of emergency medicine and health care education. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Paramedic Science and a Master’s degree in Public Health. He also completed his medical studies and a postgraduate diploma in Crisis Resource Management. He received a PhD degree in Medicine and Health Sciences. His academic achievements lay a solid foundation for his multifaceted career, allowing him to navigate seamlessly between clinical practice and scholarly pursuits. A proud member of both the Polish and European Societies of Emergency Medicine, he actively contributes to the global discourse on emergency medical practices. He is a co-author of numerous publications that delve into topics regarding quality of resuscitation, emergency department efficiency, and the integration of modern techniques in emergency medicine. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor at the Poznań University of Medical Sciences.
Kacper Sumera
Dr. Kacper Sumera is the Head of Education at East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust in Nottingham, the United Kingdom, with a few years of experience working in academia and over a decade as a front-line paramedic. For his doctoral thesis, he undertook an exploratory study utilizing mixed methodology into the transition experiences of internationally-educated paramedics. Dr. Sumera is the founder and chair of the European Pre-hospital Research Network.
Wiktoria Zasada
Wiktoria Zasada is a sixth-year MD student at the Poznań University of Medical Sciences in Poznań, Poland. She is highly involved in the Student’s Research Society activities. She worked as a medical assistant in the emergency department and on the COVID-19 ward, and as a scrub tech in urology practice. She was also involved in the development of two medical start-ups. As a Surgical Workshops Coordinator in the International Federation of Medical Students Associations IFMSA-Poland, she was responsible for teaching students surgical techniques. Her research interests include the utilization of health care systems, public health, and the use of technology in medicine and surgery. Through international collaborations, she is constantly developing her skills and pursuing new projects.
Students
Jaskaran Benepal
Jaskaran Benepal is an undergraduate student in the Life Sciences program at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. For his undergraduate thesis, he is examining the characteristics of health care utilization patterns among individuals aged 65 years and above, while also analyzing the impact of social determinants of health on medical outcomes. Jaskaran is passionate about engaging in research related to the emergency department, prevention and health, and public health. Jaskaran currently helps tutor high school students and volunteers at the food bank.
Harmanvir Dhaliwal
Harmanvir Dhaliwal is a Master of Science in Global Health candidate at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. She previously completed her undergraduate education at McMaster University in the Life Sciences program. Her undergraduate thesis focused on high emergency department usage by individuals experiencing homelessness or those with a history of homelessness in the Hamilton/ Niagara Haldimand Brant LHIN region during the COVID-19 pandemic. With her previous work experience in the emergency department as a patient support worker, she has a keen interest in research pertaining to epidemiology, quality of emergency department services, and public health that have led her to continue her research work on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the usage of emergency services by individuals that are disproportionately impacted by social indicators of health. She is enthusiastic and eager to continue her research work combined with her practical knowledge to make improvements to the quality of care and services in the healthcare field.
Justin Kang
Justin Kang is a second-year student at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, pursuing a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree. With a strong passion for research, his interests are diverse and encompass areas such as public health epidemiology, global health, and cognitive neuroscience. His current research focus lies in exploring health service quality and patient safety. Looking ahead, Justin plans to pursue a career either in medicine or dedicated research in fields related to emergency medicine, neurology, or surgery. Beyond academia, Justin is a certified ski instructor.
Natasha Khalid
Natasha Khalid is a graduate from McMaster University where she completed her undergraduate studies in Honours Life Sciences and Honours Human Behaviour in Applied Sciences. She completed a thesis focusing on high emergency department use by individuals experiencing mental health and substance use co-morbidities in Southern Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic. With her previous work experience in support of mental health with organizations like Low Entropy and Crisis Services Canada during the pandemic, she furthered her interest in research pertaining to epidemiology, quality of emergency department services, and public health that have led her to continue her work on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the usage of emergency services by individuals that are disproportionately impacted by social indicators of health. She is currently working with Crisis Services Canada providing mental health care to individuals experiencing acute mental health crises. She is keen to continue her studies in the field of mental health and improving care in the future. She is enthusiastic and eager to combine her passions of mental health care and research with the addition of her practical knowledge to make improvements to the quality of care and services in the health care field.
Augusta Rebecca James Ravichandran
Augusta Rebecca James Ravichandran is a Master of Science in Public Health Management student at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences in Kaunas, Lithuania. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Homoeopathic Medicine from the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University in India. She completed an internship at the Department of Community Medicine, General Medicine, Reproductive, and Child Healthcare, where she maintained records of knowledge gained in her practice and various health programs. She has experience as a homoeopathic consultant, where she has treated patients by thoroughly analyzing their disease conditions. Currently, she is working on her Master’s thesis, which focuses on parents’ perceptions of child immunization as a health care priority in Tamil Nadu, India. She has a strong interest in data analysis, health policy, and health management. Her goal is to enhance the quality of care and services provided in the health care industry by combining her practical expertise and enthusiasm for research. She is passionate about working with underprivileged children to improve their basic health care access and education. She will be doing an Erasmus internship at the Department of Health Policy and Management at Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland.
Trupti Sanjay Ghate
Dr. Trupti Sanjay Ghate is a dedicated healthcare professional with a medical background from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (2019). With three years of experience, including a year-long internship at the Civil Hospital and Primary Healthcare Center, she served as a resident medical officer during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, earning the ‘COVID-19 WARRIOR’ Award for her contributions. Simultaneously, she furthered her education with a Postgraduate Diploma in Emergency Medical Services (2021) to augment her clinical skills. Inspired by the preventive aspect of medicine highlighted during pandemic, she redirected her focus to public health and started her Master’s degree in Applied Public Health at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences in 2022. Currently, she is enrolled in the Erasmus program at the Technical University of Munich and she is engaged in a Master’s thesis focusing on the subjective well-being, health, and work-life balance of emergency health care workers in Kaunas Emergency Station, Lithuania. Her interests include addressing public health care challenges, international health care systems and policy, Emergency Medical Services, and clinical research, reflecting her commitment to the field.
Sydney Tomlinson
Sydney Tomlinson is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Honours Life Sciences at McMaster Universityin Hamilton, Canada, with interests in public health and science communication. For her senior thesis, she is working alongside Dr. Bielska to study communication challenges among frequent emergency department users and health care providers. Besides her studies, Sydney participates in several extracurricular activities and volunteer initiatives. She writes for UNICEF McMaster, McMaster Friends of Doctors Without Borders, Bite-Sized Science, Tackling MisInformation McMaster, and Her Campus McMaster. Additionally, she mentors first-year science students and volunteers for World Vision McMaster, the McMaster Community Fridge, and the Canadian Red Cross’ Friendly Calls program. After graduation, Sydney plans to pursue a Master’s degree in public health or epidemiology.
Team Members
Bhavneet Nhangu
Bhavneet Kaur Bhangu is a dedicated graduate student pursuing her Master’s degree at McMaster University within the Faculty of Health Sciences. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Honours Life Sciences at the same institution. During her undergraduate studies, Bhavneet undertook a research practicum and thesis focusing on patients with high emergency department use who were receiving palliative care. Her investigation honed in on southern Ontario, with a particular emphasis on the health system challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout her Bachelor’s degree program, Bhavneet delved into various facets of geriatrics, expanding her expertise in areas such as facilitating active transport, understanding the built environment’s impact, and exploring the intersections of child development and music therapy in relation to stress levels. Bhavneet also is a Unit Clerk on an Inpatient Medical Unit in the Greater Toronto Area, providing her with valuable firsthand experiences and a holistic perspective on the intricacies of the health care system. As she continues on her path in the medical field, Bhavneet passionately immerses herself in diverse health care settings. Her ongoing commitment extends to conducting research on critical subjects such as health promotion and equity, epidemiology, and health care systems.
Rana Elmanufi
Rana Elmanufi graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor’s degree in Science in Life Sciences. She double-majored in Biology and Psychology, developing a passion for research during her time there. She actively participated in multiple research projects as a student, including an independent psychological study. Currently, Rana is working with a team on a systematic review of COVID-19 vaccine incentive strategies under McMaster University’s Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI). She aspires to pursue a Master’s degree in Global Health to contribute to supporting health care systems in developing countries.
