Research Team

Robin Hayeems, Senior Scientist

Dr. Hayeems is a Scientist in Child Health Evaluative Sciences (CHES) at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and an Associate Professor in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME) at the University of Toronto. Dr. Hayeems is trained in genetic counselling (ScM, Johns Hopkins University), public health and bioethics (PhD, University of Toronto), health policy research (University of Toronto, IHPME Postdoctoral Fellowship) and health services research (University of Toronto, Institute for Clinical and Evaluative Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship).

Hayeems’ research focuses on the development and implementation of high quality genomic screening and diagnostic tools for the maternal-child health context. Using applied health services and policy research methods, her work focuses on the delivery, evaluation, and governance of genomic screening and diagnostic tools in the prenatal, newborn, and early childhood periods. As a member of several provincial advisory committees, her work informs and is informed by policy development in this area.

Research Staff

Viji VenkataramananDatabase Manager

Viji holds a Master’s degree in Psychology and is interested in the field of genetics, child health, patient experience, arthritis and health policy. She is involved in a few projects and one of her main projects explores the trajectory of care following genetic testing including whole genome sequencing (WGS), especially in children with a heart condition. In addition, this project aims to understand the types of health services utilization and associated costs. She is also working on a study learning about the parents’ journey of dealing with a newborn baby coupled with receiving an uncertain Newborn Screening Result.

Fun fact: Viji has lived in many countries and visited many more.

Stephanie LucaClinical Research Project Manager

Stephanie completed an Honours Bachelor of Science at the University of Toronto and a Master of Arts in Social Psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University. As a project manager in the Hayeems’ lab, she plays a central role in overseeing numerous projects. Her main focus is the development of a novel outcome measure to capture the clinical utility of genetic testing, known as C-GUIDE™. Skilled in qualitative research methods, Stephanie also uses semi-structured interviews as a form of data collection for a variety of projects, and she is certified in project management (PMP).

Fun fact: Stephanie enjoys long distance running and uses racing as an excuse to travel to new places.

Elise PooleClinical Research Project Coordinator

Elise completed her Honours Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at Brandon University, as well as a Master of Health Science in Medical Genomics at the University of Toronto. Elise joined the Hayeems Lab as a practicum student to expand upon her knowledge of genomics through a clinical and personal utility lens. During her placement, Elise assisted on the Secondary Findings Impact Study and P-GUIDE™ project, and is now continuing with her work on these projects as a Clinical Research Project Coordinator.

Fun Fact: Elise is an avid baker and spin enthusiast.

Abby HansenClinical Research Project Assistant

Abby graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Science with a specialization in Molecular Biology and Genetics at McMaster University. As a Clinical Research Project Assistant, Abby will be working on a project exploring the factors that influence patients’/parents’ decisions to decline secondary findings from genome-wide sequencing and also assisting with the Secondary Findings Impact Study.

Fun Fact: Abby used to be on the varsity swim team at McMaster!

Daniel AssamadClinical Research Project Coordinator

Daniel is a trained genetic counsellor who completed a Bachelor’s of Science in Genetics, Physiology and Psychology and a Master of Health Science in Medical Genomics at the University of Toronto. He then went on to complete his Master of Science in Genetic Counselling at the University of British Columbia. One of Daniel’s main projects, the P-GUIDE™ aims to develop a novel patient-reported outcome measure to capture the personal-utility of genomic medicine, and he is currently working on developing a similar tool for adolescents. Daniel is also involved in numerous other projects including the Secondary Findings Impact Study and Virtual Navigator.

Fun fact: Daniel grew up in the Middle East before he moved to Canada for university.

Celine ChenClinical Research Project Coordinator

Celine completed an Honours Bachelor of Science in Anatomy and Cell Biology at McGill University and a Master of Science in Global Health at McMaster University. Celine is a Clinical Research Project Coordinator for the Canadian Population Screening for Risk of Type 1 Diabetes Research Consortium. This consortium aims to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of Type 1 Diabetes screening to inform implementation in the general population. Celine is also supporting the Secondary Findings Impact Study.

Fun fact: Celine collects business cards of restaurants she dines at and creates wall decor with them.

Dhayo KhangsarResearch Administrative Coordinator

Dhayo holds a Honours Bachelor of Health Studies Degree in Health Management from York University as well as a Post-Graduate Certificate in Project Management from George Brown College. Dhayo is extremely versatile and joins us from SickKids Foundation where she gained over 3 years of administrative, fundraising, customer service, and non-profit project experience. Dhayo currently provides support to three research scientists and their labs as an Administrative Coordinator. A natural planner and organizer, Dhayo supports the research endeavours of the Hayeems Lab by supporting grant applications, managing meetings, onboarding new staff, tracking expenses and conducting general administrative functions.

Fun fact: Dhayo can speak four languages and they are Tibetan, English, Hindi and Nepali.

Trainees

Lena DolmanPaediatric Resident

Lena completed an Honours Bachelor of Science in Biology at Queens University, and a Master of Science in Human Genetics at McGill University. After completing her Master of Science, Lena completed her Doctor of Medicine at the McMaster University School of Medicine. Currently, she is a Paediatrics Resident at the University of Toronto. Her main project is focused on creating a modified version of the C-GUIDE™ tool to measure and quantify the clinical utility of genomic sequencing in neonatal critical care settings.

Fun Fact: Lena once spent two days filming a flashy music video with Arcade Fire in a tiny salsa club in Montreal!

Michael MackleyMedical Genetics Resident

Michael completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Doctor of Medicine at Dalhousie University, as well as a Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Sciences at the University of Oxford. Currently, he is a resident physician in the Medical Genetics & Genomics Program at SickKids and the University of Toronto. Michael is interested in the clinical and ethical implications of the widespread use of genomics and is working on projects related to clinical implementation and genome diagnostics, including work through Genome-wide Sequencing Ontario and the Secondary Findings Impact Study.

Fun Fact:Michael is from Nova Scotia, and enjoys exploring Toronto one-coffee-shop-at-a-time with his toddler and partner.

Salma ShickhPost-Doctoral Research Fellow

Salma completed her PhD at the University of Toronto, where her research focused on the clinical utility of genomic sequencing among patients with cancer. She is a genetic counselor by training and worked for several years in pediatric and cancer genetics. Her current research interests are population screening and adoption of new genomic technologies into clinical practice.

Fun Fact: Salma is an avid runner and has finished two half marathons.

Bowen XiaoPost-Doctoral Research Fellow

Bowen completed her Ph.D. in Psychology at Carleton University. Her general research interests are in the areas of children’s socio-emotional functioning and developmental psychopathology. Bowen began working at SickKids as a Research Fellow in 2022, and is involved with P-GUIDE™ project. She is also working on a project to investigate public attitude toward Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT).

Fun Fact: Bowen is a big Argentina soccer fan!

Whiwon LeePhD Student

Whiwon is trained in genetic counseling (M.S., University of Minnesota) and practiced as a genetic counselor in Seoul, Korea, and in Minnesota, USA. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD degree in Health Services Research at the University of Toronto Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation (IHPME). Her main focus of research is the development and implementation of new genomics service delivery models to increase patient access and efficiency.

Fun Fact: In her spare time, Whiwon enjoys singing, reading, watching soccer, and cooking spicy food.

Arthiga ArumugarasanGraduate Student - MSc Candidate

Arthiga completed an Honours Bachelor of Life Sciences from McMaster University. Her passion for genetics and patient care led her to join SickKids in 2022, where she became drawn to research in neurodevelopmental outcomes. In Hayeems Lab, she aims to bridge her interests in neurodevelopment and genetic testing through the lens of health services research while exploring multicultural barriers in patient care.

Fun Fact: Arthiga has been trained in classical Bharatanatyam since the age of 7 and continues to love all forms of dance!

Kulisara SirinawasathianGenetic Counselling Student

Kulisara completed an Honours Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry Co-op at McMaster University. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Genetic Counselling at the University of Toronto. Kulisara is working on a modified version of the P-GUIDE™ tool to capture the personal utility of pharmacogenomic testing in pediatric populations.

Fun Fact: Kulisara was on the McMaster Dragon Boat team throughout her undergrad!

Abidur RahmanGenetic Counselling Student

Abid completed their undergraduate degree in molecular genetics and psychology at the University of Toronto. During their undergrad, they were involved in multiple research projects, from understanding pathways in bacterial infections to cardiac tissue bioengineering. Abid is currently pursuing genetic counselling at U of T and they are excited to create a more culturally sensitive version of the P-guide as a way to understand racialized perspectives in genetic testing.

Fun Fact: Abid is always looking for an excuse to spend time in nature!

Erin HsueResearch Student

Erin Hsue is a graduate student in the Medical Genomics program at the University of Toronto. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in English & Cultural Studies from McMaster University. Erin’s interests are centred around the intersection of her studies and experiences, which blend elements of genomics, communication, and policy. She is currently assisting in various projects, such as the P-GUIDE and the Secondary Findings Impact Study.

Fun Fact: Erin dislikes caffeine

Risha LounganiResearch Student

Risha is pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo. As a research student, she is contributing to the Secondary Findings Impact Study, which explores the effects of secondary findings in genome-wide sequencing as well as assisting in the development of a core outcome set for a Type 1 diabetes screening program.

Fun Fact: During her free time, Risha enjoys going on long walks with friends, baking and watching crime thrillers!

Joyce YanResearch Student

Joyce completed an Honours Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Genetics at McMaster University and is currently completing her Doctor of Medicine at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry (Western University). Joyce joined the Hayeems Lab as a co-op student during her undergraduate and went on to continue her work as a Clinical Research Project Assistant. During her time, Joyce assisted on the Secondary Findings Impact Study and various other projects, and is now continuing her work with the Hayeems Lab as a Research Student.

Fun Fact: Joyce enjoys going to the gym, snowboarding, and exploring different cafes in Toronto.

Student Supervision

We are currently accepting students at the MSc, PhD, and Post-doctoral levels. Please contact Dr. Robin Hayeems to hear more about the opportunities we offer!

Get in Touch!