Our team

Dr. Erica Di Ruggiero is an Associate Professor of Global Health, Division of Social and Behavioural Health Sciences & Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. She is also the Director of the Centre for Global Health and the Collaborative Specialization in Global Health, and co-director of the WHO Collaborating Centre on Health Promotion. Her program of research examines how evidence affects global policy agendas related to employment, other determinants of health equity in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals. She also studies population health interventions, using novel conceptual and methodological tools to conduct international comparative policy research on global social and health inequities. Prior to joining the DLSPH, she was the inaugural Deputy Scientific Director with the CIHR-Institute of Population and Public Health. She holds a PhD in public health sciences from University of Toronto.

Nicoda Foster is strongly committed to addressing the social determinants of health and advocates for the removal of barriers to improving the health and wellbeing of the most vulnerable in society. She has demonstrated her passion for health equity through her career, working in sustainability, and her research that focuses on the health and wellbeing of minority women in Canada. Over the years, Nicoda has held several progressive administrative roles with organizations such as Toronto Metropolitan University’s Future Skills Centre where she managed funding agreements with over 70 project partners, Sinai Health System where she lead the development of the Geriatrics program’s evaluation and research infrastructure, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario where she supported the uptake of their world renowned best practice guidelines in nursing practice as well as Cancer Care Ontario where she provided leadership in the publication of their yearly report, the Cancer System Quality Index. She received her Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management from the Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs and Policy Management at Carleton University, her Masters of Public Health from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto and completed her Ph.D. at McMaster University.

Areej is a BA (Hons) graduate from Toronto Metropolitan University. She has 7+ years of experience working with and successfully advocating for marginalized groups, such as: women, children, 2SLGBTQIA+ populations, immigrants and newcomers to Canada, people with short and long-term physical and mental disabilities, and racialized groups. Areej also has extensive knowledge in project coordination, and has used qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and processes throughout her academic and professional career. With a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, she looks forward to contributing to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and driving impactful outcomes.