Abdoulaye Thiaw, MD
Abdoulaye is a physician from Senegal and is currently a graduate student at Laval University. Abdoulaye is pursuing a graduate degree working on projects surrounding type 1 diabetes, including CommuniT1D. He was particularly interested in working on projects to do with T1D because his little brother lives with the condition. Abdoulaye serves on the CommuniT1D national research team.
Adhiyat Najam, T1D, MSc
Adhiyat has lived with type 1 diabetes since the age of 7. She currently works in type 1 diabetes research in Toronto, specifically in the area of self-management education and support. Living with type 1 diabetes can feel isolating and overwhelming, but Adhiyat has seen first-hand the positive impact that peer support communities can bring. She deeply understands the importance of creating spaces where patients and their families can freely express and acknowledge the emotions that come with living with this condition. Adhiyat serves on the CommuniT1D steering committee and national research team.
Andrea Limbourg, T1D
Andrea was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 21. She currently lives with her family in Paris, France, where she works and volunteers on programs that support patient education, patient partnership in health care, and health care services over the lifespan. Through her professional work and patient partner experience, she brings a deep understanding of how people who live with chronic conditions can build support and learn from each other. For this reason, she has been deeply involved in type 1 diabetes social support for many years, including initiating monthly “Café Diabète” meetups in Paris, which have since been rolled out nation-wide. As a person who has lived in various contexts and countries, she is keenly aware of the contextual differences of care and access. She hopes that her international background will offer a useful perspective to CommuniT1D. Andrea serves on the CommuniT1D international advisory committee.
Annie LeBlanc, PhD
Annie is a Full Professor within the Department of Family and Emergency in the Faculty of Medicine at Laval University and a researcher at Vitam Research Centre for Sustainable Health and Mayo Clinic where she holds an affiliated position. She is the Nominated Principal Investigator and Scientific Director of PASSERELLE, the national training entity dedicated to supporting and promoting the collective efforts to develop and sustain capacity in patient-oriented research (POR) across Canada. She holds a Canada Research Chair in Knowledge Mobilization and Integration in Practice. Her research and that of members of her lab focuses on mobilizing evidence for healthcare delivery, advancing methods and practice of POR in real-life settings, and building capacity in POR, with the overarching aim of optimizing delivery of health care and bring about rapid and meaningful benefits to patients. Annie serves on the CommuniT1D steering committee and national research team.
Aya Benabess
Aya is a third year medical student at Université Laval, involved in type 1 diabetes-related projects including CommuniT1D. She chose to get involved in these initiatives because of her interest in the clinical aspects of type 1 diabetes and her desire to help improve the quality of life of Canadian children with autoimmune and genetic diseases. Aya serves on the CommuniT1D national research team.
Charles Racine
Charles is currently doing a PhD in Psychology at Laval University and has been working as a research associate for Holly Witteman for many years. Since he aims to become a health psychologist, Charles is inspired by the CommunityT1D project. He sees this project as an opportunity to learn while helping people with T1D. Charles serves on the CommuniT1D national research team.
Cherise Shockley, LADA
Cherise was diagnosed with LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults) in her early ’20s and felt completely isolated before discovering the power of social media to connect to the diabetes community, and exchange with and support peers. She is the Corporate Digital-Social Media Manager and has 12 years of digital communications expertise in the healthcare industry. She was also the first community manager for the diaTribeFoundation whose mission is to improve the lives of people with diabetes and prediabetes, and to advocate for action. Cherise describes herself as a Citizen Scientist, diabetes Change Agent, and Storyteller. She wants to make sure that no one else living with diabetes (directly or indirectly) feels like they are alone. As such she founded the #DSMA (Diabetes Social Media Advocacy) weekly Twitter chat, and is a frequently invited participant, panelist, and speaker for the government, professional organizations, and the industry. She founded #WOCDiabetes which is a visual collection of stories of Women of Color living with diabetes from around the world. Keenly aware of the disparities in access to the healthcare system, she places an emphasis on inclusion. Cherise serves on the CommuniT1D international advisory committee.
Créscence Joelle Mefou Tasong
Créscence has been working as a research assistant in the team since December 2022. She is a PhD candidate in epidemiology and chose to become a research assistant in order to discover other research areas in addition to her own. Since joining the team, she has contributed to the progress of two projects. She joined the CommuniT1D project team with the aim of participating in improving the quality of life of people living with the types of diabetes of interest in the project. Créscence serves on the CommuniT1D national research team.
Dana Tannenbaum Greenberg, T1D, BA, and mom of a young adult with T1D
Dana is from Toronto, Ontario and was diagnosed with T1D in 1972 when she was 7 years old. Her youngest of 3 children was also diagnosed with T1D 15 years ago at the age of 8. Growing up, Dana felt alone with her T1D and always wished for a T1D community. After her daughter’s diagnosis, Dana came to realize that she was in a unique position to help others because she knows both what it means to be a person living with T1D as well as what it means to be a parent of a child with T1D. Dana is very excited to be a part of this project in order to share her unique dual experience and to build a community where people with T1D feel less alone and more understood. Dana serves on the CommuniT1D steering committee and national research team.
Denis Boutin, T1D
Denis has been living with type 1 diabetes since 1984. Retired since 2019, he is particularly interested and passionate about all measures / ideas / projects leading to a participative and dynamic integration of patients in research. Life with diabetes is often like walking a tightrope. We don’t want the disease to take over our lives and those around us, but we can’t forget that we’re always walking on a tightrope. How can we achieve this balance, in all aspects of our lives with diabetes? I see this initiative as an opportunity to share our respective experiences, including our successes and sometimes our failures, in order to become better tightrope walkers! Denis serves on the CommuniT1D steering committee and national research team.
Dylan MacKay, T1D, PhD
Dylan has lived with T1D since 1996 when he was diagnosed in St. John’s Newfoundland. Dylan is now an assistant professor of nutrition and chronic disease at the University of Manitoba. He never really knew anyone else with T1D growing up, but later connected with others people with T1D via social media and then via involvement in T1D research. He wishes he had had people with T1D he could have learned from when he was a teenager. His research group in Manitoba specializes in clinical trials using nutritional interventions. Dylan serves on the CommuniT1D steering committee and national research team.
Élodie Hétu
Élodie is a medical student at Université Laval. She will finish her MD in 2027. She worked on the CommuniT1D project for her research internship. This project was particularly interesting to her because her little brother lives with type 1 diabetes, and she has seen the importance of social support in managing this medical condition. Élodie serves on the CommuniT1D national research team.
Gaèl Precieux Ayihounton, MD
Gael qualified as a medical doctor in Benin in 2015. He has also a master’s degree in research epidemiology obtained in Benin in 2019. He has worked with research teams in Benin and West Africa on HIV infection and non-communicable diseases including Diabetes. He is currently a student researcher in the Faculty of Medicine at Université Laval, working on the CommuniT1D project. He was particularly interested in this project because T1D is little explored in his country, and in his current practice he has noticed that the management of patients with T1D is limited to medication. His aim is to contribute to the best possible care for these patients in his country and in Africa. Gaèl serves on the CommuniT1D national research team.
Hina Hakim BDS, MSc, PhD
Hina is a dental surgeon by training and holds a PhD in public health. She works as a research associate alongside Holly Witteman on the CommuniT1D project. She has joined the CommuniT1D project to deepen her understanding of the emotional and psychological aspects of this health condition from a patient and caregiver perspective. Hina coordinates the CommuniT1D project and serves on the CommuniT1D national research team.
Holly Witteman, T1D, PhD
Holly has lived with T1D since she was diagnosed as a child in 1983 in Regina, Saskatchewan. She is now a Full Professor of Medicine at Laval University and a Scientist at the Vitam Research Centre in Sustainable Health in Quebec City, Quebec. Connecting with others with T1D has always helped her feel less alone and learn more about juggling T1D in a busy life. She initiated this project to help improve well-being by fostering friendship and connection for everyone in Canada whose life is affected by T1D, whether they live with it themselves or they have a loved one with T1D. Holly leads the overall CommuniT1D project and serves on the steering committee and national research team.
Jackie Bender, PhD
Jackie is a Scientist and Co-Lead of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the Department of Supportive Care at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and an Affiliate Scientist at the Princess Margaret Research Institute. She is also an Assistant Professor in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto. Jackie has an innovative program of research in digital health, cancer survivorship and implementation science. Her research focuses on designing, implementing, and evaluating digital health innovations that improve cancer care access, experience, and outcomes, and promote health equity. Jackie serves on the CommuniT1D national research team.
Justin Presseau, PhD
Justin is an Associate Professor in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health and the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa in Canada, and a Senior Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute where he leads the Psychology and Health Research Group and is core faculty within the Centre for Implementation Research. His research program operates at the intersection between behavioural and implementation science, spanning evidence synthesis to multi-methods intervention development to trials and process evaluation. His work draws on behaviour change theories and methods to understand factors that promote and undermine behaviour change in healthcare and in patients and the general public. His research program includes a focus on supporting greater access and culturally and linguistically tailored support for retinopathy screening among people with diabetes who have immigrated to Canada. Justin serves on the CommuniT1D national research team.
Korey Hood, T1D, PhD
Korey is personally and professionally committed to improving the lives of people with type 1 diabetes. As Professor and Staff Psychologist at Stanford University School of Medicine, he runs a behavioral science laboratory aimed at optimizing health and quality of life outcomes. A recipient of federal and foundation grants and author of over 190 scientific articles, he works to put behavioral science at the forefront of patient-centered diabetes care. Korey has type 1 diabetes himself and works across advocacy and service settings to promote awareness of diabetes treatments, the psychological impact, and emerging technologies. He is a compassionate behavioral scientist with a keen understanding of the intersection between diabetes and behavioral health. Korey serves on the CommuniT1D international advisory committee.
Maman Joyce Dogba, MD, PhD
Joyce is a Full Professor in the Department of Family and Emergency Medicine at Laval University. Her research agenda comprises evaluation of collaborative practices with patients-users in research and the education of health professionals. She is also interested in advancing stakeholders’ engagement science regarding how to meaningfully involve people who are too often excluded, including immigrants in patient-oriented research. Joyce leads patient engagement within Diabetes Action Canada, the Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research network dealing with diabetes, alongside Holly Witteman. Joyce serves on the CommuniT1D national research team.
Marie-Pierre Gagnon, PhD
Marie-Pierre is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Nursing at Université Laval and Scientist at the Vitam Research Centre in Sustainable Health in Quebec City. Her research focuses on the integration of innovative technologies in health care, in particular to support chronic disease management. Many people living with TD1 and their loved ones are using digital technologies and this project is a great occasion to support their connection and engagement. She will contribute to the evaluation of the project based on her long experience with digital health initiatives. Marie-Pierre serves on the CommuniT1D national research team.
Marley Greenberg, T1D, MA
Marley has lived with T1D since she was 8 years old. She studies biomedical ethics and is the co-founder of the first Canadian chapter of the Diabetes Link (formerly known as the College Diabetes Network), an organization that fosters peer support networks for young adults with diabetes. Marley believes that peer support is immensely valuable for living well with T1D, and got involved in the CommuniT1D project in order to continue creating connections among people with T1D. Marley serves on the CommuniT1D steering committee and national research team.
Matthew Menear, PhD
Matthew is a Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine at Université Laval and researcher at the VITAM Research Centre for Sustainable Health. He is a health services researcher whose research aims to improve the delivery and organization of mental health services and promote the recovery and wellbeing of people experiencing mental health problems. Since type 1 diabetes can have profound impacts on a person’s mental health, he is interested in understanding how this project and its communities can help people find supports that promote mental wellness. Matt serves on the CommuniT1D steering committee and national research team.
Michaëlla Etienne, parent of a child living with T1D, BScA (Ing.), MSc
Michaëlla has been a steadfast advocate since the onset of her daughter’s diagnosis 7 years ago. The #WeAreNotWaiting Diabetes DIY movement gave her the courage to pursue altruistic endeavors in the T1D community. She has spent over 20 years developing strategies and tools for leaders and managers, and coaching them how to integrate people as a key component to achieving competitive advantages. She got involved with CommuniT1D because she believes that the same engineering principles and systematic approach that has brought her clients success, also apply in the health care ecosystem: outcomes will always improve when a person is placed front and centre. Michaëlla serves on the CommuniT1D steering committee and national research team.
Peter Senior, MBBS, PhD
Peter is a diabetes specialist (endocrinologist) and researcher in Edmonton who helps look after adults with T1D. T1D can be a lonely condition which can wear people down. People who have found support and community seem to do better, but not everyone is able to find a connection. He says, “Getting involved in this project is important to me because it will help fill a need which I see every week in clinic.” Peter serves on the CommuniT1D national research team.
Renza Scibilia, T1D
Renza has lived with type 1 diabetes since 1998 and worked in diabetes organisations for 22 years. She is Director of Community Building and Communications in the Global Access Team at JDRF International. She is also the Head of Advocacy for #dedoc°, a European-based organisation providing support and opportunities for diabetes advocates from across the world. She is the author of Diabetogenic. Renza is thrilled to be involved in this project because she knows the value of peer support and how important it is for people with diabetes to feel connected to their community. Renza serves on the CommuniT1D international advisory committee.
Ruth Ndjaboue, PhD
Ruth is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Université de Sherbrooke and a Scientist at the Research Centre in Ageing in Sherbrooke, Quebec. As a psychologist and an epidemiologist, she became involved in diabetes research in 2017 when she began working with Diabetes Action Canada as a post-doctoral fellow. Connecting with people with diabetes has since inspired her life and research interests. She joined this project to help improve well-being and active ageing in people living with T1D, whether they live with it themselves or have a loved one with T1D. Ruth serves on the CommuniT1D steering committee and national research team.
Sandrine Comeau
Sandrine is a software engineering student at Laval University and has experience in the biomedical field. She has been working for several years with Holly Witteman’s team, which introduced her to diabetes research. She joined the CommuniT1D project to learn more about this health condition. Sandrine serves on the CommuniT1D national research team.
Sasha Delorme, parent of a child living with T1D
Sasha has been managing her son Brayson’s diabetes since 2014, when he was just two years old. She is very passionate about advocating for T1D and the issues that arise because of it. She has struggled with mental health and the feelings of isolation and loneliness that the condition brings, so she is hopeful that this project will help caregivers like herself when times are hard. Sasha serves on the CommuniT1D steering committee and national research team.
Selma Chipenda Dansokho, PhD
Selma was a research associate working in Holly Witteman’s team and contributed substantantially to the early stages of CommuniT1D. She holds a PhD in Human Development and Family Studies. Her work is driven by a commitment to developing new knowledge and alternate experience-based understandings of life and behavior, and to applying these findings to improving theory-building, research, teaching, policy making and practice. Selma served on the CommuniT1D national research team until her retirement.
Shayla Hele, T1D, BSc, RMT
Shayla has lived with T1D since 2005. She got involved with this project as a means to create and extend community with other folks living with T1D across Canada. Shayla appreciates how important connection and community are, especially in navigating T1D, and is excited to be a part of this team and project. Shayla serves on the CommuniT1D steering committee and national research team.
Virtue Bajurny, T1D, RSW
Virtue was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in January of 1994, just before her 16th birthday. She is now a registered social worker (RSW) and psychotherapist living and working in Toronto, Ontario. She wanted to be involved in the CommuniT1D project because she has a special interest in fostering mental health in those living with chronic health conditions. Type 1 diabetes can be a lonely and challenging illness to manage, but she is excited about the project’s potential for bringing people together to share their experiences and wisdom. Virtue serves on the CommuniT1D steering committee and national research team.
Yves-Fernand N’Da, PhD
Yves-Fernand holds a PhD in mathematics from Laval University. His areas of research interest are abstract harmonic analysis and theoretical computer science and their applications to living systems. Passionate about programming, he has worked as a freelance developer for a number of companies. As a postdoctoral researcher with Professor Holly Witteman’s laboratory, he joined the CommuniT1D project team to make his contribution, through mathematics, to improving the living conditions of people living with Type 1 diabetes. He is very enthusiastic about this project, because it gives him the opportunity to apply his knowledge (in fundamental mathematics) to make everyday life easier for people living with diabetes. Yves-Fernand served on the national research team during his postdoctoral fellowship.
