PhD candidate’s path to championing equity-driven health research

Fatima Sheikh is fueled by a deep curiosity about the social and structural determinants of health and a passion for creating meaningful change through equity-driven health research.

Sheikh is a PhD candidate in the Health Research Methodology (HRM) program — one of seven graduate programs offered by the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI) at McMaster University. In addition to pursuing her PhD, she serves as a health equity specialist at Hamilton Health Sciences.

A member of the McMaster community for over eight years, Sheikh began her academic journey in 2016 as an undergraduate student in McMaster’s Life Sciences program. Its broad curriculum allowed her to explore diverse subjects beyond traditional sciences, including social sciences, political science, and geography. During this time, she discovered that the factors contributing to illness often extend far beyond biology.

“I was fascinated by the intersecting factors that influence health,” Sheikh shares. “I developed a passion for understanding the rigorous research process — particularly the questions that need to be asked to drive real change.”

Motivated by a deep interest in the research process, she was eager to explore how and why people become ill, focusing on “important questions with intersecting factors beyond biology,” as Sheikh puts it. Her studies aim to unravel the complex social, political, and environmental influences that contribute to health disparities, particularly in underserved populations.

One significant area of Sheikh’s master’s research was studying the effectiveness of N95 respirators in preventing airborne transmission of diseases. Her work focused on how these respirators, originally designed to fit the average male head and face, may not provide adequate protection for women or individuals with different facial structures. This research emphasizes the critical role of protective health measures in safeguarding healthcare workers, while also highlighting broader public health implications and the need for more inclusive and accessible protective resources.

Upon completing her master’s, Sheikh was motivated to apply to the HRM program again to pursue a PhD, largely due to the network of experts she had encountered and the opportunity to collaborate with them. The unique aspect of the HRM program, she notes, is the toolkit of skills it provides. “Regardless of your area of discipline or interest, it equips students with skills they can apply in any context.” For Sheikh, the decision to pursue a PhD was contingent on having the right people to guide her in asking critical questions about health, specifically focusing on the social and structural determinants of health.

She was particularly excited to collaborate with Lisa Schwartz, HEI professor, associate chair, and Arnold L. Johnson Chair in Health Care Ethics. Schwartz became Sheikh’s co-supervisor, guiding her work on exploring how research can be conducted in ways that are both respectful and meaningful, aspects of critical importance to Sheikh’s research.

“Fatima’s work is demonstrating how Canada can offer better sepsis response and improve outcomes for patients by drawing attention to the social determinants of health. Her commitment to enhancing policy and practice is already having a strong impact. Fatima’s dedication to original knowledge translation efforts, her enthusiasm for her work and skills as a collaborator are helping ensure her research makes a real difference. It is one of the great pleasures working with students like Fatima,” shares Schwartz.

Sheikh was also excited to learn from Alison Fox-Robichaud, a professor in the Department of Medicine and a leading researcher in sepsis, who serves as her other co-supervisor and has been her MSc supervisor.

In addition, Sheikh was guided by the work of HEI professors Lawrence Mbuagbaw and Jennifer Walker, both of whom work closely with communities to ensure that research data is not only used to answer academic questions but also to drive meaningful change. The collaboration of these experts ensures that research extends beyond academia to make a real-world impact.

Sheikh’s PhD research focuses on sepsis – exploring who contracts the disease, how they are treated in hospitals, and the policy decisions that affect their care. Her work aims to challenge conventional thinking about providing equitable care and to address the role of social and structural factors in health outcomes.

For Sheikh, the opportunity to have these thought leaders in the room is what makes the PhD program a perfect fit for her academic and professional aspirations. “It’s the combination of working with people who are already thinking critically about social and structural determinants of health and having access to their expertise that will allow me to ask the right questions and make a meaningful impact,” she says.

In addition to her research, Sheikh is deeply involved in the HEI community and actively contributes to initiatives that foster collaboration and inclusivity. She is president of the Health Research Methodology Students Association and a member of the department’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigenous Reconciliation Committee, among numerous other leadership positions.

Sheikh is also involved in the Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) community through her role as a health equity specialist, a position that allows her to directly apply her research to real-world healthcare settings. She secured this role after delivering a presentation to the HHS Board of Directors, which opened the door to collaborating with Rochelle Reid, senior lead and strategic advisor for equity, diversity, and inclusion at HHS. Since then, Sheikh has been instrumental in shaping the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Plan at HHS, striving to embed equity into both research practices and care delivery.

Balancing her research with practical applications is both challenging and rewarding for Sheikh. “I’m so grateful to be part of the sense of community I’ve found at both HEI and HHS, where people give their all every day to challenge conventional ways of knowing,” she says. “The importance of research lies in bringing it into practice, and that’s what keeps me going.”

Uncertain about what the next chapter in her journey will look like, Sheikh remains optimistic. “My hope is that we will continue to understand how better to work with patients, families, and communities in our research,” she says. She envisions a future where research is not just investigator-led but driven by the communities themselves, addressing their unique needs. “It’s about asking community-led questions, not just from patients and families but from communities at large, beyond the borders of healthcare institutions,” she explains.

For Sheikh, there is a collective responsibility to consider the social determinants of health and use evidence to drive more equitable practices. “We need to ask the right questions and work toward a more inclusive healthcare system that reflects the diverse needs of our communities.” With a clear vision for the future, she is determined to contribute to a healthier, more just society.