START Program

Dr. Vikram Sabhaney

Investigator, BC Children's Hospital
Attending Physician and Fellowship Director, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, BC Children’s Hospital

Nancy Norton

START Coordinator

Nancy has been in the medical field since 2018. She started with BC Cancer as a Research Assistant on the BC Lung Screen Trial and continued through the Lung Screening Program.

Between 2018 and now, she became a Health Care Assistant, Health Unit Coordinator and a Medical Office Assistant. Currently pausing her Bachelor in Health Sciences, she is looking for another field that is more hands on in medical file and is interested in Phlebotomy or Medical Data Research. She spent a lot of time in the private sector before 2018, working in technology and manufacturing. She has a programming degree and the coolest thing before starting in the medical field was working for a plastics manufacturer using potato peels to make — as a partial replacement — some of the products used to manufacture plastic. 

Karly Stillwell

Research Coordinator

Karly is a Research Coordinator in the Doan Lab, and has been working with the lab since May 2014. Karly graduated from UBC with a Combined Major in Science. In her free time, she enjoys taking her dog to the beach, playing soccer, and traveling.

Dr. Quynh Doan

Investigator and Pediatric Emergency Physician, BC Children’s Hospital

Yury Onikashvili

Yury is a third-year student studying Chemical Biology at UBC. He was inspired by his great-grandmother Tamara, who was a surgeon in the republic of Georgia, to pursue medical research. In his free time, he is scouring Vancouver for good food, studying with friends, or playing the bass guitar.

Jenine Hira

Jenine is entering her third year at UBC, majoring in Microbiology and Immunology, and has a passion for clinical research. Aside from the START program, she’s a member of the UBC Women Empowerment Club, which she started with her friends after her first year, and Vice Chair of the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation Youth Committee, through which she helps raise money for the hospital. In her free time, she’s always listening to music and loves being outside, whether it be paddle boarding, skiing, running, or going for long walks at the beach.

Andrew Sze

Andrew is a third-year Integrated Sciences student at UBC. Outside of START, he is involved with gastrointestinal disease research at the BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, volunteers with HIM in downtown Vancouver, and serves as the co-president of the sign language club at UBC. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, learning new languages, and spending quality time with his friends.

Erica Won

Erica is a fourth year Microbiology and Immunology student from UBC. In addition to START, she is a clinical research assistant for Pediatric Rheumatology at BC Children's Hospital, acts as one of the Vice Presidents of UBC's Mental Health Initiative club, and volunteers at a local thrift store on the weekends. She loves to read, play video games, and spend time with her cats!

Olamide Olabiyi

Olamide is second year Honors Biology student at UBC. She is passionate about child and youth mental health, as well as inclusion and equity. Outside of START, Olamide is a Child Life Volunteer at BC Children's Hospital, the co-president of the Black Student Union, the treasurer of the Medical Genetics Club, and a computer science TA. In her spare time, Olamide enjoys playing Wordle, travelling, knitting, and catching up on reality TV.

Sammy Gee

Sammy is a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Integrated Sciences at UBC, with physiology and immunology as her disciplines. She is passionate about youth mental health as well as immunology. Outside of school, she can be found playing soccer, basketball, and exploring new food places around Vancouver. 

Rameen Siddiqui

Rameen is a graduate who studied Biology and Philosophy at UBC. She is passionate about psychiatry and neuroscience and is interested in linking the biological mechanisms of the brain to socio-cultural aspects of mental health. Outside of START, she conducts research at BCCH, investigating the nature of ADHD among first-generation immigrant adolescents. In her free time, Rameen loves watching movies, cooking, and making art.

Navindi Desilva

Navindi is a third-year UBC integrated sciences student, studying immunopathology, physiology and public health. In addition to START, she is a research assistant at the UBC UPLIFT Health lab, a director of the U&Me Mentorship Association and a UBC science peer academic coach. In her free time, she loves to read poetry, explore different cultures' food and watch netflix shows!

Masih Sarafan

Masih is a fourth-year student studying Cellular, Anatomical and Physiological Sciences at UBC and he is interested in translational research incorporating clinical data with disease biomarkers. Outside of START, he is involved in clinical research at St. Paul's Hospital Sinus Centre. Outside of research, Masih also volunteers with the Child Life program at BCCH emergency department and is a volunteer responder for the Vancouver Crisis Centre. In his spare time, he enjoys Brazilian jujitsu, running half-marathons with his friends and camping.

Christine Chen

Christine is a fifth-year student at UBC studying biology. Prior to START, she worked at the lung center at VGH studying the clinical implications of air pollution and respiratory health for people with COPD, asthma, and allergic reactions. She is passionate about improving the quality of care for vulnerable populations and contributes through clinical research and volunteering. In her free time, she enjoys trying new food places, watching TV shows, and weightlifting.

Mido Luo

Mido is a second-year pharmacology student at UBC. She is interested in research topics in drug development, immunology, and myopia. In her spare time, she can be found reading, podcast-producing, cooking, and playing badminton or volleyball. 

Tina Lee

Tina is entering her fourth year in the Microbiology and Immunology Program at UBC. She is currently enjoying her co-op position at BC Cancer as an Ovarian Cancer Research Assistant, but she is also deeply interested in autoimmune disorders and neurodevelopmental conditions. She spends her spare time acquiring languages, volunteering at various organizations, and hoarding encyclopedias and reference books.

Inaya Bhimani

Inaya is a third year Behavioural Neuroscience major at UBC. She is most interested in paediatric research and public health, and enjoys working with children. In her spare time, she can be found writing, volunteering, and spending time with her friends and family. 

Hannah Locco

Hannah is a third year undergraduate student at UBC majoring in biology. Outside of START, she is the treasurer for the sign language and deaf advocacy club at​ UBC and is part of a team developing a board game that educates children on viruses and the importance of vaccines. In her spare time, she loves exploring Vancouver, going to spin classes, and talking with family and friends.

Saina Nemati

Saina is a fourth-year Pharmacology student at UBC. Outside of START, she is involved in spinal cord injury research at ICORD and in the Responsive, Interdisciplinary, Intersectional Child and Community Health Education Research (RICHER). She is also a Child-life volunteer in the BC Children’s Hospital Emergency Department. In her free time, she loves to swim, travel, and spend time with her family and friends.

Yasaman Yaghoub

Yasi recently graduated from UBC with a major in biology. She is passionate about human health advances and loves working with kids. Outside of START, she is involved in Orthopedics research in the HIPpy lab at BCCHR, advocates for marginalized groups at MOSAIC, and is the emergency response team leader at the Red cross. In her free time, you can find her designing illustrations, enjoying her dance class, and advocating for sustainability in the CityHive’s climate innovation lab.

Eniola Owonifaari

Eniola is a third-year biology student at UBC. Outside of START, she volunteers with the hemodialysis unit at Vancouver General Hospital and is a child-life volunteer at BC Children's Hospital PICU. She is also the Vice President of Internal Affairs for the UBC Black Student Union. In her free time, she enjoys being with her family and friends, playing piano, and trying different restaurants around Vancouver.

Henry Li

Henry is a 3rd year undergraduate student studying pharmacology at UBC. Outside of START, he works at BC Cancer, researching ways to improve lung cancer radiation therapy outcomes, as well as at BCCHR, investigating the epigenetic mechanisms of DNA repair. Henry is also passionate about student politics, serving as the Vice-President, Academic of the UBC Science Undergraduate Society, and now as a Councillor for the UBC Alma Mater Society. In his spare time, he likes to read, play tennis, and spend time with family and friends.

Rhea Sidhu

Rhea is a third-year Integrated Sciences student at UBC, with a focus on Anatomical and Biological Sciences as well as Human Health, Disease, and Injury. She is involved in various positions related to her field of study and personal interests, including volunteering at the REACH Community Health Centre, Doctors of Sullivan Heights Medical Clinic, and the Elango Lab at BCCHR. Rhea is also involved as a coach for the Youth Empowering Youth program and works with Indigenous youth living in rural areas through the InSTEM Mentorship program. In addition, Rhea is excited to begin her position as a Research Coordinator with St. Paul’s Colorectal Surgery Group in May. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dog Charlie, completing 1000-piece puzzles, jogging and baking.

Danial Almasizadeh

Danial is a recent graduate from the University of British Columbia with a degree in Biology. His passion lies in contributing to clinical research and providing mental health support through the START program, Vancouver Coastal Health volunteer resources, and KidsHelpPhone online platform. In his free time, Danial enjoys playing the piano, watching Netflix documentaries, and embarking on adventurous hikes in the North Shore mountains.

Isobel Casey

Isobel recently graduated from Quest University with a major in public health, where she also completed a thesis on Visible Minority Experiences in Emergency Departments. While she takes a break from higher education, she is working as the research assistant for the BC-PDR in the Amed Lab at BCCHR and voluteering for Street Saviours and Bard on the Beach. In her free time, you can find her travelling, marathon training, and eating some delicious food.

Parveer  Pandher

Parveer is a recent graduate from the University of British Columbia, holding a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biology. She is an avid advocate for women's health and hopes to pursue a career related to this in the future. In her free time, Parveer can be seen making pottery and doing henna.

Kishor Sivanesan

Kishor is a fourth year Microbiology & Immunology student at UBC. In addition to START, he works in the Orthopaedics Foot & Ankle department at St. Paul's Hospital as a clinical research assistant, where he developed interests in orthopaedics and sports medicine. He also has interests in spinal cord injury research as shown through his time volunteering with ICORD and BCMOS. During the school year, Kishor enjoys being involved on campus as an Intramural Staff member. In his spare time, he enjoys staying active by swimming, long-distance running, and hiking.
 

Palak Tank

Palak is a fourth-year student in the Microbiology and Immunology program at UBC. Apart from her ongoing BSc degree at UBC, she also graduated from BCIT with a diploma in biotechnology. Outside of START, she is involved in Make a Smile charities at UBC as a Vice President and a Vive Director of International Relationships at FIMRC - UBC, where she advocates for health care equality for underprivileged groups. In the past, Palak explored diverse fields during her work placements, where she interned as a Research Assistant at Natural Health and Food Products Group at BCIT, Laboratory Analyst at ALS Environmental, and Research Associate Intern at Raphael Herbals. One of her most cherished research projects was when she analyzed the properties and efficacy of hand sanitizer products from all across metro Vancouver during Covid-19, which was featured in NHPRS and Women in STEM conferences. In her free time, you can find her immersed in drawing and exploring new concepts of architecture, and she also enjoys cooking and baking.

Sahib Singh Suri

Sahib has graduated from UBC in the Bachelor's of Medical Laboratory Science. He was involved in a collaborative project between the Center of Blood Research (CBR) at UBC and the Department of Vascular Surgery at VGH as a summer student. In this project, he analyzed the shedding of hydrophilic polymer from endovascular sheaths. He also worked as a Laboratory Assistant with PHSA in a pre-analytical COVID response lab in downtown Vancouver. He currently works at the Vaccine Evaluation Center at the BC Children's Hospital as a Research Assistant.

Pavneet  Khakh

Pav is a UBC Biology student. He is passionate and interested in topics pertaining to youth mental health. Outside of school, he can be found playing the piano, soccer, basketball or volunteering.

Alessia De Blasio

Alessia is a third year Integrated Sciences student at UBC studying Behavioural Neuroscience and Disease Epidemiology. Outside of START, she volunteers with the Child Life program in the Emergency Department at BC Children's Hospital and with the UBC Wellness Centre as a Peer Health Educator. In her spare time, she enjoys playing piano and cheering on the women’s soccer team that she manages.

Susan Zhang

Susan is a fourth year Microbiology and Immunology student at UBC. She is deeply interested in immunology and human pathology. Outside of START, she is involved in a variety of wet lab research projects. In her “academic” free time, she can be found reading up on immunotherapy, metabolism, inflammation, and various diseases. Outside of academia, she enjoys running at night, dance classes, night skiing, and long calls with friends.

Naomi Choong

Naomi is a fifth-year Behavioural Neuroscience student at UBC. Prior to START, she worked as a clinical research assistant for the Rheumatology department at BC Children’s Hospital. Outside of research, she volunteers for the Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, Canucks Autism Network and Red Cross Emergency Response Team. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, playing hockey, and board games with friends.

Nandini Kaushal

Nandini Kaushal is a fourth-year Bachelor of Health Science student at SFU. She is majoring in population and quantitative health sciences. She is passionate about paediatric health and medicine. Outside of START, she works as a behaviour interventionist & speech language pathology assistant for children with special needs. In her spare time she can be found painting, volunteering, cooking or hiking.

Serena Hollman

Serena is a fifth-year student at UBC in the Honours Cellular, Anatomical and Physiological Sciences program. Prior to START, she completed eight-month co-op terms at BC Cancer and at the Rideout lab, investigating the role of diet in cancer and characterizing neuronal lipid droplets in Drosophila, respectively. Outside of START, she works as the UBC Varsity Football Team Academic Coach and volunteers as a mentor with the Learning Buddy Network. In her spare time, she enjoys backpacking with friends, trail running, and trying out gluten free recipes.

The purpose of the Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) Research Trainee Award is to recognize a member of the Student-based Applied Research Training (START) Program, who exemplifies integrity, professionalism, and excellence in collaboration and communication while conducting research at the BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) Pediatric Emergency Department (PED).

The winner of the award for the 2022/2023 year is Andrew Sze.  He has demonstrated more than two years of commitment to the START Program. Andrew has always maintained the high quality of the START program by continually looking for ways to improve the studies we enroll and training individuals throughout the program.

Andrew is currently a research technician with the Steiner research group at the BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, where he helps out with both basic science and clinical research studies. He is passionate about improving patient outcomes through a better understanding of health and disease both at the bench and bedside, and aspires to become a clinician-scientist one day. 
The START team would like to also recognize five of its members for significant contributions to the team: Kevin An, Durr Al-Hakim, Jenine Hira, Navindi De Silva and Erica Won.
 

Alyssa Chong

Alyssa was involved in the START program during her last year of her undergrad. She really enjoyed being on the START team and is super grateful for the incredible learning experiences and for the amazing STARTers she’s met. She is currently a Master’s student in the UBC Women+ and Children’s Health Sciences program and will be conducting her thesis on HEARTSMAP-U, a psychosocial self-assessment tool for university students.

Diana Lee

Diana (she/her) is very appreciative of all the lessons that she learned through the START Program
and as a research assistant in the Doan Lab. Through this experience, she gained new perspectives into the clinical research process, ED workflow, and effective communication with patients, families, and staff. She is a now a student in the UBC VFMP program, class of 2027, with interests in paediatrics and family medicine.

Gia da Roza

Gia participated in the START program for 1 year and is incredibly grateful for the unique opportunity it provided her to interact directly with patients, physicians, and nurses. A highlight of the program was the bonds she formed with other START volunteers while working together in the ED. She is excited to take the research skills and healthcare knowledge she gained from START to her next chapter as a student at the UBC Medicine VFMP program in the class of 2027!

Durr Al-Hakim

Durr was involved with the START Program for 1.5 years. She is incredibly grateful for the clinical exposure, patient and family interactions, and mentorship that she received. (Especially the lovely kiddo’s that she met!). She is now a medical student at UBC’s VFMP Class of 2027, with interests in emergency and internal medicine.

Kevin An

Kevin is a medical student at UBC in the Class of 2027. He is extremely grateful to have been involved with multiple studies within the PED which helped him gain critical experience in clinical research and patient interaction. He is actively involved in research enabling gene therapies utilizing lipid nanoparticles. He has broad interests in the intersection between technology and innovation in medicine and is eager to continue learning.

Ashini Dissanayake

Ashini is a UBC medical student in the class of 2025. During her time with START, she designed and facilitated a quality improvement project to improve the START team's hand hygiene adherence, and recently published a manuscript with the START team leads on this work. She used the clinical research, communication, collaboration, and multi-tasking skills she gained from START in her role as the Clinical Research Coordinator of the Endocrine Research Society, where she worked during her gap year between her BSc and medical school. In this role, she presented three posters at the American Diabetes Association's annual international conference and a fourth poster at the UBC Division of Endocrinology's Research Fest. In medical school, she used her QI experience from START to spearhead a QI project to improve the documentation of discharge opioid prescriptions in Fraser Health hospitals. She is currently working on a research project investigating how social determinants of health are documented and managed in pregnant persons delivering at St. Paul's Hospital.

Nima Toussi

Nima is currently a University of Saskatchewan Medicine - Class of 2026 student. I gained so many skills from START! If I had to highlight the most important ones it'd be: 1. Learning how to approach nurses, doctors and patients and 2. Understanding what accountability means in the context of research and patient care.

Rebecca Liu

Rebecca was a part of the START program throughout her coop at BCCHR and is grateful to have been exposed to a unique intersection of clinical research, patient interaction, and communication. She is a student in the UBC VFMP class of 2026 with interests in family and emergency medicine. She is currently involved with research investigating universal mental health self-screening for hospitalized youth.

Tatiana Henriksson

Tatiana is currently a student in West Virginia University's School of Medicine, Class of 2026. With the START program, she learned to refine her problem solving skills to determine a patient’s eligibility for research recruitment, while also prioritizing their health and treatment plan. She also learned how to collaborate and effectively communicate with the health-care team and the patient, which is an integral component of her current medical training. She is grateful for her time in the START program.

Kiki Yu

My name is Kiki and I am currently a medical student at UBC. Prior to medical school, I completed my BSc in Pharmacology at UBC, which included 16-month co-op at BC Children's where I found out about the START program. I decided to volunteer because I was keen to get involved in clinical research and interact with patients and health providers. START not only exposed me to the acute care setting, but also provided excellent mentorship and learning opportunities, giving me the push I needed to pursue medicine! During my gap years, I worked as a Research Coordinator for radiology and AI research, while volunteering for START on the weekends. Now, I'm back in school and doing my best to balance studying with my hobbies and interests, including seeing as much of the world as possible! Most recently, I travelled to Nepal to conduct a global health project on sickle cell disease and pain management in rural communities for school, as well as a multi-day trek through the Himalayas for pleasure! 

Kiki is the winner of the START program Research Student Trainee Award  for 2021/2022.

Juliette Wong

Juliette (she/her) is very grateful for her 1.5 years in the ED as a STARTer and Sabhaney Lab research assistant! The START Program was a wonderful introduction to clinical research, patient interactions, and learning how to collaborate with interdisciplinary care team members. She is now a student in the UBC Island Medical Program's Class of 2026 with interests in pediatrics and family medicine. She is currently involved with PEM research by investigating universal mental health screening for youth in primary care settings.