Amanda Hicks RN BScN MPH

Graduate Student, PHN-PREP

I am a PhD student in the School of Nursing at McMaster University, working on the SERENE research project (Supportive, Equity-oriented, Responsive, and Equity-oriented prevention and care model to reduce the incidence and Negative impacts of severe maternal morbidity). My previous research areas have focused on maternal mental health, home visiting, and addressing adverse childhood experiences. I am most interested in comprehensive and collaborative approaches to preventing adverse outcomes for families, especially during the early years.

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) from McMaster University and a Master of Public Health (Nursing specialization) from Lakehead University. I have spent my nursing career working in maternal/child health (with nearly twenty years in Public Health), and now teach as a sessional instructor in the BScN program at Brock University.

Jennifer Olarte-Godoy

Graduate Student, PHN-PREP

I am a part-time PhD in Nursing student at McMaster University. My research interests include psychosocial nursing interventions, therapeutic relationships, mental health nursing, and mixed methods research. I currently work as a nurse educator at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton for their Mental Health and Addictions program. I completed a Masters of Nursing Degree at the University of Toronto with a specialization in Addictions Studies and my undergraduate Nursing Degree at McMaster University with a Minor in Psychology.

Beverley AH Richter

Graduate Student, PHN-PREP

I am a PhD student in the School of Nursing at McMaster University. My research interests include public health nurse home visitation programs, organizational supports for public health nurses, reflective supervision and qualitative research.

I am a Public Health Nurse in the Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program at Niagara Region Public Health. I also have experience working as a Research Coordinator at both research and health care institutions. I have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Brock University (2011) and a Master of Science from the University of Waterloo School of Public Health and Health Systems (2013).

Mavoy Bertram

Graduate Student, PHN-PREP

I am a PhD student in the School of Nursing at McMaster University. My research interests lie in child maltreatment prevention, childhood trauma and mental health, adolescent pregnancy, parenting programs, and supporting nursing students in clinical practice

I am an Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at York University with a focus on child and adolescent health. I also work as a Paediatric Nurse Practitioner with the Government of Nunavut. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master of Nursing and a Post-Master’s Nurse Practitioner Diploma from the University of Toronto.

Michelle Watson

Graduate Student, PHN-PREP

I am a Master’s of Public Health student at McMaster University, graduating in December 2024. During my MPH, I gained experience in public health research, focusing on the challenges of determining the relative contribution of determinants of health on population health in Canada. My professional background includes six software related internships varying from quality engineering, product management, consulting, and software engineering. I completed my Biomedical Engineering degree with an option in AI and Computing at the University of Waterloo. My research interests include health equity, innovative public health strategies, and the intersection of technology and health outcomes.