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Mandana Vahabi

Professor
DepartmentDaphne Cockwell School of Nursing
EducationRN, MHSc, PhD
OfficeDCC-580-A, Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex
Phone416-979-5000, ext. 552725
Areas of ExpertiseHealth Equity; Immigrants; Cancer Screening; Women’s Health.

I am a professor at Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing and co-director of the Centre for Global Health and Health Equity. My research and scholarship focuses on health equity and social determinants of health, particularly in the areas of cancer screening, food security, mental and sexual health. Drawing on my extensive experience in social epidemiology and community health, I work closely with multidisciplinary teams and community stakeholders to develop research underpinned by the principles of cultural congruence and meaningful engagement. In my work with marginalized and vulnerable population I have also been involved in the design, implementation and evaluation of culturally appropriate health promotion interventions.

Prior to joining Toronto Metropolitan University in 2007 I worked in various roles ranging from project director, policy consultant to senior epidemiologist/planner at governmental organizations such as the Ministry of Health Long Term Care, Population Health Policy & Planning and Women’s Health Branch, St. Michael’s Hospital and  the Toronto District Health Council, where I was involved in managing various system level projects such as POWER Study: A Project for an Ontario Women’s Health Evidence-Based Report, Health System Monitoring and Evaluation, and Toronto Small Planning Areas: A Population-Based Approach to constructing New Health Planning Areas in the City.

Teaching Responsibilities:

  • MN 8901: Quantitative Research Methods: Design and Critical Appraisal
  • NUR 850: Research Methods
  • NUC 832: Community Health Nursing
  • NCL 700, NCL 800:  Nursing Practice I &II
  • NUR 824: Women's Health

Teaching Interests:

  • Quantitative research methods
  • Community health nursing
  • Population health
  • Immigrants health
  • Women’s health
  • Epidemiology

Research Interests:

  • Cancer screening
  • Food security
  • Physical activity
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Mental health
  • Health equity

Research Projects:

Nominated Principal Investigator
“Promoting cervical cancer screening through HPV self-sampling in marginalized and underprivileged women (sex worker and women with history of Incarceration) in Toronto”.
Funding source: LOVE YOU by Shoppers Drug Mart™ Community Grants Program
Total award: $100,000
Co-Principal Investigators: Lofters, A., Wong, J.
2023-2024

Nominated Principal Investigator
“Attitudes towards cervical cancer screening and acceptability of HPV self-sampling (HPVSS) among under or never screened racialized immigrant women in GTA”
Funding source: Hologic, Inc.
Total award: $55,000
Co-Principal Investigators: Lofters, A., Wong, J.
2022-2023

Nominated Principal Investigator
“Compounding Disadvantage: Impact of COVID-19 among Immigrants living with Cancers and with Mental Health & Addictions Disorders in Ontario”
Funding source: (Operating Grant) Emerging COVID-19 Research Gaps & Priorities (July 2021).
Total award: $426,640
Co-Principal Investigators: Wong, J., Lofters, A.
2021-2012

Nominated Principal Investigator
“Women Empowerment-Cancer Awareness Nexus (WE-CAN): An implementation research of cervical  cancer prevention through HPV self-sampling and education”
Funding source: CIHR through Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases Research (GACD)Team Grant: GACD Primary and Secondary Prevention of Cancer, & ICMR Indian Council of Medical (ICMR)
Total award: $1,999,954 (CIHR) & 3,07,75,471 INR (i.e., $505,271) (ICMR)
Co-Principal Investigators: Wong, J., Lofters, A., Mishra, G., Pimple, S.
Co-Investigators: Khaira, R., Narushima, M., Anand, K., Raithatha, S.J., Bhagabaty, S.M., Kharade, P.S., Mandal, R.K., Banerjee, D., Nirgude, A.S., Chennath, K.M., Mahantshetty, U.M., Gulia, S.
2021-2026

Co-Principal Investigator
“Spaces beyond imagination: Therapeutic virtual reality co-creation for community empowerment through architecture”
Funding source: New Frontiers in Research Fund- Exploration
Total award: $250,000
Nominated Principal Investigator: Zhang, L.
Co-Principal Investigators: Wong, J., Fung, K., Li, A.
2021-2023

Nominated Principal Investigator
“The impact of COVID-19 on racialized immigrant and refugee population with mental health and addiction disorders in Ontario”
Funding source: Ontario Health Data Platform COVID-19 (OHDP), Ministry of Health
Total award: $12,914
Co-Principal Investigators: Lofters, A., Wong, J.
2021-2021

Co-Principal Investigator
“Acceptance and commitment to Empowerment (ACE) intervention: Reducing HIV stigma and promoting community Resilience Through Capacity Building”
Funding source: Canada Institute of Health Research (CIHR) Spring 2020 Project Grant
Total award: $1,950,752
Nominated Principal Investigator: Wong, J.
Co-Principal Investigators: Dela Cruz, A., Li, A., Hilario, C., Fung, K., Narushima, M.
2021-2025

Co-Principal Investigator
“PROTECH - Pandemic Rapid-response Optimization To Enhance Community-resilience and Health”
Funding source: Canada Research Coordinating Committee (CRCC) through CIHR Competition
Total award: $500,000
Nominated Principal Investigators: Wong, J.
Co-Principal Investigators: Li, A., Fung, K.
Co-Investigators: Liu, J., Mok, Y., Ning, X., Poon, M., Tan, D.
2021-2025

Co-Investigator
“Pandemic Acceptance & Commitment to Empowerment Response (PACER) Intervention Program”
Funding source: AHSC AFP Innovation Fund Year XII (2019-20)
Total award: $269,668
Nominated Principal Investigator: Fung, K.
Co-Principal Investigators: Mateusz, Z., Wong, J., Li, A.
Co-Investigators: Liu, J., Ning, M.
2020-2022

Co-Principal Investigator
“Beyond the Blue Door: Evaluating Interventions to Bridge Knowledge and Service Gaps for People Living with HIV with Precarious or No Health Insurance Coverage”
Funding source: OHTN’s 2019-2020 Endgame Funding awards – Breaking New Grounds
Total award: $250,000 
Nominated Principal Investigator: Li, A.
Co-Principal Investigator: Wong, P. H.
Co-Investigators: Bisignano, A., Lopez, R., Sharma, M., Ekra, M., Paddock, S., Seungwon Nam, E., Reinhart, J., de Prinse, K., El Karouni, I., Damba, C., Atanasoff, M., Bart, S., Bremmer, R.
2020-2022

Nominated Principal Investigator
“Preventing Cervical Cancer in India through self-sampling (PCCIS”
Funding source: Fund for Innovation and Transformation, the program of the Inter-Council Network of Provincial and Regional Councils (ICN), Global Affairs Canada
Total award: $250,000
Co-Principal Investigators: Wong, J., Lofters, A., Mishra, G., Pimple, S.
Co-Investigators: Narushima, M., Hilario, C., Anand, K., Biswas, S., Maheshwari, A., Shylasree, T., Kulkarni, V.
2020-2022

Co Principal Investigator
“Developing an innovative, youth Driven and Resilience-Based HIV Prevention Intervention for Young People from Middle Eastern and North African Communities (MENA) in Canada”
Funding source: Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (The)(CANFAR)
Total award: $40,000
Nominated Principal Investigator: Hawa, R.
Co-Principal Investigator: Wong, J.
2021-2022

Nominated Principal Investigator
“WE-CARE: Women Empowerment- Caregiver Acceptance & Resilience E-Learning: Web-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Stress Reduction Among Migrant Live-in Caregivers”
Funding source: Partnership for Change: The RBC Immigrant, Diversity and Inclusion Project Research
Total award: $50,000
Co-Principal Investigators: Pui-Hing Wong, J., Fung, K.

Co-Investigator
“Data Analysis Using Existing Databases and Cohorts-Cancer Prevention and Control management”
Funding source: CIHR Operating Grant
Total award: $100,000
Principal Investigator: Lofters, A.
Co-Investigators: Baxter, V., Guilcher, S., Datta, G.
2019-2020

Co-Principal Investigator
“Linking Hearts – Advancing Mental Health Care of University Students through Interdisciplinary Collaboration: An Implementation Research at Universities in Jinan, Shandong, China”
Funding source: CIHR through Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) Canada-China Mental Health Team Grant
Total award: $1,075,000
Nominated Principal Investigator: Pui-Hing Wong, J.
Co-Principal Investigators: Fung, K., Li, A., Tsang, K.T., Yan, M.C.
2018-2022

 Co-Principal Investigator
“Promoting Mental Health of Migrant Caregivers in Canada”
Funding source: CIHR Planning and Dissemination Grant
Total award: $7,000
Nominated Principal Investigator: St-Amant, O.
Co-Investigators: Pui-Hing Wong, J., Fung, K., Oladunni, B.
2018-2019

Co-Principal Investigator
“Self-sampling for HPV as a tool for cervical cancer prevention”
Funding source: St. Michael Foundation Grant,
Total award: $250,000
Nominated Principal Investigators: Lofters, A.
2018- 2021

Nominated Principal Investigator
“Segmentation of women eligible for cervical cancer screening in Ontario: Toward more effective communication and outreach strategies”
Funding source: Partnership for Change: The RBC Immigrant, Diversity and Inclusion Project Research
Total award: $18,000
Co-Principal Investigators: Lofters, A.
Co-Investigators: Kupets, R., Guilcher, S., Pyshno, T.
2017- 2018 

Nominated Principal Investigator
“Toward develoPrincipal Investigatorsng effective cervical cancer screening programs for hard-to-reach women”
Funding source: CIHR: Planning and Dissemination grant
Total award: $10,000
Co-Principal Investigators: Lofters, A., Rabeneck, L.
2016-2017

Co-Investigator
“Implementing lung cancer screening for those living with low income”
Funding source: CCSRI-Knowledge to Action grant
Total award: $99,815
Principal Investigators: Lofters, A.
Co-Investigators: Liu, G., Hwang, S., Selby, P., Obrien, M., Chang, B., McGregor, M., Kim, F., Pazat, L., Eng, L.
2018-2020

Co-Investigator
“Food Insecurity Screening among Families of Children with Diabetes”
Funding source: Lawson Foundation, operational fund
Total award: $50,200
Principal Investigator: Gucciardi, E.
Co-Investigators: Sidani, S., Pais, V.
2017-2018

Nominated Principal Investigator
“Cancer Screening Among Immigrants from Muslim-Majority Countries: A Retrospective Cohort Study”
Funding source: Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care: Applied Health Research Question
Total award: $23420
Co-Principal Investigators: Lofters, A., Glazier, R.
2015- 2017

Nominated Principal Investigator
“Exploring Muslim Immigrant women’s preferences about self-administered HPV testing in promoting cervical cancer screening”
Funding source: Partnership for Change: The RBC Immigrant, Diversity and Inclusion Project Research
Total award: $10,000
Co-Principal Investigators: Lofters, A.
2015- 2016

Co-Investigator
“Reducing HIV vulnerabilities and Promoting Resilience among self- identified Heterosexual African, Caribbean and Black Men in Ontario”
Funding source: Boys’ and Men’s Health Team Grant from Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) and the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN)
Total award: $1,500,000. ($40,000 allocated for ICES related data)
Nominated Principal Investigator: Wong, J.
Co-Principal Investigators: Husbands, W., Etowa, J., Luginaah, I., Omorodion, F.
2014-2020

Nominated Principal Investigator
“Mental Health of Migrant Temporary Workers (MTW) in Ontario”
Funding source: Partnership for Change: The RBC Immigrant, Diversity and Inclusion Project Research
Total award: $9,000
Co-Principal Investigator: Wong, J.
2014-2015

Chapters:

  • Vahabi, M., (2011). Breast cancer and screening effectiveness and utilization by immigrant women: A review of evidence, Cancer Screening, Nova Science Publisher, Inc, NY 

Journal articles:

  • Devotta K, Vahabi M. Prakash V, Lofters A. (2023). Reach and Effectiveness of an HPV self-sampling Intervention for Cervical Screening Amongst Under- or Never-Screened women in Toronto, Ontario Canada. BMC Women's Health 23, 36. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02174-w (external link) 
  • Fung, K., Liu, J., Vahabi, M.,  Li, A.,  Zurowski, M.,  Wong, J.P.H. (2022) Pandemic Acceptance and Commitment to Empowerment Response (PACER) Training: Preliminary Evidence for Feasibility and Effectiveness. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry/La Revue canadienne de psychiatrie CJP. Submitted Feb 4. Under- review.
  • Vahabi, M., Lofters, A.K. Mishra, G, Pimple, S., Wong, J. P.H. (2022). A Family-Centered Sexual Health Intervention to Promote Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake Among Low-Income Rural Women in India: Protocol for a Community-Based Mixed Methods Pilot Study. JMIR Research Protocol, 11(9):e35093; doi: 10.2196/35093; PMID: 36074549; PMCID: 9501679
  • Vahabi, M., Wong, J. P.H., Moosapoor, M., Akbarian, A., Fung, K.P.L. (2022) The Effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on Mental Health and Resiliency of Migrant Live-in Caregivers in Canada: Pilot Randomized Waitlist Controlled Trial.  JMIR- Formative Research, 2022 Jan 27; 6(1):e32136. doi: 10.2196/32136.
  • Sato, C., Adumattah, A., Abulencia, K. M., Garcellano, P. D., Li, A. T., Fung, K. P., Poon, M., Vahabi, M., & Wong, J. P. (2022). COVID-19 Mental Health Stressors of Health Care Providers in the Pandemic Acceptance and Commitment to Empowerment Response (PACER) Intervention. JMIR- Formative Research, 2022 Mar 22;6(3):e35280. doi: 10.2196/35280
  • Lofters A, Devotta K, Prakash V, Vahabi M. (2021) Understanding the Acceptability and Uptake of HPV Self-Sampling Amongst Women Under- or Never Screened for Cervical Cancer in Toronto (Ontario, Canada): An Intervention Study Protocol. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 18(17):9114. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18179114 (external link) 
  • Lofters, A. K., Gatov, E., Lu, H., Baxter, N. N., Guilcher, S. J. T., Kopp, A., Vahabi, M., & Datta, G. D. (2021). Lung cancer inequalities in the stage of diagnosis in Ontario, Canada. Current Oncology (Toronto), 28(3), 1946-1956. https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol28030181 (external link) 
  • Fung,K., Liu,J., Vahabi, M., Li, A., Mateusz Zurowski, M., Wong, J., Protocol for the Development and Rapid-Response Deployment of Pandemic Acceptance and Commitment to Empowerment Response (PACER) Training.. JMIR Research Protocol, Vol 10, No 12 (2021): December. https://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/33495 (external link) 
  • Sayani, A., Vahabi, M., O’Brien, M, Liu,G., Hwang,S., Selby,P.,Nicholson, E., Lofters, A.K. Perspectives of family physicians towards access to lung cancer screening for individuals living with low income.  BMC Family Practice. (2021) 22:10 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-020-01354-z (external link) 
  • Cheng, S., ; An, D; Yao, Z.Y; Liu, J.J.W,  Ning, X; Wong, J.P.H; Fung, K., Vahabi, M., Poon, M., Yamada, J., Cheng, S.L, Gao, J.G, Cong, X.F.,Sun, G.X., Li, A.T.W., Wang, X.T. (2021). Association between mental health knowledge level and depressive symptoms among Chinese university students before COVID-19. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1850. doi:10.3390/ijerph18041850
  • Lofters, A.K. Gatov,J., Lu, H., Baxter, N.N, Corrado, A.M., Guilcher, S.J.T  Kopp, A Vahabi, M  GD Datta. Stage of colorectal cancer diagnosis for immigrants: A population-based retrospective cohort study in Ontario, Canada. Cancer Causes & Control, 32(12):1433-1446. doi: 10.1007/s10552-021-01491-5.
  • Sayani, A., Vahabi, M., O'Brien, M. A., Liu, G., Hwang, S., Selby, P., Nicholson, E., Giuliani, M., Eng, L., & Lofters, A. (2021). Advancing health equity in cancer care: The lived experiences of poverty and access to lung cancer screening. PloS One, 16(5), e0251264-e0251264. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251264 (external link) 
  • Vahabi, M., Lofters, A. K., Kopp, A., & Glazier, R. H. (2021). Correlates of non-adherence to breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening among screen-eligible women: A population-based cohort study in Ontario, Canada. Cancer Causes & Control, 32(2), 147-155. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-020-01369-y (external link) 
  • Wong, J. P.H., Jia, C.X., Vahabi, M., Liu J.J.W., Li, A.T.W.,  Cong, X., Poon, M.K.L.,  Yamada,J., Ning, X., Gao, J; Cheng,S., Sun, G., Wang, X.,  Fung, K.P.L Promoting mental health of university students in Jinan, Shandong, China: Protocols for contextual assessment to inform intervention design and adaptation. JMIR: The Journal of Medical Internet Research, 10(5), e25009. https://doi.org/10.2196/25009 (external link) 
  • Fung, K.P.L. Vahabi, M., Moosapoor, M., Akbarian, A., Liu, J., Wong, J. P.H., (2021) Study Protocol for Implementation of An Internet-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Promoting Mental Health and Resiliency Among Migrant Live-in Caregivers in Canada.  JMIR Research Protocol.; 10(9):e31211. doi: 10.2196/31211
  • St-Amant, O., Vahabi, M., Wong, J.P., Salami, B.O., Fung, K., Miholjcic, J., Tan, V; Invisible diaspora: A scoping review of migrant caregivers’ social integration trajectory. International Health Trends and Perspectives, 1(1), 44-60, Spring 2021 
  • Kteily-Hawa, R., Hari, S., Kaur, S. J., Wong, J., Chikermane, V., Chambers, L., Vahabi, M. (2020) Paradigm Shifts in Sexual Health:  Quantitative Analysis of Story and Fact-Based Health Education Interventions. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 29(1), pp. 45–56.  First published online: April 24, 2020. https://doi.org/10.3138/cjhs.2018-0037 (external link) 
  • Vahabi, M., Lofters, A, Wong, J., Ellison,L , Graves, E, Damba C., Glazier R.H. (2019). Fecal occult blood test screening uptake among immigrants from Muslim majority countries: A retrospective cohort study in Ontario, Canada. Cancer Medicine, 8(16):7108-7122. doi: 10.1002/cam4.2541. Epub 2019 Sep 30.
  • Wong, J. P., Kteily-Hawa, R., Chambers, L. A., Chikermane, V., Ragulan, S., Islam, S., & Vahabi, M. (2019) Fact-based vs. story-based learning materials for HIV prevention and sexual health promotion: An Exploratory Study with South Asian Women in Toronto, Canada. Health Education Research. 34 (1), 27–37, https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cyy042 (external link) .
  • Vahabi, M., Lofters, A. (2018). HPV self-sampling: A promising approach to reduce cervical cancer screening disparities in Canada, Current Oncology, Special issue (HPV self-sampling in promoting cervical cancer screening), 25 (1):13-18, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3747/co.25.3845 (external link) . https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5832271/ (external link) 
  • Wood, B., Lofters, A, Vahabi, M. (2018).How to tailor cervical cancer screening strategies to Ensure hard-to-reach women’s uptake? A qualitative study, Current Oncology, Special issue (HPV self-sampling in promoting cervical cancer screening), 25(1): e8-e16, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3747/co.25.3851 (external link) 
  • Wong, J. Vahabi, M., Miholjcic, J., Tan, V., Owino, M., Li, A., Poon, M. (2018). Knowledge of HPV/cervical cancer and acceptability of HPV self-sampling among women living with HIV: A scoping review.  Current Oncology, Special issue (HPV self-sampling in promoting cervical cancer screening), 25 (1): e73-e82. Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3747/co.25.3855 (external link) 
  • Poon ,M.,  Pui-Hing Wong, J., Tai-Wai Li, A.,  Manuba, M, Bisignano, A., Owino, M., Vahabi, M. (2018). HIV-positive MSM’s knowledge of HPV and anal cancer self-sampling: A scoping review. Current Oncology, Special issue (HPV self-sampling in promoting cervical cancer screening), 25 (1): e83-e89. Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3747/co.25.3856 (external link) 
  • Marshall, S., Vahabi. M., Lofters, A. (2018). Acceptability, Feasibility and Uptake of HPV Self-Sampling Among Immigrant Minority Women: A Focused Literature Review. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health (JOIH). Dec 2018 in Press. DOI: 10.1007/s10903-018-0846-y
  •  Lofters, A., Vahabi, M., Pyshnov,T.,  Kupets, R. Guilcher.S. (2018). Segmenting Women Eligible for Cervical Cancer Screening Using Demographic, Behavioural and Attitudinal Characteristics. Preventive Medicine, 114:134-139. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2018.06.013.
  • Vahabi, M., Lofters, A, Kim, E., Wong, J., Ellison,L , Graves, E, Glazier R.H. (2017).Breast  cancer screening among women from Muslim majority countries in Ontario, Canada. Preventive Medicine, 105:176-183. Published on line September 13, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2017.09.008 (external link) 
  • Vahabi, M., Wong, J.P, Lofters, A. (2018). Migrant Live-in Caregivers Mental Health in Canada. Community Mental Health Journal, 54(5): 590-599. First Online: 12 January 2018 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-017-0225-5 (external link) 
  • Lofters, A.,Vahabi, M., Kim, E., Ellison,L, Graves, E, Glazier R.H. (2017) Cervical cancer screening among women from Muslim majority countries in Ontario, Canada. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 26(10):1493-9. DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-17-0323
  • Lofters, A., Vahabi, M., Prakash, V., Banerjee, L., P Bansal, P., Goel, S., Dunn, S. (2017). Lay Health Educators Within Primary Care Practices to Improve Cancer Screening Uptake for South Asian Patients: Challenges in Quality Improvement. Patient Preference and Adherence, 11, 495-503. http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S127147 (external link) 
  • Vahabi, M, Wong, J. (2017). Caught Between A Rock and A Hard Place: Mental Health of Migrant Live-in Caregivers in Canada. BMC Public Health, 17:498-513, DOI: 10.1186/s12889-017-4431. http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-017-4431-4 (external link) 
  • Wong, J., MacPherson F., Vahabi, M., Li, A. (2017). Understanding Sexuality and Sexual Health of Muslim Young People in Canada and Other Western Countries: A Scoping Review of Research Literature, Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 26(1): 1-12. https://doi.org/10.3138/cjhs.261-C1 (external link) 
  • Lofters, A., Vahabi, M. Fardad, M., Raza, A. (2017). Exploring the acceptability of HPV self-sampling among Muslim immigrant women in Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada, Cancer Management and Research, 9: 323–329. http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/CMAR.S139945 (external link) 
  • Madzima, T.R., Vahabi, M., Lofters, A. (2017). The emergence role of HPV self-sampling in cervical cancer screening for hard-to reach women: A focused literature review, Canadian Family Physician, 63(8):597-601.  PMID: 28807952, PMCID: PMC5555324
  • Vahabi, M., Lofters, A.  (2016). Muslim immigrant women’s views on cervical cancer screening and HPV self-sampling in Ontario, Canada, BMC Public Health, 16(1):868-881, DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3564-1.
  • Lofters,A., Slater M, Vahabi, M. (2016). Cancer screening among patients who self-identify as Muslim: Combining self-reported data with medical records in a family practice setting (external link) , Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 20(1),44-50.
  • Hyman I, Vahabi M, Bailey A, Patel S, Guruge S, Wilson-Mitchell K, Wong J. (2016). Findings from an Interdisciplinary Forum: Taking Action on Violence through Research, Policy and Practice (external link) . Global Health Research and Policy. 1:6.
  • Lofters, A., Vahabi, M., (2016). Self-Sampling for HPV to Enhance Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake: Has the Time Come in Canada? (external link)  CMAJ. 188(12), 853-854.
  • Vahabi, M., Lofters, A., Kumar, M., Glazier, R. Breast Cancer Screening Disparities Among Immigrant Women by World Region of Origin: A Population-Based Study in Ontario, Canada, Cancer Medicine. Accepted February 5, 2016. In press
  • Vahabi, M., Lofter, A., Kumar, M., Glazier, R. (2015). Breast Cancer Screening Disparities in Ontario, Canada (external link) , BMC Public Health. 15:679-691.
  • Vahabi, M., Damba, C.  (2015). A Feasibility Study of a Culturally and Gender-Specific Dance to Promote Physical Activity for South Asian Immigrant Women in Greater Toronto Area (external link) , Women\s Health Issues, 25(1):79-87.
  • Vahabi, M., Isaacs,S., Koc,M., Damba,C. (2015). Challenges in Recruiting Hard-to-Reach Populations Focusing on Latin American Recent Immigrants (external link) , International Journal of Human Rights in Health Care, 8(1): 36-44.
  • Lofter, A., Vahabi, M., Glazier, R. (2015). The validity of self-reported cancer screening history and the role of social disadvantage in Ontario, Canada (external link) , BMC Public Health, 15:28-38

Published Abstracts and/or Other Papers Read (Invited and Peer-reviewed):

Peer-Reviewed Published Abstracts:

  • Islam, N. T., Lofters, A., Nessa, A., Vahabi, M., Ginsburg, O., & Ishaque, T. (2016). “301O Exploring perceptions of cervical cancer in dhaka, Bangladesh”. Annals of Oncology (external link) , 27(suppl_9), Abstract Book of ESMO Asia Congress Singapore, 16–19 December 2016

Invited/Peer-Reviewed Papers

  • Bryce, K., Wong, J.P., Vahabi, M., Bailey, A., D. Miller,D., Husbands, W. Structural racism matters: An exploratory study on the gendered-racialized experiences and HIV vulnerabilities of heterosexual young Black men. The 22nd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2018), Amsterdam, Netherlands, 23-27 July 2018. Poster presentation.
  • Lofters, A, Vahabi, M., Kim, E., Ellison,L , Graves, E, Glazier R.H. “Cervical cancer screening among women from Muslim majority countries in Ontario, Canada”. The Canadian Association of Health Services Policy and Research (CAHSPR), Toronto, Ontario, May 23-26, 2017, Oral presentation, May25, 2017.
  • Lofters, A, Vahabi ,M.,  Prakash, V., Banerjee, L., Bansal, P., Goel, S., Dunn, S. “Integrating lay health educators within primary care practices to improve cancer screening uptake for South Asian patients”. North American Primary Care Research Group conference, November 17-21, 2017, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Oral presentation.
  • Santa Mina, E., Dalia, H., Vahabi, M., Castillo, R., Labib, J. “Positioning IENs for Success: A pilot program for BScN part-time delivery”. The Partners in Education & Integration of Internationally Educated Nurses, 11th Annual Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia, April 27-28, 2017. Oral presentation April 28.
  • Husbands,W.,  Etowa, J.B.,  Miller, D.,  Solomon Lome, S., , Kohoun, B, Vahabi, M.,  Luyombya, H. Omorodion, F.,  Ongoiba, F., Pierre-Pierre, V.,  Luginaah, I, Tharao, W.,  Wong, J.P., & the weSpeak Team. “Beyond “pacifier programs”: Engaging heterosexual African, Caribbean and Black men in community-based responses to HIV in Ontario”. CAHR (The Canadian Association for HIV Research. Montreal, Quebec, Canada, April 6-9. 2017, Poster presentation.
  • Islam, N.T., Lofters, A., Nessa, A., Vahabi, M., Ginsburg, O., Ishaque, T. “Exploring perception of cervical cancer in Dhaka, Bangladesh”. ESMO Asia 2016 Congress, December 16, 2016., Oral presentation.
  • Vahabi, M. “Resurrection of Slavery in 21st century: Mental Health of Migrant Live-in Caregivers in Canada”. Invited speaker, Mindfest 2016, University of Toronto, Heart house, October 5, 2016, Toronto, Canada.
  • Vahabi, M. “Breast cancer screening disparities Among Urban Immigrants: A population based study in Ontario”. Invited speaker, Association of Ontario Health Centres (AOH), October 19, 2016, Toronto, Canada.
  • Vahabi, M. “Breast cancer screening disparities among urban immigrants: A population based study in Ontario”. Council of Agencies serving South Asians (CASSA). 6th Annual meeting: Health Equity Summit, Ryerson University, Sears Atrium, September 27, 2016, Toronto, Canada.
  • Vahabi, M.  RBC Immigrant Diversity & Inclusion event at Ryerson University, Invited Panelist for "Engaging Immigrants in Canada: Why Inclusion Matters." March 11, 2016, Toronto, Canada.
  • Vahabi, M. “Exploring sexual health disparity among Asian migrant farm workers in Ontario through community-based action research”. Ryerson University, SRC Colloquium, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, January 11, 2016, Toronto, Canada.
  • Vahabi, M. “Health Disparities among Immigrants: A Case in Violation of Human Rights”. International Relation Society Annual Conference, Munk School of Global Affairs. Invited Panelist for Panel2: Global Cooperation in Action, January 31, 2015. Toronto, Canada.
  • Vahabi, M. “HIV/AIDS knowledge and sexual health practices among Asian migrant farm workers in Ontario”. University Paris IIV, Department of Sociology, Immigrant Research Centre, October 31, 2014. Paris, France. Invited speaker.

  • Knowledge Mobilization & Social Engagement Award, Toronto Metropolitan University, 2022-2023: This award is a university-wide annual award presented to one or more researchers who have demonstrated exceptional and outstanding effort in communicating research beyond the university and/or significant impact in shaping evidence-based policy and practice. This award recognizes the ability of the researcher(s) to facilitate conversations and collaborations with external organizations and communities, combining knowledge from different spheres of society to generate new ideas.
  • Outstanding Peer-Reviewed Publication, Second Place for article titled “The validity of self-reported cancer screening history and the role of social disadvantage in Ontario, Canada”, Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, 2016-2017
  • Dean’s Scholarly, Creative and Research (SRC) , Faculty of Community Services, Ryerson University, 2013-2014