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Principle Researchers
Prof. Josephine Pui-Hing Wong 黃佩卿教授(Nominated Principal Investigator of PROTECH) is a professor at the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). She has extensive experience in critical public health. She specializes in community-based action research, stigma reduction interventions, and implementation science to promote health equity among racialized and marginalized communities. During the 2003 SARS outbreak, Dr. Wong worked at the Toronto Public Health SARS Control Centre, and volunteered with Toronto’s Coalition Concerned About SARS, to establish and co-lead the SARS Support Line in response to community needs.
Dr. Kenneth P. Fung 馮溥倫醫生 (Co-Principal Investigator of PROTECH) is a cultural psychiatrist and Clinical Director of the Asian Initiatives in Mental Health (AIM) at Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network. He is also an associate professor with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Dr. Fung is the current president of the Society for the Study of Psychiatry and Culture (SSPC). He is highly sought after, both nationally and internationally, for his expertise as a trainer, consultant, and researcher in applying Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to promote mental health across diverse communities. He was also co-founder and co-lead of the SARS Support Hotline alongside Dr. Wong in 2003.
Dr. Alan T. Li 李大為醫生 (Co-Principal Investigator of PROTECH) is a primary care physician at Regent Park Community Health Centre with over 30 years of experience working with diverse and marginalized communities to advance health equity and social justice. As the past president of the Chinese Canadian National Council, founding president of Asian Community AIDS Services and the Committee for Accessible AIDS Treatment, Dr. Li has worked closely with community stakeholders on many research projects that directly resulted in the creation of innovative services and informed policy changes. These include: the establishment of a compassionate medication program at the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation, immigration legal services at the HIV Legal Clinic of Ontario, multiple health literacy and community mentorship training programs, as well as policy change in health cost threshold for immigration economic exclusion eligibility.
Dr. Mandana Vahabi 孟丹娜華夏比教授 (Co-Principal Investigator of PROTECH) is a Professor at the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). Dr. Vahabi is a social epidemiologist with expertise in population-based assessment, planning and evaluation in population health programs, and infectious disease surveillance and outbreak management. She held the position of senior epidemiologist and policy consultant at the Toronto District Health Council (TDHC), and Ministry of Health Long Term Care (MOHLTC) for over a decade. During the SARS outbreak, Dr. Vahabi was seconded to the SARS Epi Centre (MOHLTC) to support the SARS response.
Co-Researchers
Dr. Jenny J.W. Liu 劉京文博士 (Co-Investigator of PROTECH) is a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at Toronto Western Hospital-Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, and a Post-doctoral Fellow within the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). Trained in psychological science, Dr. Liu’s research and scholarship focuses on bridging research in stress and resilience with community-based applications. She is the creator and lead author of the Multi-System Model of Resilience (MSMR), which has been integrated into PROTECH to promote mental health and resilience.
Dr. Xuan (Nina) Ning 寧璇博士 (Co-Investigator of PROTECH) is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). Trained in sociology and social sciences, Dr. Ning’s research program focuses on multi-disciplinary research and cross-cultural contextualization of mental health promotion interventions, with a special focus on enhancing the well-being of socially and economically marginalized groups. Dr. Ning has established research networks in Canada and Asia. Her bilingual expertise in English and Chinese enables her to play a vital role in the translation of health messaging, and break down barriers of access to health information among the Chinese-Canadian communities.
Dr. Maurice Poon 潘廣禮教授 (Co-investigator of PROTECH) is an Associate Professor and Director of the School of Social Work at York University. Maurice is the co-chair of the Advisory Research Committee at Asian Community AIDS Services. He has extensive experience in gay men’s community health programs. His current research focuses on gay Asian diasporic identities and politics, the social construction of violence in gay intimate relationships, and HIV/AIDS issues related to Asian men who have sex with men. He is active in the development of human services for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered Asian community in Toronto.
Andy Mok 莫賢威 (Co-investigator) is a HIV and primary care Clinical Nurse Specialist at Maple Leaf Medical Clinic. Working in the community setting, Andy proactively raises public awareness of the negative impact of stigmas on the mental and physical health of affected individuals and communities. He engages in stigma reduction training with the goal of becoming a nursing leader and champion to address social stigma and health inequities. As a former Official Delegate of the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)) and executive member of the Graduate Nursing Student Society at the University of Toronto, Andy is recognized for his leadership and contributions to nursing student associations at regional and national levels. In his role as a knowledge user co-investigator, Andy will communicate and mobilize nursing students in Toronto and across Canada to reduce the spread of misinformation regarding COVID-19.
Staff Team
Keith Wong 黃錦強 (Project Manager of PROTECH). For nearly three decades, Keith has demonstrated his unwavering commitment to advancing the AIDS movement with an unwavering and inspiring spirit. As an organizational leader, coalition builder, capacity builder, mentor, and artist, Keith has integrated and utilized his diverse experiences from his involvement in different social justice issues to contribute to an innovative, holistic and PHA centered response to the HIV epidemic. While holding multiple leadership roles at different equity seeking and HIV/AIDS services, Keith consistently devotes his time and efforts to building organizational capacity and advancing collaborative partnerships to challenge social inequities, homophobia, racism, and HIV stigma. Currently, he is a consultant in organizational development and facilitation training for the non-profit and community health sector, and a practicing coach with a focus on life transition and career development.
Shaylee Zhang 張湲 (Web Design & Maintenance Coordinator of PROTECH). Graduated with a computer science degree, Shaylee has been in the web development field for over 15 years. In the past five years, Shaylee worked in a health care company as a web specialist in charge of site design, maintenance, and traffic monitoring. As technology keeps evolving, Shaylee always stays on top of the latest tech trends. She has a great appetite for learning new things and always being inspired by how advanced technology can change people’s lives. Shaylee also joined a few non-profit organizations and worked as volunteers to help people in need and address various social issues. Her extensive IT skills and community service experience will keep the project moving forward with creative and sound technology solutions.
Former Staff
Krisel Abulencia (Volunteer Coordinator of PROTECH)
Rain Chan 陳子玲 (Community Engagement Program Associate of PROTECH)
Julia Gervasio (PACER-HCP Coordinator)
Cindy Lu (Content Management Coordinator of PROTECH)
Lydia Lu 陸範璟 (PACER Coordinator)
Service Suppliers
Web Design / Online Support – de Souza Institute
Mathew Gancarz (IT Architecture and Consulting). Mathew Gancarz lead the initial Information Technology architecture and design for Project PROTECH. With 15+ years of experience in the industry, Mathew is an enthusiast of improving systems to serve business needs effectively. He has an ability to enable key business initiatives by providing the needed capabilities and supporting technology components in a cost effective and timely manner. His work at the de Souza Institute at the University Health Network has supported many health care education focused projects and helped to developed a viable not-for-profit business that has expanded from a provincial initiative into a Canadian and international centre of excellence.
He holds a Masters of Management Science (MMSc) from the University of Waterloo and has completed a certificate in the Management of Enterprise Data Analytics from the University of Toronto as well as Microsoft, Apple and Cisco certifications.
Malcolm MacKinnon (Multimedia Developer). Malcolm began his career as a freelance photographer, before joining de Souza as an Multimedia Developer. Nowadays he can be found splitting his time between working with de Souza’s eLearning development team, building courses, creating new photographic or video course material, designing interactive activities, or working on de Souza’s Social Media and Promotional presence. Malcolm holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from Ryerson University.
Graphic Design
Aries Cheung studied graphic design and illustration at the Hong Kong Polytechnics University, and graduated in Visual Arts at York University. He has worked as a visual artist, graphic designer and art director for advertising (J. Walter Thompson, HK), books, magazines, film and theatre for many years. Cheung is now an independent, practicing graphic designer, visual artist and teacher based in Toronto. His interests include painting, drawing, digital imaging, photo-based, mixed media work and videos. He has exhibited at galleries locally and abroad. He has been on the jury and programming committees for artist-run centres in Toronto. He has received Ontario Arts Council Artist’s Grants and has been a Toronto Arts Council Artist’s Grant Jury Member. He has taught art and design at the Centennial College, and has facilitated art and design workshops for schools and cultural organizations.He has created design, art and illustrations for advertising; branding, marketing and social media for businesses; editorial and books for adults and children for publishers in Canada and US. He has been selected to design a number of coins for the Royal Canadian Mint.Aries has also designed video projections and installations for multi-disciplinary presentations and multi-media theatres.
