Diversity Inclusion Wellbeing

DI-W.COM

"Uplifting Voices, Striving for Equity"

Dina Idriss-Wheeler

PhD (C), MHA, MSc., BScH

Diversity Inclusion Well-being

A LITTLE ABOUT ME

As a passionate researcher in health equity, I am committed to addressing disparities in healthcare access and health and social outcomes, both in Canada and globally.

I am a PhD candidate in Population Health at the University of Ottawa. Grounded in social justice and human rights frameworks, my research examines the social, political, and economic factors shaping access to health services among marginalized populations. My doctoral thesis focuses on access to health and inequities arising from intimate partner violence (IPV) during COVID-19 lockdowns in Ontario.

I currently serve as Associate Director of the Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics (CHLPE) at the University of Ottawa, where I support interdisciplinary research, policy engagement, and knowledge mobilization initiatives at the intersection of health, law, and equity.

From 2022–2023, I was a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Health System Impact Doctoral Fellow embedded at the Canadian Red Cross (CRC). Working within the Health in Long-Term Care Programming (HiLP) and Health Intelligence Research Development (HiRD) units, I contributed to research on reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child healthcare delivery in South Sudan through a gender equity lens, and documented lessons learned from 15 years of CRC-supported Community Health Worker programming across Africa.

I continue to collaborate with peers and faculty locally, nationally, and globally, facilitating panels and publishing on institutionalized racism and inequities in academia, research, and healthcare.

With over 15 years of experience in research methods, educational programming, and project management in academic settings, I bring both scholarly depth and applied leadership to my work.

Curriculum Vitae Sept. 2023

MY RESEARCH

In Canada, my research delves into the intricacies of health disparities among marginalized communities, working towards evidence-based solutions that uplift voices and strive for equity. Beyond national borders, I focus on humanitarian and low resources settings, employing a culturally sensitive approach to understanding health and social inequalities.

By championing research initiatives that prioritize the needs of groups rendered vulnerable, I hope to uplift voices, catalyze positive change, and advocate to influence policy decisions. I hope to contribute to a world where everyone has equitable access to good health.

Publications Highlights

Aoun A, Bou-Karroum L, Chidiac N, Idriss-Wheeler D, El-Jardali F. Public health interventions for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in humanitarian emergencies: an overview of systematic reviews. BMC Public Health. 2026 Jan 20. doi: 10.1186/s12889-026-26299-3. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41559614.
Idriss-Wheeler D, Surkan P, Bainbridge S, El-Khatib Z. Locked down, locked out: a cross-sectional study on experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) and barriers to formal and informal support during COVID-19 lockdowns in Ontario. BMC Public Health. 2025 Nov 17;25(1):3962.
El-Khani A, Idriss-Wheeler D, Farhat L, Yassine Al, Darwish S, Maalouf W. Evaluating the Strong Families Programme in Lebanon: A Single-Arm Study on Family Functioning and Child Well-Being. International Journal of Innovative Research and Scientific Studies.2025. In press.
El-Khani A, Idriss-Wheeler D, Chea S, Darwish S, Maalouf W. Impact of a Brief Family Skills Training Programme “Strong Families” in a Low–Middle-Income-Country: Cambodia. Children. 2025 Jun;12(6):728. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/6/728
Idriss-Wheeler D, Bancroft X, Bouraleh S, Buy M, Yaya S, El-Khatib Z. Exploring access to health and social supports for intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors during stressful life events (SLEs)—A scoping review. PLOS ONE. 2024 Dec 2;19(12):e0313613. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0313613
Hudani A, Idriss-Wheeler D, Labonté R, Yaya S. Identifying Levers for Change in Healthcare Coordination Between the Emergency Youth Shelter and Health Systems in Toronto, Canada Through Stakeholder Engagement: A Qualitative Study. International Journal on Homelessness. 2024; 1–16. https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/ijoh/article/view/17309
Elkefi S, Sabra R, Marie Hajjar J, Idriss-Wheeler D, Aref E. The role of participatory ergonomics in supporting the safety of healthcare workers; a systematic review. Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science. 2024 Jun 24; (0):1–47.
Baumann A, Crea-Arsenio M, Smith V, Antonipillai V, Idriss-Wheeler D. Abuse in Canadian long-term care homes: a mixed methods study. BMJ Open Qual. 2024 Jun 1;13(2):e002639. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38834369/
Idriss-Wheeler D, Ormel I, Assefa M, Rab F, Angelakis C, Yaya S, Sohani, S. Engaging Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Africa: Lessons from the Canadian Red Cross supported programs. PLOS Global Public Health. 2024 Jan 18;4(1):e0002799. https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0002799
Zegeye B, Idriss-Wheeler D, Oladimeji O, Yaya S. Exploring health insurance and knowledge of the ovulatory cycle: evidence from Demographic and Health Surveys of 29 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Reproductive Health. 2023 Aug 30;20(1):129. https://reproductive-health-journal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12978-023-01675
Zegeye B, Idriss-Wheeler D, Ahinkorah BO, Ameyaw EK, Seidu AA, Adjei NK, et al. Association between women’s household decision-making autonomy and health insurance enrollment in sub-saharan Africa. BMC Public Health. 2023 Mar 30;23(1):610. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-023-15434-z
Idriss-Wheeler D, El-Khatib Z, Yaya S. Access to support services for individuals who experience intimate partner violence during stressful life events (SLEs) in high-income countries: Protocol for a scoping review. PLOS ONE. 2022 Dec 8;17(12):e0277903. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.027790
Okeke S., Idriss-Wheeler, D., & Yaya, S. (2022). Adolescent pregnancy in the time of COVID-19: what are the implications for sexual and reproductive health and rights globally? Reproductive Health (in print). DOI : 10.1186/s12978-022-01505-8.

Visit ResearchGate for a detailed list of Publications

My doctoral work is specifically looking at intimate partner violence (IPV) during COVID-19, exploring health inequities and access to social and health services in Ontario, particularly focusing on sub-groups at risk.

I am interviewing Survivors of IPV and Service Providers working with survivors of IPV to find out the experience of violence during this time and what would have made access to much needed services easier.

This work is possible through a strong partnership with Marlene Ham and Lauren Hancock at the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses (OAITH), under the supervision of Dr. Sanni Yaya, PhD (University of Ottawa) and guidance of thesis committee member, Dr. Ziad El-Khatib (Karolinska Institute). Additionally, we are generously supported in part by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSRC) Partner Engage Grant.

My Doctoral Research Study

My thesis has three components:

(1) A scoping review looking at literature to date on access to services for survivors of IPV during stressful life events.

(2) Anonymous Survey of experience of Survivors of IPV in Ontario, in English and French, during lockdown and now as we transition to recovery.

(3) Interviews with both survivors and social/health service providers working with survivors of IPV about their experiences and perspectives.

This study is now complete. We invite you to visit the Project page to access fact sheets and key findings as they are released.