Network Against Ageism Committee Members:
Nursing-Led Interventions for Inclusive Healthcare Systems
A World Universities Network (WUN) Research Project
Academic Lead
Dr. Jordana Salma, PhD, RN
University of Alberta
Dr Salma is a Registered Nurse and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. She is the lead researcher at IREA and is focused on improving the health and well-being of immigrant and racialized older adults in Canada. Through her work, Dr. Salma seeks to reduce health inequities by shaping policies and services that better support the unique needs of older adults, ensuring they can age with dignity and access the care they deserve.
WUN Research Team
Dr. Stephanie Chamberlain
University of Alberta
Dr Stephanie Chamberlain is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. She received her PhD from the University of Alberta in 2019 where she studied the characteristics and unmet needs of nursing home residents under public guardianship. Her work focuses on loneliness and social isolation in older adults, specifically how personal, social, cultural, and systemic factors can influence older adults’ access and use of health services.
Dr. Yinfei Duan
University of Alberta
Dr Yinfei Duan is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on the complex relationship between context (macro, meso, and micro-level context/environment) and quality of care, staff’s quality of work life, and the success of implementation and improvement initiatives in long-term care (LTC) homes. Dr. Duan’s work is dedicated to improving the lives of both residents and staff in LTC homes by fostering nurturing, person-centered communities by translating research evidence into real-world practice. Dr. Duan specializes in quantitative methods using advanced statistical models, and in mixed-methods approaches that integrate quantitative, qualitative, and configurational methods to address complex questions in health services and implementation research within the LTC sector.
Dr. Hannah O'Rourke
University of Alberta
Dr Hannah O’Rourke is an Associate Professor in the College of Health Sciences, Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. She leads the Connecting for Quality of Life (CONNECT-QOL) program of research to design, evaluate and disseminate effective interventions to support people living with dementia in care homes and their intergenerational family/ friend networks. She applies systematic and scoping review methodologies, and conducts multi and mixed methods feasibility studies and clinical trials of complex interventions. Her intervention work is grounded in an understanding that feelings of connection and belonging (i.e., feelings of social connectedness) matter greatly to quality of life according to the perspectives of people living with dementia. Ultimately, the CONNECT-QOL program aims to generate knowledge about feasible, effective interventions that can be implemented to improve social connectedness and quality of life of people living with dementia, and their family and friends
Dr. Kaitlyn Tate
University of Alberta
Dr Kaitlyn Tate, an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, is dedicated to enhancing aged care transitions and improving quality management practices. Her expertise lies in older adults’ transitional care, knowledge synthesis, and quantitative methods, with experience in qualitative and mixed methods research. Dr. Tate’s research focuses on identifying facilitators and barriers to improving older adults’ transitions across the care continuum and utilizing administrative health data to monitor and enhance these transitions. She is currently conducting two CIHR funded mixed-methods and community-based studies on improving care in the community to reduce transitions to facility-based continuing care, with one study co-led with the Otipemisiwak Métis Government of the Métis Nation within Alberta (MNA). Dr. Tate has a background as a Registered Nurse in various healthcare settings and experience as a research analyst in government. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Dr. Holly Symonds-Brown
University of Alberta
Dr. Priscilla Yeye Adumoah Attafuah
University of Ghana
Dr Priscilla Yeye Adumoah Attafuah is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana. She specializes in nursing, with a focus on geriatrics and palliative care. She holds a PhD in Nursing and has a strong interest in ageing, elderly care, quality of life, and traditional medicine.
Dr. Attafuah has contributed to research in geriatric care, public health, nursing, and the well-being of vulnerable populations. Her work emphasises the importance of quality care for the elderly and the integration of traditional medicine into modern healthcare practices.
In addition to her academic roles, Dr. Attafuah is the Executive Director of Geriatric Hub and has been involved in various community and healthcare initiatives. She visits older adults in their homes and in healthcare facilities to provide health education and provide companionship. She is also interested in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to geriatric health and well-being.
Dr. Lalita Kaewwilai
Mahidol University
Dr Lalita Kaewwilai is a lecturer in the Department of Public Health Nursing at the Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University. She specializes in public health nursing, aging, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease. She earned her Ph.D. in Nursing from the University of Alberta, where she focused on stress, coping, and the quality of life among caregivers of people living with dementia. Dr. Kaewwilai has extensive experience in clinical research aimed at improving the quality of life for older adults and their caregivers. She has also contributed to the development of artificial intelligence (AI) for tuberculosis screening, helping to enhance early detection and treatment. Currently, she is conducting research on Art-Based Museum Interventions to explore how creative activities can enhance cognitive function and well-being in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Through her work, she continues to develop innovative strategies to support healthy aging and improve care for older adults.
Dr. Scovia Nalugo Mbalinda
Makerere University
Dr Scovia Nalugo Mbalinda is a PhD nurse-midwife and senior lecturer in the Department of Nursing at Makerere University, Uganda, where she advances nursing education and global health research. A distinguished Afya Bora Global Health Leadership, ACHIEVE, and AFRIhealth Fellow, collaborates with Uganda’s Ministry of Health to develop policies and programs for youth health equity. As a fellow of SAFRI, she is dedicated to enhancing African medical education and health systems. She has worked as a health consultant with NGOs Jhpiego and Mariestopes, enhancing healthcare access in Africa. She collaborates with academia, policy, and community to empower healthcare professionals and promote equitable health solutions, demonstrating innovation and collaboration to transform healthcare outcomes for vulnerable populations. Dr. Mbalinda’s interdisciplinary research covers reproductive, maternal, adolescent, child health, nursing education, aging, and non-communicable diseases, influencing evidence-based practices in low-resource settings.
Dr. Joy Louise Gumikiriza-Onoria
Makerere University
Dr Joy Louise Gumikiriza-Onoria is a Clinical Psychologist, Gerontologist, and Lecturer at the Department of Psychiatry, Makerere University. She is a Brain Health PhD Fellow specializing in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD), caregiver mental health, neuropsychology, and geriatric psychology. Her research focuses on developing culturally tailored interventions for dementia caregivers, assessing neurocognitive outcomes in adolescents with HIV, and examining psychological distress in family caregivers. Her PhD research focuses on the adaption of the WHO iSupport program for Ugandan caregivers and investigating stress, depression, and anxiety in caregivers and older adults. With over 15 peer-reviewed publications and prestigious fellowships, including the Atlantic Global Brain Health Fellowship, Dr. Gumikiriza-Onoria is committed to bridging research and implementation to improve dementia care and mental health services in sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr. Stephen Ojiambo Wandera
Makerere University
Dr Stephen Ojiambo Wandera is a Demographer, Gerontologist, and a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Population Studies, Makerere University. He holds a PhD in Population Studies (major: Population Ageing). His research focuses on healthy aging, ageism, dementia, frailty and loneliness and social isolation among older adults in Uganda. His PhD research focused on the “Disparities in access to healthcare among older persons in Uganda”. Currently, he is conducting mixed methods research survey on estimating the prevalence of dementia and frailty among older persons in rural eastern Uganda. In addition, he is investigating the correlates of stress, anxiety and depression among university students in Uganda. He is an ATLAS.ti certified qualitative data analyst and trainer.
Dr. Isabela Cancio Velloso
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)
Dr Isabela Cancio Velloso is an Associate Professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil. Dr. Velloso hold a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BN), a Master’s degree in Nursing (MN), and a Ph.D. in Health Services Management. Dr. Velloso’s research focuses on public health policies and the organization of nursing and healthcare services within healthcare networks, with particular emphasis on the care of older adults, as well as their caregivers and family members. Dr. Velloso is dedicated to identifying evidence-based best practices in the care of older adults, particularly those in palliative care, with the goal of improving both quality of life and end-of-life experiences. Additionally, my work aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare systems through the application of qualitative research methodologies. I also supervise students at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Dr. Helen Anderson
University of York
Dr Helen Anderson is a Registered Nurse and Advanced Practitioner currently working as a Qualitative Research Fellow at the University of York in England. Dr. Anderson’s research interests include identity and the very old, primary care and nursing workforce issues. Her focus is on qualitative research, with a particular interest in ethnography. Dr. Anderson is a member of the International Council of Nurses Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nurse Educational sub-group and a member of the Academy of Advanced Practice Research UK. In 2024, Dr. Anderson received the title of Queen’s Nurse from the English community nursing charity, The Queen’s Nursing Institute. The title indicates a commitment to high standards of patient care, learning and leadership.
External Partners
Dr. Lisiane Manganelli Girardi Paskulin
Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
Dr. Sheena Ramazanu
Hong Kong Metropolitan University
Dr Sheena Ramazanu is an Assistant Professor in Nursing & Health Sciences at Hong Kong Metropolitan University. An ethnic minority born and raised in Singapore, Dr Ramazanu’s research aligns with the Singapore Ministry of Health’s goal of improving health outcomes for minority groups, particularly the Indian and Malay populations. Her research interests include educational research, chronic disease management, and culturally competent care. Dr Ramazanu is dedicated to fostering partnerships with regional and international communities, particularly within ASEAN, to promote health and optimize capacities for underserved populations. She is recognized for her international collaborations with scholars from the USA, India, Indonesia, Palestine, Australia, Germany, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Finland, and the Philippines. Through her work, Dr Ramazanu aims to ensure impactful research that benefits society and enhances health outcomes globally.
Dr. Adeyinka Ishola
University of Ibadan
Dr. Maha Abu-Radwan
Princess Muna College of Nursing