Meet the 2025 Mini Med School Team
- Dr. Kayleigh Campbell, Postdoctoral Fellow, Oberlander Research Team, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute; Department of Pediatrics, UBC
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Dr. Kayleigh Campbell is a developmental neuroscientist studying complex brain networks and early child neurodevelopment.
Dr. Kayleigh Campbell specializes in fetal and newborn brain imaging and early neurobehaviour. Her doctoral research investigated the effects of maternal depression and antidepressant use during pregnancy on fetal and newborn neurodevelopment, focusing on how these factors influence early brain connectivity and behaviour. Currently a postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Campbell employs advanced neuroimaging techniques to examine complex brain networks and their associations with biological, cognitive, and behavioural development in early life. With a strong foundation in data science and clinical research methodologies, she aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and practical applications. Passionate about science education, Dr. Campbell enjoys engaging high school students in discussions about neuroscience, she aspires to ignite curiosity and inspire the next generation of brain researchers. - Dr. Justina Marianayagam, Resident Physician, UBC Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital
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Dr. Justina Marianayagam is a resident physician with strong ties to Northern Canada and a commitment to enhancing healthcare access for children/youth living rural communities.
Dr. Justina Marianayagam is currently training to be a rural General Pediatrician at the University of British Columbia and is based at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, BC. Her journey started with a bilingual Bachelor of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa as a Loran Scholar. She then earned her MD at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Originally from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Dr. Marianayagam understands the unique challenges that young people in rural and remote areas face with accessing healthcare and education. She is driven to reduce inequities for communities that often get overlooked. She has worked federally for Health Canada, the Senate of Canada and internationally with the World Health Organization to help patients' voices be heard. In her free time, she loves fishing, chasing the Northern lights, gardening, and spending time outdoors. - Dr. Garth Meckler, Division Head, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine & Researcher, BC Children's Hospital; Associate Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, UBC
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Dr. Garth Meckler is a pediatric emergency physician dedicated to training a diverse and inclusive generation of new doctors.
Dr. Garth Meckler is a pediatrician and pediatric emergency physician at BC Children’s Hospital. Originally from the United States, he moved to Canada 10 years ago and is grateful to work and live on the traditional lands of the Coast Salish peoples.
Dr. Meckler has had a varied career in medicine. He started out focusing on working with teenagers, especially queer youth, and then worked in primary care pediatrics before training in emergency medicine and research. Today, he works in the BCCH Emergency Department, teaches medical students and doctors, and researches topics like ambulance care for kids, access to healthcare, and headache treatment. Dr. Meckler is excited about the future of medicine and looks forward to seeing a more diverse and inclusive generation of new doctors who can help imagine a new way of delivering healthcare.In his free time, Dr. Meckler enjoys photography and loves hiking and camping in the backcountry with his partner, Steve, and their two dogs.
- Dr. Kevin Meesters, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Physician, BC Children’s Hospital; Postdoctoral Fellow, Vaccine Evaluation Center, BC Children’s Hospital
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Dr. Kevin Meesters is a pediatric infectious diseases physician and researcher passionate about keeping kids safe from serious infections.
Dr. Kevin Meesters is Pediatric Infectious Diseases physician and researcher at BC Children’s Hospital. He completed his medical school, a Master’s in Epidemiology, residency, and PhD in Belgium, where he studied how antibiotics work in children. During his residency and PhD, Dr. Meesters developed a strong passion for medical education. He has taught courses at the faculties of medicine, pharmacy, and nursing, and has had the privilege of lecturing medical students and residents at UBC. His current research focuses on the epidemiology of vaccine-preventable diseases in children, he is passionate about protecting kids from serious infections. - Dr. Scott Ramsay, Researcher and Nurse Clinician, BC Children's Hospital; Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, UBC
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Dr. Scott Ramsay is a nurse clinician and educator passionate about traumatic brain injuries and healthcare access.
Dr. Scott Ramsay is BC Métis and grew up in the Fraser Valley. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of the Fraser Valley and went on to get a PhD in Nursing from the University of British Columbia. Currently, he teaches at UBC’s School of Nursing and works as a nurse clinician at BC Children’s Hospital. Dr. Ramsay is particularly interested in studying traumatic brain injuries and how people access healthcare services. In his free time, he loves hanging out with his partner, son, and dog. - Dr. Wendy Robinson, Researcher, BC Children’s Hospital; Professor, Department of Medical Genetics, UBC
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Dr. Wendy Robinson is a genetics researcher focused on early human development, newborn health, and genetic changes to the placenta during pregnancy.
Dr. Wendy Robinson is a Professor of Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia and helps lead the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute as an Associate Director. She’s all about building a strong community and mentoring others. Dr. Robinson got her PhD in Genetics from the University of California, Berkeley, and then did further research as a postdoctoral fellow at the Medical Genetics Institute in Zurich, Switzerland.Dr. Robinson’s research looks at early human development starting from conception and beyond, especially with genetic and epigenetic changes in the placenta and their impact on pregnancy and newborn health. Dr. Robinson also holds a special position called the CIHR Chair in Sex and Gender Science, where she studies how biological sex impacts the placental genome. Over her career, she has written over 200 research papers and book chapters.
In her spare time, Dr. Robinson loves running, enjoying nature, reading, and spending time with her family. - Simran Samra, Doctoral Student, Turvey Research Team, BC Children’s Hospital; Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, UBC
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Simran Samra is a doctoral student researching personalized medicine to identify and understand rare pediatric diseases.
Simran Samra is a doctoral student at the University of British Columbia. Her research is focused on using personalized medicine to identify and understand new rare pediatric diseases. She completed her undergraduate studies in biochemistry, and for her master’s, she researched transcriptomic and genomic biomarkers while also interning in the biotechnology sector. Simran went on to become the lead laboratory research assistant at the Rare Disease Discovery Hub at BC Children's Hospital, where she helped improve care for children with hard-to-diagnose conditions. Passionate about personalized medicine and eager to become a better scientist, she decided to leave her position to pursue a Ph.D. In her free time, Simran enjoys reading, running, and exploring new restaurants and cafes. - Maira Jimenez Sanchez, PhD candidate, Vallance Research Team, BC Children’s Hospital; Department of Medicine, UBC
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Maira Jimenez Sanchez is a doctoral student working to uncover how microbes affect our gut health, with a focus on how diseases form and the best ways to treat them.
Maira Jimenez Sanchez is a dedicated professional with a strong background in both science and education. Her journey in Biochemical Sciences and Educational Administration fueled her passion for connecting research with education. Maira had the privilege of working with the National Youth Science Foundation in West Virginia, USA, where she provided academic support in biology, genetics, and mathematics at various scientific camps for high school students. This experience allowed her to coordinate classes and optimize students' learning, further igniting her passion for teaching. Maira’s global research experiences, from the Netherlands to South Korea, has given her a unique perspective on science education. Maira is passionate about inspiring the next generation of scientists through fun and creative teaching methods. - Dr. Li Qing Wang, MD/PhD Candidate, Robinson Research Team, BC Children’s Hospital; MD/PhD Program, UBC
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Dr. Li Qing Wang is clinician-scientist in training, dedicated to exploring how research can enhance patient care.
Dr. Li Qing Wang completed her PhD in Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, focusing on the genetic and epidemiological risk factors associated with pre-eclampsia, a condition characterized by high blood pressure during pregnancy. Currently she is a medical student in year 6 of a 7-year MD/PhD program. This University of British Columbia program provides students with the opportunity to combine their medical school experience with intensive scientific training. Dr. Wang is passionate about uncovering how we can use current research to improve clinical practice. She is also dedicated to youth mentorship, educational outreach and inspiring the next generation of health scientists. - Dr. Tiffany Wong, Researcher & Pediatric Allergist, BC Children’s Hospital; Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, UBC
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Dr. Tiffany Wong is a pediatric allergy doctor who treats kids with allergies to food, venom, environmental factors and medications.
Dr. Tiffany Wong is a pediatric allergy doctor at BC Children’s Hospital. She grew up on the traditional lands of the Ktunaxa people and moved to Vancouver after high school. Tiffany studied pharmaceutical sciences in college and got her MD from the University of British Columbia (UBC). She did her pediatric residency at the University of Calgary and then specialized in Allergy and Immunology at UBC. At BC Children’s Hospital, Dr. Wong is the Medical Lead at the Allergy Clinic where she treats kids with allergies to food, venom, environmental factors and medications. She also focuses on asthma and works with the severe asthma clinic at BC Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Wong teaches medical students and residents and mentors other doctors both locally and nationally. She was recognized as a Hudson Scholar in Pediatric Medicine, which launched her leadership work on improving healthcare quality. She has also been involved in big projects that help healthcare providers remove false labels of penicillin allergy. The overall goal is to make healthcare more fair and accessible, especially in remote areas. In her free time, Dr. Wong loves going on bike rides with her husband and two kids and taking walks with their dog. - Dr. Enav Zusman, Doctoral Student, Oberlander Research Team, BC Children’s Hospital; Women+ and Children's Health Sciences Program, Faculty of Medicine, UBC; Sessional Lecturer, Faculty of Science, UBC; Pharmacist, Pure Integrative Pharmacy
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Dr. Enav Zusman is a pharmacist and researcher dedicated to ensuring medication safety and effectiveness during pregnancy.
Dr. Enav Zusman is a PhD student in the Women+ and Children's Health Sciences program at the University of British Columbia, working under the guidance of Dr. Tim Oberlander and Dr. Robert Platt. Her research interests include pharmacoepidemiology, perinatal epidemiology, reproductive health and mental health. The primary focus of her PhD research is investigating the associations between prenatal serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant exposure and the development of affective disorders in childhood and adolescence. Prior to commencing her PhD studies, Enav earned a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and an MSc in Experimental Medicine from UBC, and a BSc in Medical Sciences from Tel Aviv University in Israel. Enav's PhD work is supported by a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship and a Killam Doctoral Scholarship. As a registered pharmacist, Enav finds fulfillment in interacting with patients and assisting them in making informed decisions about their health. She aims to integrate her clinical knowledge and experience with her research work to enhance medication safety and effectiveness during pregnancy, ultimately improving clinical outcomes and patient care. Outside of her research and clinical pursuits, Enav enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends, painting, going on hikes, and camping.
