Our Team
Full-Time Staff
Yogendra Shakya
Director, Research and Evaluation
Yogendra Shakya’s research interests include neighborhood and community planning, poverty reduction, and determinants of health for immigrants and refugees. He has research experience in Nepal, Vietnam, and Canada. At Access Alliance, he is currently spearheading several community based participatory research projects exploring key determinants of immigrant health, including income security, housing, and access to healthcare.
Andrew Koch
Data Support and Evaluation Coordinator
Andrew’s professional and volunteer experience spans several organizations within the non-profit and private sectors. He has actively participated in diverse research and evaluation projects using qualitative methods. Consistent with his interest in strengthening community capacity to address soical determinants of health, Andrew has been an active member of the steering committee for the Toronto Community-Based Researchi Network and contributed to the development of a pilot research training program at Access Alliance. He also co-authored a resource guide designed to enhance collaboration between hospitals and community organizations. Andrew holds a Master of Health Science in Health Promotion from the University of Toronto and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Waterloo.
Farzana Propa
Research Administrative Secretary
Ruth Marie Wilson
Research Coordinator
Ruth has a Master’s degree in Social Work and has worked in the areas of curriculum development, communications and anti-racist research and policy. In her current role as community researcher, Ruth hopes to uphold Access Alliance’s commitment to engage in community-based research that will help communities achieve health with dignity and inspire change.
Samiera Zafar
Research Operations Manager
Samiera Zafar holds a Masters Degree in Education Policy and a professional teaching qualification. She has worked for a number of years as a social policy researcher and more recently in the South African public service as Director: Research and Knowledge Management. Her research interests include addressing gender and racial equity in education; and in society more broadly.
Research Coordinator
Aamer Esmail previously worked as the Coordinator for Among Friends which provided trainings, workshops and resources to service providers to improve services and create positive spaces for LGBTQ newcomers. He has over 10 years of experience working in programs addressing health, settlement, immigration and community development needs for youth, LGBTQ, queer Muslims and marginalized communities. Aamer studied International Development Studies at York University and has certificates in Refugee and Migration Studies from the Centre of Refugee Studies and Non-Profit Management from Schulich School of Business. He is currently studying Immigration and Settlement Studies at Ryerson University.
Other
Dianne Patychuk
Consultant Epidemiologist
Dianne is a social epidemiologist and health equity consultant who supports decision making at Access Alliance by providing planning advice and quantitative analysis of health and social indicators. With over 30 years experience in health care as a nurse, researcher, policy analysis, health planner and social epidemiologist, Dianne has worked at the College of Nurses of Ontario, Toronto Public Health, the Toronto Central LHIN and currently supports several government and non-government organizations in the health equity movement as a consultant and volunteer. Dianne brings a social justice and equity focus to all her work and is committed to community access to information for action to reduce health and social inequalities such as through neighbourhood profiles and community mapping.
