Principal Investigator

Dr. Cheryl Currie

I am an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Lethbridge. A social epidemiologist by training, I created the Social Epidemiology in Action Lab to examine and address the ways in which social experiences can get under the skin to shape health, stress biology, and addictive behaviour.

Mahala Swisterski

BHSc, MSc (Student)

Mahala began working in the lab in February 2020. She has an Advanced Diploma in Rural Pre-Medicine from Selkirk College, a Bachelor of Health Sciences with a major in Indigenous Health from the University of Lethbridge, and is in her second year of the MSc Public Health program at the University of Lethbridge. Mahala grew up in small town Alberta and experienced first-hand how living in a rural community influenced her health. Mahala is currently working on her thesis under the supervision of Dr. Currie. For Mahala’s thesis, she is interested in how the social and communication development of children in low-income families has been impacted by the pandemic. Mahala hopes to continue exploring the unique impacts that living in rural and low-income environments has on health outcomes.