CURRENT FELLOWS
Undergraduate Medical Student Fellow
Simal Qureshi
Simal Qureshi is a medical student in the Class of 2025 at Memorial University. Prior to starting her journey at Memorial, Simal completed her Bachelor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Leadership, as well as her Master’s in Applied Health Services Research at the University of New Brunswick. Passionate about equity, diversity, and inclusion in healthcare, Simal is focusing her CIRRIS project on community experience of access to dermatological services from a rural perspective. She has an interest in Skin of Colour dermatology and her past research experience and volunteer work has fuelled her desire to raise awareness on systemic and intersectional issues impacting access to healthcare in rural and BIPOC communities. Simal is looking forward to embarking on this exciting research opportunity and advocating for strategies to improve access to care in rural communities.
Undergraduate Medical Student Fellow
Natasha Vatcher
Natasha is a second year medical student at Memorial University. She completed her undergraduate degree in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, N.B. While hailing from New Brunswick, Natasha has deep rooted ties to Newfoundland that has brought her here summer after summer. Her ongoing undergraduate research aims to investigate the possible physical, mental and social benefits of engaging in recreational groundfish fishing for the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador. She is interested in contributing to shaping public health initiatives and policies that directly enhance the health and wellness of people living in rural communities.
Undergraduate Medical Student Fellow
Nehara Shamistra Herat
Nehara Herat is a third-year medical student at Memorial University. She previously completed an undergraduate and a graduate degree in Kinesiology at Memorial. She was born in Sri Lanka and lived in China before migrating to NL with her family. Her research interests include various topics, such as exercise science, healthcare access, women’s health, and much more. She is currently completing her clinical rotations.
Graduate Student Fellow
Crystal Vaughan
My name is Crystal Vaughan and I am currently completing my doctorate at the Faculty of Nursing at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN). I was born and raised in Gander, NL, and previously completed a Bachelor of Science (BSc), a Bachelor of Nursing (BN), and a Master of Nursing from MUN. My doctoral research is focused on nursing contributions to virtual care delivery within primary care settings. As a Registered Nurse, I have clinical experience in primary care/community health settings in Labrador, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories delivering care to northern, remote populations; and acute care settings delivering care to rural populations in Gander, Carbonear, and surrounding areas. As well, I am the Public Relations Representative with the Canadian Family Practice Nurses Association (CFPNA). Overall, my doctoral research will contribute to advancements in the integration and optimization of primary care nurses within virtual models of care.
PAST FELLOWS
Undergraduate Medical Student Fellow
Dr. Hamza Shogan
Hamza Shogan is an undergraduate medical student at Memorial University with an expected graduation in 2023. He completed his Honours in Biochemistry/Biology at Memorial University with a research focus on microcirculation. Hamza’s roots come from Jordan but has lived in New Zealand and Ontario before settling in Newfoundland and calling it home. Hamza’s research interests include topics in rural emergency medicine, resuscitation, and critical care . He aims to pursue a career in emergency medicine and continue his involvement in research.
Resident Medical Fellow
Dr. Kayla Furlong
Kayla Furlong MD MSc CCFP is a recent graduate of Memorial University’s Doctor of Medicine program and Family Medicine Residency program. She is currently a PGY3 resident training in the Enhanced Skills Emergency Medicine program at Memorial University. She has a Master of Science from the University of Toronto with a focus in clinical epidemiology and statistics. Her clinical and research interests include family, emergency, and geriatric medicine in both urban and rural settings. She is keen on improving the experience of, stay, health outcomes, and disposition of older adults in the Emergency Department (ED). She is currently working on a scoping review of ‘Community Emergencies’ in the ED (i.e., older adults in the ED unable to return to the prior residence) and a retrospective chart review of ‘Community Emergency’ patients at Carbonear General Hospital.
UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL SUPERVISION
Undergraduate Medical Student (2021-2024)
Heather Richards
Heather Richards is an undergraduate medical student at Memorial University with expected graduation in 2024. She completed a previous undergraduate degree in Chemistry at Mount Allison University in Sackville, NB. Heather was born and raised in St. Anthony, NL, and has always had a love for the “small town way of life”. Her current undergraduate research project hopes to explore the perceived health benefits of partridgeberry picking in Northern Newfoundland. She has an interest in rural medicine and is looking forward to learning ways in which to improve the accessibility of care within the province during her medical studies.
Undergraduate Medical Student (2019-2022)
Reniel Engelbrecht
I am a fourth-year medical student at Memorial University of Newfoundland. I was born in South Africa, but the kindness of the Newfoundland people and the province’s outdoor beauty convinced me to stay. My research interests include simulation-based medical education and global health, supporting those practicing in rural areas and developing countries to provide quality health care. I aim to pursue critical care medicine through my residency training and hope to keep up my academic involvement in these areas.
Undergraduate Medical Student (2019-2022)
Ryan Wade
My name is Ryan Wade and I am currently a fourth-year medical student at Memorial University. I was born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and have resided here since. My research interests include emergency management in rural settings and health/human resource planning. Hoping to pursue family medicine for residency and further my research in these areas.
Undergraduate Medical Student (2019-2022)
Craig Campbell
My name is Craig Campbell and I am a fourth-year medical student at Memorial University. I was born and raised in Charlottetown, PEI, and moved to St. John’s to pursue medical studies at Memorial in 2014. My research interests include access to training and supportive resources for healthcare professionals as well as acute patient management in rural sites. I am pursuing a residency in Family Medicine and hope to continue research that improves outcomes in rural primary care.