Scholarship@Western

Western Public Health Casebooks
2105
Casebook Title Page & Front Matter
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Recommended Citation
(2105). Western Public Health Casebook 2105, London ON.
                                                      
 
Western Public Health 
Casebook 2015 
  
Cases from the 
Schulich Interfaculty Program in Public Health 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Editors 
 
Mark Speechley, PhD 
Professor  
Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics 
Schulich Interfaculty Program in Public Health 
Western University 
London Canada 
 
Amanda Terry, PhD 
Assistant Professor 
Department of Family Medicine 
Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics 
Schulich Interfaculty Program in Public Health 
Western University 
London Canada 
 
 
 
 
 
Public Health Casebook Publishing 
Western University 
London ON 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2015 
Public Health Casebook Publishing 
Western University 
London ON 
 
 
Western Public Health Casebook 2015 
 
ISBN 978-0-7714-3103-6 
 
Copyright © 2015 Public Health Casebook Publishing 
 
 
The cases in this book may be copied, stored, disseminated, and used free of charge without 
permission for any educational uses by an accredited educational institution.  
 
No parts of this book may be changed without prior written permission of the publisher. Any 
other uses including commercial uses are expressly forbidden. 
 
Suggested citation – cite individual cases as book chapters: 
 
[author1, author2, author3.] (2015). [title of case.] in: 
Speechley, M., & Terry, A.L. [eds] Western Public Health Casebook 2015. London, ON:  Public 
Health Casebook Publishing. 
 
 
 
Printed in London, Ontario, by Wonderland Printing Ltd.  
  


English

Casebook Title Page & Front Matter

Crozier, Olivia

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
“Falling Through the Cracks”: Strengthening Support for People 
with Parkinson’s and Their Care Partners 
Olivia Crozier 
The University of Western Ontario, ocrozier@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Crozier, Olivia, "“Falling Through the Cracks”: Strengthening Support for People with Parkinson’s and Their 
Care Partners" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship 
and Creative Activity. 683. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/683 
Title: “Falling Through the Cracks”: Strengthening Support for People with Parkinson’s and Their 
Care Partners 
 
Summary: 
 
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that affects over 100, 
000 Canadians, including more than 40, 000 in Ontario. Despite these alarming numbers, access 
to specialized care is limited, with only one neurologist available for every 1,400 patients. Long 
wait times, fragmented services, and limited training in PD-specific care leave individuals and 
their care partners without adequate support and feeling like they’ve fallen through the cracks. 
This research aims to improve how people with PD and their care partners are supported by 
identifying barriers to service delivery and access to meaningful supports. By incorporating the 
perspectives of care partners, persons with PD and service providers across healthcare and 
community settings, we will generate actionable insights to help guide the design of more 
sustainable, person and family centered models of care that promote self-management, 
improve quality of life, and reduce strain on Ontario’s healthcare system. 
 
Word count: 147 
 
Submission: Olivia Crozier, BHSc 
PhD Candidate and MSc OT Student 
Health and Rehabilitation Sciences  
 
 


“Falling Through the Cracks”: Strengthening Support for People with Parkinson’s and Their Care Partners

Gagnon, Kaitlyn M

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Zola, But Make It Funny: The Comedies You Missed 
Kaitlyn M. Gagnon 
Western University, kgagnon9@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Gagnon, Kaitlyn M., "Zola, But Make It Funny: The Comedies You Missed" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A 
Digital Collection of Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. 729. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/729 
Zola, But Make It Funny: The Comedies You Missed 
 
Émile Zola, the renowned 19th-century French naturalist best known for his Rougon-Macquart 
series, had a lesser-known, lighter side. While he is primarily associated with intense social 
critique and realism, some of his early works were comedies. My research focuses on defining 
comedy in Zola’s work through his letters, critiques, and prefaces. His comedic plays, though not 
widely celebrated, offered a counterbalance to his darker narratives, revealing his ability to 
observe life not only with gravity but also with wit. These rarely read works are inventive and 
thought-provoking and may have even influenced humorous moments in his later novels. 
Understanding Zola’s approach to comedy expands our appreciation of his range as a writer. My 
thesis opens the door to further exploration of how his comedic instincts played a subtle yet 
important role in shaping the tone and structure of his literary output.  
(Word count: 141)  
 
Kaitlyn Gagnon  
Department of French Studies  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Portrait of Emile Zola (1840-1902) French writer. Cartoon by Andre Gill 
for the Illustrious World.) https://www.meisterdrucke.us/fine-art-
prints/Andre-Gill/921504/Portrait-of-Emile-Zola,-French-writer.-Cartoon-
by-Andre-Gill-for-the-Illustrious-World.html 
 


Zola, But Make It Funny: The Comedies You Missed

Tse, Allison

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
MicroRNAs: The Future Of In Vitro Fertilization 
Allison Tse 
Western University, atse57@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Tse, Allison, "MicroRNAs: The Future Of In Vitro Fertilization" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection 
of Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. 749. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/749 
MicroRNAs: The Future of In Vitro Fertilization  
Allison Tse 
With the growing trend of delayed childbearing, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is becoming an 
increasingly important fertility treatment. Yet, the success rates of IVF remain low. This is often 
because embryos possess an abnormal number of chromosomes, which can hinder proper 
development. To screen out these embryos, physicians are limited to methods that are invasive 
and not always accurate.  
My research explores a more efficient and effective approach to assessing embryo quality by 
analyzing microRNAs (miRNAs). These small molecules are naturally released by embryos into 
their environment and may reveal valuable information about which embryos are most likely to 
result in a healthy pregnancy.  
To investigate this, I use blastoids—lab-grown structures that closely resemble early human 
embryos. By comparing chromosomally normal and abnormal blastoids, I aim to identify 
miRNA patterns linked to embryo success. This could significantly improve embryo selection in 
IVF, helping more patients achieve successful outcomes.  


MicroRNAs: The Future Of In Vitro Fertilization

Kumar, Vikash

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Driving Towards a “Starry” Future 
Vikash Kumar 
Western University, vkumar47@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Kumar, Vikash, "Driving Towards a “Starry” Future" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. 802. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/802 
Driving Towards a “Starry” Future 
I come from a remote place in India, where power outages were common and often meant 
my siblings and I would sleep on the rooftop during hot summer nights, gazing at the magical 
starry sky. As I grew older and started my job, managing operations manufacturing steel for 
automobiles—one of the biggest polluters—I saw those bright skies fade behind thick 
clouds of pollution. These memories of starry nights and the harsh reality of pollution 
inspired me to focus on sustainability, especially in transportation. My work explores why 
people hesitate to switch to electric cars and how supportive policies and accessible 
charging stations might change that. By combining careful study and listening to people’s 
concerns, I hope to make cleaner transportation a reality. And at the heart of it all is a simple 
wish: that no curious child in the future misses out on those magnificent, star-filled nights. 
 
~ Vikash Kumar 
Photo credit: Ghibli Art from ChatGPT 


Driving Towards a “Starry” Future

Beaudoin, Natasha Claire

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Refracted Realities: Painting Gen Z in the Digital Age 
Natasha Claire Beaudoin 
Western University, nbeaudo2@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Beaudoin, Natasha Claire, "Refracted Realities: Painting Gen Z in the Digital Age" (2025). Inspiring Minds – 
A Digital Collection of Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. 805. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/805 
Refracted Realities: Painting Gen Z in the Digital Age 
 
Chat is this Real?!, Oil and Acrylic on Canvas, 2024, 48x48.  
My work explores how digital culture is reshaping portraiture. Drawing from Old Masters like 
Caravaggio and modern influences like Instagram filters, I blend traditional painting techniques 
with screen-based aesthetics to reflect how Generation Z navigates identity. I call this hybrid style 
Techno Tenebrism: a dramatic play of light inspired not by candlelight, but by the glow of phones 
and laptops. My work often begins with pixelated, candid photos of my friends, which I then 
transform, edit and distort into highly crafted portraits. One way I maintain genuine connections 
with my close friends is by playing online games together. Unlike texting, which can feel disjointed 
or isolating, these shared virtual spaces feel like real hangouts. That experience fuels my work’s 
core tension between presence and absence, connection and isolation, tradition and technology. 
Ultimately, my thesis paints a portrait of modern relationships—and how they rely on digital tools 
to feel real. 
 


Refracted Realities: Painting Gen Z in the Digital Age

Vancer, Laura

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
A Helping Hand for Radiography Across Canada: Improving Wrist 
Imaging with a Novel 3D-Printed Positioning Tool 
Laura Vancer 
Western University, laura.vancer@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Vancer, Laura, "A Helping Hand for Radiography Across Canada: Improving Wrist Imaging with a Novel 3D-
Printed Positioning Tool" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of Western’s Graduate Research, 
Scholarship and Creative Activity. 808. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/808 
A Helping Hand for Radiography Across Canada: Improving Wrist Imaging with a Novel 3D-
Printed Positioning Tool 
 
Although healthcare is a human right, many people living in Northern Canadian communities 
face significant barriers to accessing quality care. Sparse populations result in long travel times, 
understaffed clinics, and limited access to specialized services. As a result, injuries often go 
undiagnosed or untreated, increasing the risk of complications. Without timely treatment, wrist 
injuries can progress into chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis. 
My research explores if a low-cost, 3D-printed wrist positioning aid can break down barriers to 
accessing good quality wrist x-ray imaging in remote settings. Developed by our lab in 
collaboration with clinicians and radiation technologists, the tool was designed for affordability 
and ease of use, enabling widespread implementation across Canada. Through this work, I aim to 
demonstrate the device’s ability to help x-ray technologists capture high-quality wrist images 
consistently. Given the long-term consequences of misdiagnosed wrist injuries, improving x-rays 
is essential to ensuring equitable care for all patients. 


A Helping Hand for Radiography Across Canada: Improving Wrist Imaging with a Novel 3D-Printed Positioning Tool

Young, Gillian F

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
The Primary Care Diabetes Support Program: Evaluating Care for 
Socially Complex Patients with Diabetes 
Gillian F. Young 
Western University, gyoung57@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Young, Gillian F., "The Primary Care Diabetes Support Program: Evaluating Care for Socially Complex 
Patients with Diabetes" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of Western’s Graduate Research, 
Scholarship and Creative Activity. 811. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/811 
Inspiring Minds Submission    
Gillian Young  
The Primary Care Diabetes Support Program (PCDSP) is a primary care practice in London, Ontario 
that uses an inter-disciplinary, team-based approach and takes a holistic, patient-centred primary 
care approach by promoting innovative diabetes self-management strategies, providing active 
medical management and addressing barriers to care related to social determinants of health. The 
PCDSP specifically works with medically complex, unattached, and socially complex patients who 
are at high risk of experiencing diabetes complications. My thesis will examine the characteristics, 
service utilization, and health outcomes of PCDSP patients experiencing complex social 
circumstances (e.g., housing instability, low socioeconomic status, immigration etc.), as well as 
evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the program. The PCDSP is a promising upstream primary care 
intervention for patients with diabetes, particularly in a time of physician shortages and primary 
care crisis in Ontario. My thesis will examine whether this model of program is effective at averting 
diabetes complications in vulnerable populations. 
 


The Primary Care Diabetes Support Program: Evaluating Care for Socially Complex Patients with Diabetes

Bordonaro, Marisa

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Beyond the Binary in Canadian Radical Poetry 
Marisa Bordonaro 
Western University, mbordona@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Bordonaro, Marisa, "Beyond the Binary in Canadian Radical Poetry" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A Digital 
Collection of Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. 817. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/817 
Beyond the Binary in Canadian Radical Poetry 
Marisa Bordonaro  
Psychiatry has confined mental illness to the binary language of “healthiness” (sanity) 
and “illness” (insanity)—but the language of Mad studies offers alternate possibilities of 
conceptualizing individuals’ mental distress beyond the medical model of “disorders.” My 
research focuses on Canadian poetic experiences of Madness (a reclaimed term), from the rise of 
patients’ advocacy against psychiatry’s mistreatment of patients in the 1960s to the present day, 
to explore alternate representations of Madness both in support and critical of a national 
Canadian Mad community. Radical avant-garde poetry, which is aesthetically experimental and 
politically resistant, reconceptualizes the conventional “I” to represent the speaker-poet’s 
marginal experiences on the page and within Canadian society. Using Mad studies and disability 
studies, which account for economic and social factors rather than biological limits, I suggest 
that a Canadian Mad radical poetics must necessarily challenge the idea of a universal Mad 
identity.  
 
(144 words)  


Beyond the Binary in Canadian Radical Poetry

da Silva Lima, Mikaelison

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Integrated Pest Management of Spider Mites: Navigating the 
Growing Complexity of Spider Mite Populations in Southwestern 
Ontario's Agriculture 
Mikaelison da Silva Lima 
Western University, mdasil66@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
da Silva Lima, Mikaelison, "Integrated Pest Management of Spider Mites: Navigating the Growing 
Complexity of Spider Mite Populations in Southwestern Ontario's Agriculture" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A 
Digital Collection of Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. 819. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/819 
Integrated Pest Management of Spider Mites: Navigating the Growing Complexity of 
Spider Mite Populations in Southwestern Ontario's Agriculture 
My research will address knowledge gaps in the spider mite community's complexity and 
its implications for pest management in southwestern Ontario agriculture. Spider mites are small 
arachnids (under 2 mm) that threaten global agriculture. Severe infestations can result in yield 
losses exceeding 70%. Recently, unidentified mite species have emerged alongside the generalist 
Tetranychus urticae, creating urgent gaps in pest management, including species identification 
and economic implications. My research aims to use molecular methods to identify spider mite 
species in southwestern Ontario agriculture. It will also characterize their biology by examining 
life table parameters and leaf damage patterns. The study will explore species interactions 
through behavioral assays and assess current management strategies and RNA interference-based 
acaricides for controlling these species. Results will form a knowledge base to tailor 
management strategies, mitigating spider mite impacts in the region and enhancing sustainable 
food security against these threats. 


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