Meet Our Team

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Dr. Rebecca Schiff is a trans-disciplinary university scholar and administrator, working across many health and allied disciplines including public health, Indigenous health, psychology, nursing, education, occupational therapy, and social work among others. Much of her research and advocacy work focuses on community health and social issues for marginalized communities across diverse urban, rural, and remote geographies. Her research focuses on determinants of community wellbeing, social service systems, and social aspects of sustainability, with an emphasis on community – engaged methodologies, community co – generation of knowledge, and integrated knowledge translation.

 Dr. Vijay Mago is an Associate Professor and Chair in the School of Health Policy & Management at York University, specializing in health informatics and analytics. His research focuses on the development and application of artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and big data analytics to tackle complex challenges in health systems. This includes work in substance use surveillance, mental health monitoring, predictive modeling, homelessness and the design of ethical and socially responsible AI systems. Dr. Mago has an extensive publication record and serves as an editor for several prominent journals and conferences in the fields of AI and health informatics. He has secured over $4.3 million in research funding and previously held leadership roles at Lakehead University, including Chair of the Department of Computer Science and Research Chair in Ethical AI. 

 Bonnie Krysowaty is a dedicated community leader and researcher with over a decade of experience addressing homelessness and poverty in Thunder Bay, Ontario. At the Lakehead Social Planning Council, she oversees the federal Reaching Home program, manages the Homelessness Information System (HIFIS), and coordinates the city's Poverty Reduction Strategy. Bonnie works closely with Indigenous partners, government agencies, and local organizations to develop community-driven, evidence-based responses, including the Coordinated Housing Access System, encampment solutions, and initiatives like Tiny Homes Thunder Bay and the living wage campaign. Her research collaborations span local and national projects on housing, harm reduction, and health equity, reflecting a strong commitment to social justice and sustainable change. 

 Dr. Frederic Fu is a researcher at the School of Health Policy and Management at York
University. His research focuses on identifying neurological and mental health risks
among underrepresented populations, particularly people experiencing homelessness (PEH), through advanced computerized statistical analyses. Dr. Fu employs innovative data collection strategies—such as the Homeless Individuals and Families Information
System (HIFIS) and Point-in-Time (PiT) Counts—to improve the understanding of health
disparities faced by PEH. His current research interests include integrating machine-
learning-enhanced statistical methods to predict health risks and inform public health
interventions. By actively engaging with affected communities, including Indigenous groups and other Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)-related populations (e.g., gender and LGBTQ2S+ minorities), Dr. Fu ensures that his research remains grounded in real-world contexts. His collaborations with nonprofit organizations and community partners
aim to develop culturally sensitive and effective interventions to address neurological and mental health disparities. Ultimately, Dr. Fu’s research seeks to inform public health
policies and practices, contributing to improved health outcomes for Canada’s vulnerable populations. 

 Ashley Wilkinson is a Health Sciences PhD candidate at the University of Northern British Columbia under the supervision of Dr. Rebecca Schiff. She holds a Masters degree in Health Sciences with a specialization in Indigenous and Northern Health from Lakehead University. Ashley has several years of experience in health research related to community health and social issues for marginalized groups across diverse urban, rural, and remote geographies. Her broader research interests include health equity, anti-racism, Indigenous health, and structural determinants of wellbeing. She is committed to community-engaged research approaches that centre the voices of those most affected by systemic inequities. 

 Russell Frost is the current lead HIFIS community coordinator. Currently studying his masters student in Electrical and Computer Engineering, he is a lifelong learner with a passion for programming, statistics, databases, and neural networks. Outside of work, Russell has been playing the piano for over a decade and enjoy exploring music, technology, and networking. He also loves a good challenge, whether it’s a strategy-packed board game or a complex coding project. Russell is passionate not just about solving problems, but building meaningful connections and fostering innovation along the way.