Research & Evaluation Unit

Dr. Nicole Kain (RN, BNSc, MPA, PhD) received her PhD in Public Health from the University of Alberta in 2017 and was the first doctoral recipient of the Dean’s Gold Medal from the School of Public Health. Her dissertation explored how family physicians in Canada experience public health crises and the related risk communication processes surrounding such events. Dr. Kain holds Clinical Lecturer appointments in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta. In her role at CPSA, she participates in qualitative and mixed-methods data collection and analysis processes, to guide continuous process improvement, research initiatives and program evaluation, key evaluation questions, and outcomes measurement strategies.

Dr. Ewan Affleck is a graduate of Dalhousie University and the McGill School of Medicine. Dr. Affleck has worked and lived in northern Canada since 1992. He currently serves as the Senior Medical Advisor-Health Informatics at CPSA and is co-chair of the National Task Force on Virtual Care. Before joining CPSA, Dr. Affleck was the Medical Director of the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority, Clinical Director of Family Medicine at Stanton Territorial Hospital and Chief Medical Information Officer of the Northwest Territories. Dr. Affleck is an expert in digital health information systems and pioneered the implementation of an integrated enterprise electronic medical record system in the Northwest Territories. He is passionate about developing sustainable health services for northern communities. He serves on boards in both the public and private sector, is a faculty member of the University of Calgary and maintains a clinical practice in Yellowknife. He is also the executive producer of The Patient’s Voice, a newly launched documentary film health advocacy project.

Dr. Nigel Ashworth (MSc., MB.ChB., FRCPC) received his medical degree from the University of Leicester (UK) in 1989. In 1997, he completed his residency training at the University of Saskatchewan in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) and received a Specialist Certificate in PM&R from the Royal College of Physicians of Canada. In 2001, Dr. Ashworth completed a Master’s degree in Community Health & Epidemiology at the University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Ashworth is a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta and has over 70 peer-reviewed publications in clinical neurophysiology, neuro rehabilitation, and population-based health.

Dr. Nancy Hernandez Ceron (BSc, MSc, PhD) received her Master’s in Mathematics from the University of Alberta in 2010 and her PhD in Applied Mathematics from Purdue University in 2015. Her doctoral and postdoctoral work focused on mathematical epidemiology. She uses her technical background to look at data and patterns in a variety of fields. At CPSA, she provides technical expertise to gather, interpret and communicate data to further advance CPSA’s evidence-based research initiatives.

Mrs. Iryna Hurava (BSc (Hons), MSc, MSc) received her Master’s degree in Social Science from the University of Alberta in 2015, and she also has a Master’s degree in Economics from Europe. She is an experienced social policy researcher with a strong background in academic research. Mrs. Hurava primarily worked on community-based research projects that were committed to the active participation of community members and organizations, including not-for-profit volunteer associations. In her role at CPSA, she assists in research initiatives and program evaluation and contributes to the production of research projects, reports, and publications. She also liaises with internal and external collaborators and other stakeholders.