Congratulations to Visna Rampersad on her successful PhD Defense
On March 18, 2026, Visna successfully defended her PhD dissertation in Epidemiology.
By Tyson BrownCongratulations Visna!
On March 18, 2026, Visna successfully defended her PhD dissertation in Epidemiology. Her dissertation, titled Type 2 Diabetes and Depression Comorbidity: Exploring Risk Factors, Antecedence, Associated Pain, and Health Services Utilization, was supervised by Dr. Khrisha Alphonsus (School of Public Health) and Dr. Lloyd Balbuena (Department of Psychiatry). Her research examines the complex relationship between type 2 diabetes and depression.
Visna previously completed her MSc in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Western University (2021) and her BSc in Health Sciences at Wilfrid Laurier University (2019). Her work is guided by a commitment to advancing health equity and addressing the complex social determinants of health that shape individual and community well-being. She is particularly focused on understanding how systemic barriers disproportionately affect marginalized and vulnerable populations.