Jameela Kassam is the Communications Advisor at the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children. In the feature below, she shares insights into her role and the ongoing communications projects she is currently working on.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself and your role at the Centre.
I hold an MSc in Media, Communication and Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and I’m deeply passionate about promoting child well-being and reducing global inequities. The Centre’s focus on understanding the social and structural determinants of health resonates with my belief that child health is shaped by factors beyond individual care, such as poverty, education, and access to resources. By bringing together researchers to tackle these systemic issues, the Centre is at the forefront of creating meaningful change, which has always been my life’s mission.
In February 2024, I joined the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children and TARGet Kids! as the Communications Advisor. In this role, I am responsible for developing and executing communications initiatives, leading promotions for events and funding opportunities, and managing the Centre’s online presence, including its social media profiles on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn, and website. Since joining the Centre last year, I have been actively creating new communications assets, including a pull-up banner, one-pager, and postcard about the Centre and its work, as well as helping to revitalize the Centre’s website and communications plan. Last summer, I launched the Centre’s YouTube channel to share webinar recordings, ensuring that the valuable insights and resources shared during the Centre’s events reach a wider audience.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your role at the Centre?
What I enjoy most about my role is the opportunity to share meaningful stories and impactful research that contributes to improving children’s health. It’s incredibly rewarding to communicate the Centre’s work and engage with diverse audiences, from researchers and healthcare professionals to families and the broader community. I also appreciate how this role provides me with the chance to learn about ongoing research in child health equity both within the Centre and beyond. I am grateful to be working with an amazing team of researchers and part of a mission that makes a tangible difference in the lives of children and families.
Another aspect of my role that I enjoy is the creative freedom it offers. Whether through graphic design or brainstorming innovative ways to share research, I have the opportunity to think outside the box and explore new ways to promote the Centre's work. The combination of creativity and purpose makes my role both motivating and deeply meaningful.
Q: What are some of the exciting projects you are working on right now at the Centre?
One project that I’m particularly excited to be working on is Dr. Astrid Guttmann’s Prenatal Opioid Exposure Project with 13 First Nation communities in Ontario. Specifically, I will be assisting Priscilla Medeiros, the Centre’s Knowledge Mobilization and Community Engagement Specialist, as she collaborates with a First Nations community to create a social media campaign for Sexual Health Week next month. I’m looking forward to supporting this meaningful work as it aims to raise awareness on the impact of addiction and prenatal opioid exposure on families.
Q: What future initiative(s) are you most excited about at the Centre?
I’m excited about the Centre’s 2025 focus on expanding its communications reach and how we’re using our growing platforms to build new partnerships and connect with a broader, more diverse audience. By engaging with people who are passionate about child health equity research, we’ll be able to amplify the impact of our work. I’m particularly looking forward to continuing to feature our researchers, supporting their knowledge translation needs, and expanding the reach of their findings. Additionally, the Centre’s continued partnership with the Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development Policy Bench and Child Health Policy Accelerator is something I’m especially excited about, as it gives us a unique opportunity to translate our research into real-world change.
