Yulika Yoshida-Montezuma is the Senior Data Analyst at the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children. In the feature below, she shares insights into her role, current projects, and her passion for leveraging data to address child health inequities.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself and your role at the Centre.
I hold an MPH in Epidemiology from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, and I’m deeply passionate about understanding the social determinants of health and finding data-driven solutions to reduce child health inequities. The Centre’s mission to improve children’s health through rigorous research aligns with my commitment to ensuring children live healthier lives, both in Canada and globally, regardless of their socioeconomic status or other social determinants.
As a Senior Data Analyst at the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children, I work with large administrative and national datasets to uncover patterns and risk factors affecting child health outcomes. My role involves designing and implementing statistical analyses, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to translate findings into actionable insights, and supporting research that may contribute to policy and practice.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your role at the Centre?
What I enjoy most about my role is the ability to harness data to tell a story, one that highlights health disparities and helps guide potential solutions. While data analysis alone cannot solve these challenges, it can help highlight areas where interventions may be beneficial and inform strategies that have the potential to make a positive impact.
I also value the collaborative nature of my work. I have the chance to work alongside epidemiologists, clinicians, policymakers, and community organizations, each bringing valuable perspectives that deepen our understanding of child health inequities. Being part of a team committed to addressing these issues makes my work especially meaningful.
Q: What are some of the exciting projects you are working on right now at the Centre?
I’m currently working on several projects that may help to bridge the gap between research and real-world impact.
One key project is exploring the relationship between social factors and childhood disabilities. We’re currently using Canadian national survey data to explore quantitative intersectional approaches to understanding social inequities in childhood disability. This research is conducted in partnership with SMILE Canada, a charity dedicated to supporting racialized children and youth with disabilities and their families. In addition to quantitative analysis, we plan to conduct focus group discussions with parents of children with disabilities and youth with disabilities to explore how social identities and circumstances shape their experiences accessing and navigating disability related services. By integrating both data-driven insights and lived experiences, we aim to inform meaningful changes in research and practice.
I’m also involved in a project analyzing administrative health data from Ontario to evaluate how the primary care crisis, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has impacted access to primary care across different population groups, particularly recently arrived refugees, other immigrants and others new to Ontario. At a time when millions of Ontarians struggle with limited access to primary care, these findings can help inform policies to improve primary healthcare access for those who need it most.
Q: What future initiative(s) are you most excited about at the Centre?
I’m particularly excited about the Centre’s ongoing efforts to integrate data science and artificial intelligence into child health research. By applying advanced analyses, we can better predict health trajectories, identify key social risk factors for adverse outcomes, and develop more targeted preventative interventions to reduce inequities in child health.
Additionally, I’m looking forward to expanding collaborations with community organizations and policymakers to ensure that our research translates into tangible changes that benefit children and families. Bridging the gap between data and policy is critical in making a lasting impact, and I’m eager to contribute to initiatives that drive meaningful and equitable improvements in child health.
