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    Canada Research Chair

  • portrait of Amani Hamad
  • Assistant professor

    Max Rady College of Medicine
    Community Health Sciences
    Room 408, 727 McDermot Avenue
    University of Manitoba
    Winnipeg, MB, R3E 3P5

    204-558-8533
    amani.hamad@umanitoba.ca

Cross appointments

Does not hold any cross-appointments.

Research achievements

Research summary

Dr. Hamad’s research described the association between early life antibiotic exposure and the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, constructed family health histories for the Manitoba population and characterized the intergenerational transfer of mental illnesses using administrative data housed at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy. She incorporated machine learning methods to conduct international multi-generational studies about the prediction of mental illnesses and other chronic conditions.

Dr. Hamad's current research program aims to transform complex administrative data into standardized research-ready data, making them easier to use and reuse for research while ensuring high-quality data. Her work will characterize medication effects on mental illness in children, filling an important knowledge gap.

Research affiliations

Research scientist, Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP)

Research groups

Canadian Network for Observational Drug Effect Studies (CNODES)

SPECTRUM: Social Policy Evaluation Collaborative Team Research at Universities in Manitoba

  • Keywords

    • administrative data
    • data science
    • data curation 
    • maternal and child health
    • mental health
    • observational studies
    • pharmacoepidemiology

Teaching philosophy

My primary goal for students is to foster independent lifelong learners with strong analytical skills that can be applied across various contexts. I aim to help students identify and utilize available resources, as well as hone their critical thinking abilities to solve problems. I am conscious of the diverse student experiences and strive to identify and support those who may need extra assistance in grasping key concepts. In particular, I am committed to facilitating the involvement of underrepresented student populations by creating a safe and inclusive class environment and adapting course materials and assessments to cater to all students.

To keep students engaged during lectures, I incorporate interactive elements such as student-led case study discussions or coding sessions. I also use interactive tools like polls to encourage student participation. I believe that building a trusting relationship with students and creating a comfortable environment for them to express their views without judgment is crucial for engagement.

I plan to demonstrate the practical value of course materials across different contexts and provide real-world examples to enhance student motivation, showing the relevance of the course. Furthermore, I am looking to provide summer internship opportunities that will offer valuable experience in data analysis and administrative data research. I will tailor assessments to the specific course and utilize a combination of tools such as exams, assignments, and group projects.

Finally, I acknowledge that developing effective teaching skills is an ongoing process, and I am committed to continually advancing my teaching and mentoring skills by learning from student feedback, colleagues, mentors and professional development opportunities.

Biography

Brief bio

Dr. Amani Hamad is an assistant professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba. She holds the Canada Research Chair in Population Data Science and Data Curation (Tier II) and is a research scientist at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy.

Dr. Hamad completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Manitoba's George and Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation Data Science platform, with support from a CIHR Fellowship. Her research expertise includes population data science, medication effects, maternal and child health, and mental health.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy, College of Pharmacy, University of Manitoba (2020)

Master of Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Jordan (2009) 

Bachelor of Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Jordan (2007)

Awards

  • The University of Manitoba Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow in Health Sciences (2024)
  • The Dean of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship (2022)
  • The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Fellowship (2021-2024)
  • The Winnipeg Foundation Martha Donovan Women's Leadership Development Awards (2020)
  • The Stanley A. Edlavitch Award for Best Abstract from the International Society of Pharmacoepidemiology (ISPE) (2019)
  • The Association of Faculties of Pharmacy of Canada (AFPC) / Council for Continuing Pharmaceutical Education (CCPE) Graduate Student Research Award (2019)
  • Roos Prize for Best Publication in Population Health from the University of Manitoba (2018)
  • AFPC / CCPE Whit Matthews Graduate Student Research Poster Award (2018)
  • AFPC / CCPE Student Research Poster Award (2018)
  • Manitoba Medical Service Foundation Poster Award (2017)
  • Evelyn Shapiro Award for Health Services Research from the University of Manitoba (2016)
  • William G. Eamer / College of Pharmacists of Manitoba Graduate Scholarship (2016)
  • University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship (2015)

Contact us

Community Health Sciences
Max Rady College of Medicine
Room S113 - 750 Bannatyne Avenue
University of Manitoba (Bannatyne campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W3 Canada

204-789-3655