Laleh Rashidian, MD, MPH is a PhD candidate at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto and a researcher with the Opti-HEX Lab at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. With a medical degree and Master of Public Health from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Laleh brings a clinical and population health lens to pressing questions about equity, access, and system transformation.
Her doctoral research focuses on improving equitable access to care for people living with diabetes across Ontario, with a particular interest in how structural and social determinants of health shape outcomes for marginalized communities. Using linked health administrative data, Laleh investigates how geography, income, immigration status, and race/ethnicity intersect with the organization and delivery of care-generating insights to inform more just and sustainable models of service delivery.
Laleh also leads an evaluation of primary care and population health strategies in high-priority communities across Ontario, with a focus on chronic disease prevention, mental health supports, and team-based care. Her approach combines quantitative analysis with qualitative methods, including stakeholder interviews that capture the perspectives of providers, policymakers, and community members.
Her work is deeply aligned with the mission of the Collaborative Centre for Climate, Health and Sustainable Care, recognizing that equitable access to high-quality care is foundational to climate-resilient health systems. She is particularly interested in how integrated, community-based care models can promote sustainability by strengthening preventive services and advancing health equity.