Get Involved

Our mission is to open doors that weren't open to us.

BBIEPI connects students and professionals with mentors, resources, and a community built to help them find their path — and later, help someone else find theirs.

Two professionals, a woman and a man, having a discussion in an office. The woman is speaking with her hand raised and the man is listening with a serious expression. The office background features shelves with books and plants.

Get Involved

What guides our work

At BeingBlackInEpi, our work is grounded in a shared commitment to equity, collaboration and community. We believe that empowering Black students and professionals strengthens not only our field, but also the health of the communities we serve.

Community

We foster meaningful connections that create a supportive and inclusive network where everyone can learn, grow and thrive.

Mentorship

We believe mentorship transforms careers. By connecting aspiring epidemiologists with experienced mentors, we help build confidence, knowledge and lasting relationships.

Equity

We are committed to addressing barriers and creating pathways that increase representation and opportunity for Black individuals in epidemiology and public health.

Excellence

We encourage curiosity, innovation and lifelong learning while supporting academic, professional and leadership excellence.

Collaboration

We believe meaningful change happens through partnership. We work alongside students, researchers, institutions and communities to create lasting impact.

Impact

Everything we do is driven by a vision of a more diverse, inclusive and equitable future for epidemiology and public health.

The Team

Meet our founders

Description here about why they founded this (beyond values.etc) maybe talk about a mini timeline?

Yasmine Elmi MD-PhD(c)

Co-Founder

Yasmine Elmi is an MD–PhD student at McGill University and a McCall MacBain Scholar whose work focuses on health equity, epidemiology and Black maternal and reproductive health. Through research, advocacy and mentorship, she is dedicated to addressing health disparities and empowering future Black leaders in medicine and public health. As Co-Founder of BeingBlackInEpi, she helps build a national community that supports Black students pursuing careers in epidemiology and public health.

Saredo Mohamed Bouraleh MSc

Founder & Executive Director

Saredo Mohamed Bouraleh is an epidemiologist and health services researcher committed to advancing health equity through research, mentorship and community engagement. A 2026 Valedictorian of the University of Ottawa's MSc in Epidemiology program, she founded BeingBlackInEpi to expand opportunities for Black students and professionals while fostering a stronger, more connected epidemiology community across Canada.

Meet Our Mentors

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    Serge Kanti

    UNIVERSITÉ LAVAL

    PhD, Epidemiology | MD, MPH · Research Professional, CHU de Québec

    Focus: endometriosis epidemiology, women's health, and maternal, child, and cancer epidemiology

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    Maymouna M. Ka

    UNIVERSITÉ DE MONTRÉAL

    Epidemiologist, Santé Québec – Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal

    Focus: occupational and environmental exposures and cancer risk

  • A woman wearing a gray headscarf and large eyeglasses, sitting indoors on a pink cushioned chair with a neutral expression.

    Zeinab Traore

    UNIVERSITÉ DE MONTRÉAL

    MSc Student, Class of 2027

    Focus: mental health, access to care and inequities, chronic disease, and women's health

  • A smiling man with a beard wearing a navy blazer and white shirt, standing in front of a backdrop with logos for the Society for Medical Decision Making (SMDM) and the slogan "Better Health through Better Decisions."

    Khater Muhajir

    WESTERN UNIVERSITY

    PhD Candidate, Epidemiology and Biostatistics

    Focus: infectious disease epidemiology, health economics, public health measures, refugee and global health

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    Tomi

    UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN

    Epidemiologist

    Focus: health equity, social determinants of health, aging, and dementia

  • A smiling man with glasses, dark dreadlocks, and a goatee, wearing a white shirt with small black dots, standing indoors.

    Samuel

    DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY

    PhD Candidate, Epidemiology and Applied Health Research

    Focus: back pain, physical activity, evidence synthesis, and causal inference

  • Close-up of smiling woman with braided hair styled in a high bun, wearing hoop earrings, a necklace with a heart pendant, and a white top, against a plain background.

    Silvia Odhiambo

    UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA

    MSc Student, School of Public Health · Graduate Research Assistant

    Focus: food insecurity, mental health, immigrant and refugee health

  • A smiling man with dark skin and short curly hair, wearing a white dress shirt and black pants, standing with arms crossed in a modern indoor setting with large windows and green plants.

    Prosper Juge Edah

    UNIVERSITÉ LAVAL

    MSc Student, Epidemiology · Research Assistant, Canada Research Chair in Shared Decision Making and Knowledge Translation

    Focus: public health, shared decision-making, and knowledge mobilization

  • Close-up of a woman with dark hair, wearing a beige trench coat and a cream turtleneck sweater, indoors with warm lighting.

    Edith Otalike

    WESTERN UNIVERSITY

    Focus: evidence synthesis, meta-analyses, and guideline development

  • Close-up of a smiling woman with dark braided hair wearing a white sweater and earrings, standing in front of a dark background.

    Kelachi Grace Nsitem

    DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY

    MSc · Currently a medical student

    Focus: environmental epidemiology, planetary health, and global health

  • Portrait of a young man with dark hair and a beard, smiling slightly, surrounded by green leaves and trees.

    Emmanuel Akanbi

    WESTERN UNIVERSITY

    Journalist

    Focus: migrant health, psychotic disorders, and neurodevelopmental conditions

  • A woman with glasses and curly hair smiling and sitting in a gray chair against a plain background.

    Ezinne Ndukwe

    UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

    Research Trainee, Dalla Lana School of Public Health

    Focus: data science, infectious disease epidemiology, and health economics

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    Isiko Isaac

    UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

    Graduate Research Assistant

    Focus: health data science, digital health, and infectious disease modelling

  • A smiling woman with glasses and long dark hair, wearing a white shirt, standing indoors near large windows and green plants.

    Theresa Elugbaju

    UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA

    Focus: antibiotic stewardship, evidence synthesis, and implementation research

Supporting Faculty Members

  • Woman smiling with glasses, wearing a plaid blazer and black shirt, with arms crossed, against a gray background.

    Dr. Zahra Clayborne

    UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY

    Dr. Zahra Clayborne is a psychiatric epidemiologist and Assistant Professor of Community Health Sciences and Pediatrics at the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine.

    Lab Site

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    Dr. Aviane Auguste

    MCGILL UNIVERSITY

    Dr Aviane Auguste is an Assistant Professor from Saint Lucia at the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational health at McGill University

  • A woman with glasses and braids smiling outdoors with greenery and water in the background.

    Dr. Mabel Carabali

    MCGILL UNIVERSITY

    Dr. Mabel Carabali is a distinguished epidemiologist, medical professional and Assistant Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health at McGill University's School of Population and Global Health

    Lab Site