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WORLD HEALTH
ASSEMBLY SIMULATION
Meet The Team
GH WHA SIM is led by Dr. Ahmad Firas Khalid, Assistant Professor (Teaching) at the School of Global Health at York University. Dr. Khalid is supported by Dr. A.M. Viens, Director of the School of Global Health at York University.

Dr. Ahmad Firas Khalid
Ahmad Firas Khalid is a medical doctor, a health policy and system researcher and lecturer, and a knowledge translation professional. Firas completed his medical degree at St. George’s University School of Medicine and his PhD in health policy at McMaster University. Firas worked as a senior research manager at Evidence Aid, working on creating a World Health Organization (WHO) Knowledge Hub on emergency disasters research management and with the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) on the creation of a Resilient Health Systems collection to advise member states. He is also a CIHR Health System Impact Fellow and a Mitacs Elevate Training Fellow working on "Implementation of efforts to support real-time evidence use in humanitarian practice at the Canadian Red Cross." Firas is a board member for Doctors Without Borders, where his responsibility is to set the strategic direction for the entire Canadian branch of the organization. In the past, Firas worked as a senior research and learning consultant at the Canadian Red Cross, working on epidemic prevention and control of COVID-19 research. Firas also previously worked as a health policy researcher at the Research Unit on Humanitarian Stakes and Practices (UREPH) at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Geneva, Switzerland, and in the department of Child and Maternal Health at the World Health Organization, also in Geneva, Switzerland. Firas is the founder and executive director of Knowledge Translation Hub – a knowledge synthesis hub designed to meet the demands of decision-makers and organizations.
Assistant Professor
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Dr. A.M. Viens
Dr. A.M. Viens is the Inaugural Director of the School of Global Health and an Associate Professor of Global Health at York University. He has degrees in philosophy and law from the Universities of Toronto, Oxford, and London. His research specialization focuses on global health ethics and global health law, with a particular interest in demonstrating how philosophical analysis, legal epidemiology, and regulatory theory should shape how we approach different issues within global health policy, practice, and research (especially infectious diseases, disasters and emergencies, and health promotion). His latest book is Public Health Law: Ethics, Governance, and Regulation, co-authored with John Coggon and Keith Syrett (Routledge, 2017). He is an Investigator in the Global Strategy Lab and a member of the WHO Collaboration Centre on the Global Governance of Antimicrobial Resistance. He is also an Honorary Member of the UK Faculty of Public Health, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health, and Editor-in-Chief of Health Care Analysis.
Director of the School of Global Health
Our research team for fall 2023 includes:
Megan George
Megan George, a York University alumna with an honours degree in Biomedical Science, collaborates with leading scholars, Dr.Ahmad Firas Khalid and Dr. A.M. Viens, on pioneering Canada's inaugural Global Health World Health Assembly Simulation, aimed at empowering students to tackle complex global health challenges through practical learning experiences. Committed to global health equity, Megan actively engages in cutting-edge research at York University's Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, focusing on hands-on learning and prestigious projects like World Health Assembly Conference simulations. She's now pursuing a Master's in Medical Science at the University of Toronto, with a keen interest in oncology research to drive
groundbreaking healthcare innovations to improve patient outcomes.
Research Coordinator
Aaranee Sritharan
Aaranee is an undergraduate global health student specializing in health promotion and disease prevention. With a focus on human rights and humanitarian affairs, her goal to work with communities across the world who have been affected by armed conflict. She loves to talk and meet new people so come say hello!
Research Assistant




Clarissa Eggen
Sharon Justice- Derefaka
Clarissa Eggen is entering her last year of her undergraduate double degree in Honours Health Studies and Global Health at York University. She is currently working at the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research as a research assistant on the Experiential Learning Simulation team where she actively analyzes data, generates reports, and continues with the planning of the 2024 World Health Assembly Simulation. Clarissa plans to attend graduate school next year to receive her Masters of Health Administration, where she hopes to further her knowledge in health equity and policy.
Research Assistant
Research Assistant
Sharon Justice-D, is currently in her final year of the psychology honours program at York University. Sharon currently works as a research assistant at the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research. Her interests in health lie in serving initiatives that advocate for mental health and/or create opportunities for underrepresented demographics to access quality healthcare. She aspires to be a physician so she can continue to serve and impact the lives of people as a healthcare professional. Outside of school and work, she appreciates the feeling of swimming, indulging in arts and crafts and researching skincare.
Team Alumni
This section recognizes all past team members:
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Faiza Wali - May 2023 - August 2023 Research Assistant
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Sameen Ali - January 2023 - May 2023 Research Assistant