
Our Team
EQUIP@Action is composed of a diverse group of faculty members, researchers, healthcare professionals, and students who share a commitment to advancing health equity. Our team includes experts in nursing, public health, social sciences, and policy advocacy.
Dr. Ide Costa
- Ph.D. in Nursing, Queen’s University, Canada, (2018)
- MN, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil (2003)
- Nurse Specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence – NSWOC (2020)
- BScN, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Brazil (1997)

Dr. Cathy Phillips
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Dr. Michelle Spadoni
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Dr. Cathy Schoales
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Dr. Pilar Camargo-Plazas
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International Researchers
Soraia Assad Nasbine Rabeh - RN, PhD
Professor, School of Nursing, University of Sao Paulo, Campus Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.

Livia Moreira – RN, PhD
Professor, Department of Nursing, Health Sciences Institute, Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira (UNILAB), Redenção (CE), Brazil.

Thiago Moura de Araújo – RN, PhD
Professor, Department of Nursing, Health Sciences Institute, Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira (UNILAB), Redenção (CE), Brazil.

Manuela Coelho - PhD, RN
Professor, School of Nursing, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza (CE), Brazil.

Research Assistants
Samantha Santorelli - RN, MSc, PhD(c)
Lab Coordinator

Samantha Santorelli is the Research Hub Coordinator for the team, and also teaches as contract lecturer at Lakehead University’s School of Nursing. Here she supports a range of faculty-led projects. Her research interests include the impact of isolation and quarantine on pregnant and postpartum women, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Samantha has represented the lab’s work at national and international conferences, including Wounds Canada, Diabetes Canada, and the European Wound Management Association. Outside of work Samantha enjoys being with her family and dogs. She also enjoys long distance outdoor running during our short summers here in Thunder Bay.
Robert Strachan - HBASc, HBSc, BScN(c) Research Assistant

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Maria Girlane - RN, MSc, PhD(c)
Research Assistant

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Hunter Polonoski - BScN(c)
Research Assistant

I am Hunter Polonoski, going into my final year of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program at Lakehead University. I have a strong interest in healthcare research, particularly on nursing retention and health trends in Northern Ontario. I chose to pursue research as a way to contribute meaningfully to evidence-based practices to enhance overall healthcare delivery and access, especially for northern, rural and remote areas. Beyond my academic and research endeavors, I am actively involved in the skiing community and can be found every weekend patrolling at the various hills with the Canadian Ski Patrol or assisting with community events.
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