Olivia Caruso MPH
Health Geographer & Public Health Scientist
Hi there! My name is Olivia Caruso (she/her), and I am a PhD Candidate in the Department of Geography and Environment at Western University. I also hold a Master of Public Health in the Social and Behavioural Health Sciences from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health (University of Toronto) and an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Health Studies and Human Geography with a focus in Urban Geography from the University of Toronto.
My research focuses on issues in health geography, food access and food retail environments, gentrification and neighbourhood change, public health applications of geographic information systems, and the social determinants of health and health equity. Specifically, my PhD research examines neighbourhood-level determinants of food purchasing behaviours among adolescents in Ontario, Canada.
I am also the Vice President: External Communications of the University of Toronto's Public Health Alumni Association and an advisor to the Human Environments Analysis Laboratory's Youth Advisory Council.
Summary of Accomplishments
Scholarships
Awarded over $130,000 in research scholarships, including the Canada Graduate Scholarship (Doctoral)
Publications
Published 4 articles in peer-reviewed journals, including 3 first-author publications
Presentations
Presented at 2 academic conferences and delivered 2 guest lectures and 2 invited or public talks
Teaching Experience
Served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for 6 undergraduate courses
Community Service
Co-facilitated a youth advisory council for 2 years and held positons on student governments and alumni associations for 5+ years
