Kushvir Saini

Kushvir Saini is a second-year MD candidate at the University of Toronto, St. George. This project, South Asian Healthy Living Project, is a partnership between Peel Public Health and Healthy Living MD. Its goal is to reduce the risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases by supporting healthier behaviours in Peel’s large South Asian community. The program works through trusted faith-based settings, where Peel Public Health collaborates with community leaders to promote a supportive environment by encouraging healthy eating, physical activity, and supportive policy changes. Healthy Living MD complements this by hosting community health events that provide education, blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, and culturally tailored resources. The study uses the RE-AIM framework and a mixed-methods design—including multilingual surveys, interviews, and focus groups—to evaluate the program. By combining community engagement with evaluation, this initiative demonstrates how faith-based partnerships can promote health, build equity, and serve as a model for other communities. 

Supervisor: Fatima Campos and Dr. Baiju Shah