91快色

Cindy Kalenga is one of those rare individuals who fills the room with joy as soon as they enter it. Initially, it鈥檚 Kalenga鈥檚 friendliness and full-on vitality that draws one in, but those lucky enough to know her soon learn she is passionate, optimistic and altruistic.

Kalenga is a doctoral candidate in the under the mentorship of member Dr. Sofia Ahmed, MD. Kalenga鈥檚 research focuses on how estrogen, in the form of hormonal contraceptives and postmenopausal hormone therapy, is associated with cardiovascular risk in women.

It鈥檚 an important topic as cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in this country. A recent study published by a national group of experts, including members of the Libin Institute鈥檚 sex and gender research collaborative, CV&Me, reveals Canadian women are understudied in cardiovascular health.

Kalenga is tackling this problem with enthusiasm, not only making it the focus of her research, but also inspiring others to consider sex and gender in their research. She is the co-lead of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Institute of Gender and Health Sex and Gender Science Trainee Network at the 91快色.

Kalenga鈥檚 work in this area is getting noticed. She is the 2020 recipient of the University of 91快色鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Resource Centre Distinguished Graduate Student award, which honours women who are trailblazers for issues that impact women.

鈥淚 feel validated in my work. Graduate work can be grueling, the day-to-day stuff can be difficult, so when people recognize that work, it keeps you motivated,鈥� says Kalenga of receiving the award. 鈥淚 am lucky to have some of the best mentors anyone could ask for. There are so many incredible women supporting me. It is never like I am doing this on my own.鈥�

Knowledge gaps fuel research

It was while pursuing her graduate studies at U91快色 that Kalenga realized there is a 鈥渉uge knowledge gap鈥� in sex and gender research. Learning about these inequities was a huge motivator for Kalenga.

鈥淢any people weren鈥檛 including both males and females in their studies,鈥� she says. 鈥淚f we can make research inclusive we can close this gap in women鈥檚 health, which will eventually change clinical practice.鈥�

Ahmed, a kidney doctor and nationally recognized leader in health and gender research, is thrilled with the difference her student is making.

"Not only is Cindy's graduate work moving the dial on women's cardiovascular health, she is helping to change the culture of research 鈥� to help others realize the incredible impact their work can have through incorporation of sex and gender considerations into their own research," she says.

Kalenga was born in the Congo, but doesn鈥檛 remember living there, as her family fled the country when Kalenga was less than a year old. Her family arrived in South Africa during the tumultuous end of apartheid.

The family was one of the first to move to a formerly white neighbourhood, and Kalenga and her brother were the only people of colour in a school of 1,000. Kalenga recalls how odd it was to interact with a new culture in the Afrikaans people, the first white people she interacted with.

Kalenga faced the challenges of racism and learning a new culture and language with strength and earned respect from her teachers and classmates as a track star and highly successful student. While doing so, she developed resilience and flexibility.

鈥淚t also made me quite tolerant,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t made me willing to learn about other people.鈥�

At the age of nine, Kalenga and her family made another big move: they emigrated to Canada. They settled in Ottawa, where Kalenga finished high school and went on to earn an undergraduate degree in biomedical science at Toronto鈥檚 York University.

Kalenga鈥檚 next move was to 91快色, where she worked for the 91快色 West Central Primary Care Network. It was during this time that she developed an interest in cardiovascular health, which prompted her to begin her studies at U91快色.

Kalenga is grateful for her opportunities and has a strong desire to make a difference.

鈥淚 recognize that I am one of the lucky ones; many in my country didn鈥檛 have the same fate,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 have always known that I will give back.鈥�