Every day I am grateful to have been born in a country where I feel safe, and this feeling has deepened immeasurably since the recent birth of my first child. One of the great qualities that characterizes us as Canadians is our desire to open our doors and share this safety – among many other resources – with others, and I want my daughter to grow up in a household and a community in which this motivation to support others remains strong. Through this important initiative, I’m honoured to have the opportunity to put my time and money where my mouth is.
Christine Heidebrecht is an epidemiologist whose research interests include infectious diseases, disease surveillance, health systems and health equity. Prior to her maternity leave she was engaged in operational research studies focused on tuberculosis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.