Lavanya Virmani

Lavanya grew up in India and moved to Montreal to pursue an undergraduate degree at McGill University, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Behavioural Science and Sociology. Her passion for reducing health inequalities grew after working in India and Malawi on health and education initiatives. She hopes to pursue a Master’s in Public Health to achieve this aim.

Partner: Partners In Health

Policy brief: Urban Heat in Montreal (co-authored with Claire Suh) + Infographic – Urban Heat in Montreal

Final Report: Understanding the Role of Social Support Systems in Health

This paper, co-authored with community health leaders from Partners in Health, aims to highlight the importance of social supports or more commonly known as material resources in enhancing wellbeing in resource poor settings. It does so by showcasing the work of one global health organization- Partners In Health in tackling social determinants of health through its Program on Social and Economic Rights (POSER). The report draws from the wisdom and experiences shared by community health leaders of Partners In Health in different communities across the globe and includes case studies to understand the impact of such resources on health. Overall, it can be concluded that these supports have had a crucial role in improving clinical outcomes, creating social connectedness and minimizing social isolation.

Keywords: POSER, social supports, social connectedness, community health leaders, Partners In Health, material resources

Community Engagement Initiative: Urban Heat Island Workshop