Academic CV

EDUCATION

2015-2016 Fellowship in Clinical and Organizational Bioethics, Centre for Clinical Ethics (St. Joseph’s Health Centre) one-year full-time paid fellowship. Includes training in Health Care Ethics Consultation (HCEC, with patients, families and health care teams), research, Research Ethics Board (REB) and Ethics Committee participation, institutional policy development and teaching.

2011-2016 PhD candidate (ABD) UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
PhD candidate in Religion (specializing in South Asian Religions) with a double collaboration in Bioethics and South Asian Studies. Department for the Study of Religion; Joint Centre for Bioethics; Centre for South Asian Studies.
Committee: Prof. Frances Garrett, Prof. Arti Dhand, Prof. Pamela Klassen

2009-2011 M.A. UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
M.A. Religion (Buddhist Studies) with collaboration in Bioethics
Department for the Study of Religion; Joint Centre for Bioethics.
Committee: Prof. Frances Garrett (Supervisor, Religion), Prof. Joseph Chandrakanthan (Bioethics Faculty)

2010 Visiting Graduate Researcher
INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL FOR JAIN STUDIES
Fully funded 6-week certificate program in India with in-class, field and textual research components.

1991-1993/
2005-2008 B.A. UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
B.A. East Asian Studies (included one year of Astronomy and Astrophysics).

2004-2005 INSTITUTE OF BUDDHIST DIALECTICS, Dharamsala, India
Intensive study and debate of Buddhist scriptures exclusively in Tibetan language.

2002, 2003 LIBRARY OF TIBETAN WORKS AND ARCHIVES, Dharamsala, India. Study of Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy.

ADDITIONAL TRAINING

2015 Certification: Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for
Research Involving Humans Course on Research Ethics (TCPS 2: CORE)

2011 Teaching Assistant training course, University of Toronto

2011-2012 Writing Instruction for Teaching Assistants (WIT) University of Toronto
Program focusing on the integration of writing instruction into disciplinary teaching. Included specialized training on writing instruction to implement in tutorial sessions and student consultation, as well as moderated grading sessions.

ACADEMIC POSITIONS
2015-2016 Clinical Bioethics Fellow, Centre for Clinical Ethics (St. Joseph’s Health Centre) one-year full-time paid fellowship ($45K) in Clinical and Organizational Bioethics. Includes Health Care Ethics Consultation (HCEC, with patients, families and health care teams), teaching, research, research ethics board (REB) participation and policy development.

2013-2015,
2016-2017 Graduate Associate, The Centre for Ethics (University of Toronto)

2011-2112 Doctoral Fellow, ($5K) Lupina Centre for Spirituality, Healthcare and Ethics (Regis College, University of Toronto)

TEACHING

Course Instructor
2015 RLG235H “Religion, Gender and Sexuality” summer half-course. Department for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto.

Guest Lecturer
Forthcoming
2016 “Death, Dying and Bereavement.” Psychology Graduate Course.
Psychology Department, York University.

Past
2014 “Buddhism.” World Religions, Tyndale University College and Seminary
Dr. James A. Beverley, Professor of Christian Thought and Ethics.

2014 “Jainism.” Introduction to South Asian Religions, Department of Historical Studies, University of Toronto (Mississauga). Dr. Ayesha A. Irani.

2013 “Buddhist Religious Perspectives.” Evil and Suffering, Tyndale University College and Seminary. Dr. James A. Beverley, Professor of Christian Thought and Ethics.

2013 “Buddhist Religious Perspectives.” Systematic Theology, Tyndale University College and Seminary. Dr. James A. Beverley, Professor of Christian Thought and Ethics.

2012 “Caring for Buddhist Patients and Buddhist Approaches to Caregiving.” MscOT graduate class on spirituality and healthcare, University of Toronto. Deirdre R. Dawson, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, & Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Sciences.

2011 “Buddhist Perspectives of Peace.” Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Graduate course, Health: an Engine for the Journey to Peace. Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish MD, MPH (known as “the Gaza Doctor” and author of bestselling book "I Shall Not Hate").

2011 “Mystical Experience in Buddhism and Jainism.” 200-level course Living Religions: Rituals and Experiences (Critical comparative study of the major Indian religious traditions). Department of Religion, University of Toronto (Scarborough) Dr. Henry Shiu.

Teaching Assistant

2014 Introduction to Buddhism (200 level). Department of Historical Studies, University of Toronto Mississauga. Prof. C. Takagaki,

2014 Introduction to Sikhism (200 level) Department of Historical Studies, University of Toronto Mississauga. Prof. Francisco Luis.

2013 Modern East Asian Art (200 level). Department of Art, University of Toronto. Prof. Jenny Purtle.

2013 Introduction to South Asian Religion (200 level). Department of Historical Studies, University of Toronto. Prof. Sailaja Krishnamurti.

2012 Buddhist Religious Traditions (200 level). Department for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto Mississauga. Prof. Christoph Emmrich.

2011-2012 Religion, Morality and Law (300 level). Prof. Eleanor Pontoriero. Department for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto.

2011-2012 World Religions (100/200 levels). Department for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto. Prof. David Perley.

2011 Living Religions: Rituals and Experiences (Critical comparative study of the major Indian religious traditions). Department of Historical Studies, University of Toronto Scarborough. Prof. Henry Shiu.

2010-11 World Religions (100-level). Department for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto. Prof. Arti Dhand.

Grading Assistant

2012 World Religions I (Eastern Traditions). Department of Historical Studies, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO Scarborough. Prof. Henry Shiu.

Other Teaching

Forthcoming

2016 Guest Speaker. “South Asian Ritual Fasting at the End-of-life and the Doctrine of Double-Effect.” Ethics Grand Rounds.
1) St. Joseph’s Health Centre.
2) St. Michael’s Hospital.
3) Providence Health Centre.

Past

2015 Guest Speaker. “Religion, Gender and Sexuality.”
Presented to student volunteers at The Sexual Education Centre at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

2015 Guest Speaker. “Palliative Care and End-of-life Bioethics.”
Presented to medical and nursing staff at request of Dr. Tseten Dorji, Personal Physician of H.H. the Dalai Lama and Chief Medical Officer of charitable Tibetan-run Delek Hospital, Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh, India).

2015 Guest Facilitator. “Bedside Body Mechanics Workshop.”
Patient lifting, turning and transferring training for medical and nursing staff at charitable Tibetan-run Delek Hospital, Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh, India).

2014 Guest Facilitator. “Methodology of Tibetan Buddhist Logical Debate” workshop. Lama Yeshe Ling Tibetan Buddhist Group (Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, Toronto).

2014 Guest Speaker (via Skype). “Buddhism.” Christian Faith and Other Faiths, Acadia University (Wolfville, Nova Scotia). Dr. James A. Beverley, Professor of Christian Thought and Ethics.

2012 Volunteer Teacher. “The Spread of Buddhism.” Buddhist Education Network. Taught two summer sessions to attendees of Buddhist Youth Leadership Day Camp (ages 14-17).

2011 Faculty. (1) “Pharmacological and Alternative Pain Management.” (2) “Bedside Body Mechanics in Palliative Care.” Institute of Traditional Medicine “Pain Management through Interdisciplinary Techniques, Exploration of Pain & attending to Suffering, Symptom Management” session of ‘Dying, Death & Beyond’ component of annual Contemplative End of Life Care program for Thanadoula (death care assistants) trainees.

2011 Volunteer Teacher. “The Spread of Buddhism.” Buddhist Education Network. Taught two summer sessions to attendees of Buddhist Youth Leadership Day Camp (ages 14-17). Also led a feedback session to review inaugural week of the day camp.

2010 Faculty. (1) “Jain Voluntary Death and Secular End-of-life Care.” (2) “Bedside Body Mechanics in Palliative Care.” Institute of Traditional Medicine.
“Pain Management through Interdisciplinary Techniques, Exploration of Pain & attending to Suffering, Symptom Management” session of ‘Dying, Death & Beyond’ component of annual Contemplative End of Life Care program for Thanadoula (death care assistant/hospice volunteer) trainees.

2008 Guest Speaker. “Living as a Socially Engaged Buddhist Monastic.” Buddhist Thought of India and Tibet (Socially Engaged Buddhism) 300-level class. Department of Religion, University of Toronto. Dr. Andre Maintenay.

2001-2003 Visiting Instructor. “Introduction to Buddhism.” Tushita Meditation Centre (Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition), Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh, India). Occasionally taught sessions to foreign visitors during week-long residential courses.

PUBLICATIONS

Author

2014 “Sallekhana-Santhara: Jain Voluntary Death as a Model for Secular…End-of-life Care.” Social Consciousness in Jainism. Jain, Shugan C. and Prakash C Jain (Eds.). New Delhi: International School for Jain Studies & New Bharatiya Book Corp., 2014: 139-174.

2011 “Jain Voluntary Death and Secular End-of-life Care.” Shramana (Quarterly Jain Studies Journal). Varanasi (India): Shri Parsvanath Vidyapeeth Research Institute, Vol. LXII No.1 (2011): 65-85.

2005 “A Buddhist Monk Interviews Jewish Reggae Artist Matisyahu.” The Jewish Magazine. Dec. 2005. Print.

Contributor

2014 Ontario Multifaith Council. Buddhism Chapter: Multifaith Manual (2014 edition). Distributed to provincial hospitals, jails, and long term care centres to assist in meeting religious requirements of clients.

2014 Gordon, Dave. "How do Buddhists View Medical Marijuana?" The Medical Marijuana Review. Feature Story January 2, 2014. Web. http://goo.gl/BmdSNZ

References

2010 Shiu, Henry C.H. “Buddhism After the Seventies.” Wild Geese: Buddhism in Canada. Ed. John S. Harding et al. McGill-Queen's Press, 2010: 99, 109.

PAPER/RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS

Forthcoming

2016 “Buddhist Fasting and Meditation at the End-of-life.”
Madras University, Chennai (India). International School for Jain Studies, International Symposia on Sallekhana-Santhara.

2016 “Jain Bioethics: Ritual Fasting at the End-of-life and the Doctrine of Double-effect.” International School for Jain Studies (ISJS), International Symposia on Sallekhana-Santhara.
1) ISJS, Delhi (India).
2) Tirthankara Mahavir University (Medical College), Moradabad (India).

Past

2014 “South Asian Death Rituals in Hospital.” Graduate Associates Seminar Series, The Centre for Ethics (University of Toronto)

2013 “Fair Distribution in Jain Monastic Food Acquisition.” Graduate Student Conference on South Asian Religions: The Methods of Memory. Department for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto

2012 “Voluntary Death in South Asian Religions.” Community of Scholars Seminar Series. Lupina Centre for Spirituality, Healthcare and Ethics. Regis College, University of Toronto.

2011 “Voluntary Death in the Hindu Epics.” Graduate Student Conference on South Asian Religions: Crossing Boundaries: Texts, Traditions, Temporalities. Department for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto.

2011 “Voluntary Death in Three Indian Religious Traditions.” Buddhist Graduate Studies Research Workshop. Department for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto.

2010 “Jain Voluntary Death and Biomedical End-of-life Care.” Social Consciousness and Jainism Conference. University of Ottawa.

2010 “Sallekhana and End-of-life Care: Jain Voluntary and Controlled Death in Equanimity through Fasting and Reduction of Activity as a Model for Secular Health Care.” International Summer School for Jain Studies research conference; New Delhi, India.

CONFERENCE/HEALTHCARE PRESENTATIONS

Forthcoming

2015 Guest Speaker. “South Asian Ways of Dying.” MNICU Ethics Rounds - Toronto Western Hospital

2015 Panel chair. "Buddhist Objects.” 3rd Biennial Conference on South Asian Religions (Department for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto).

Past

2014 Panel chair. "Living and Dying Well - on Embodiment, Eudaimonia, Personhood and Perversity." New Frontiers in Ethics Graduate Conference (Centre for Ethics, University of Toronto).

2013 Moderator. “Urban Monasticism.” The Rabanus Project: The Christianity and Culture Student Association (University of Toronto) - Urban Monasticism Interfaith Symposium. Provided introductory and concluding remarks, acted as a panelist and introduced speakers for the event.

2012 Main speaker. “Tibetan Community in Diaspora and the Practice of Relic Veneration.” Heart Shrine Relic Tour Opening Ceremony - Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre. Delivered in both English and Tibetan.

2012 Guest Speaker and Panelist. “Buddhist Perspectives of Social Justice.” Perspectives on Social Justice Interfaith Dialogue. Interfaith gathering organized by the Toronto Intercultural Dialogue Institute (IDI), Faith Communities in Action Against Poverty (ISARC) & The Church of the Holy Trinity.

2011 Guest Speaker. “Buddhist and Jain Ways of Dying.” Ethics Grand Rounds - St. Michael’s Hospital. Invited by Clinical Bioethicist Steve Abdool RN, MA, PhD of the Centre for Clinical Ethics.

2010 Presenter. “Creating a Buddhist/Jain Space for Death, Dying and Bereavement.” How is this place Buddhist? Buddhist Approaches to Constructed Landscapes Symposium, University of Toronto (Scarborough). Invited by Dr. William Tuladhar-Douglas of the University of Abderdeen (Lecturer in Anthropology of Environment and Religions and Director, Scottish Centre for Himalayan Research and 2010 TLKY Distinguished Visiting Professor in Buddhist Studies at University of Toronto).

2010 Guest Speaker. “Caring for Buddhist Patients.” Etobicoke General Hospital. Presentation to healthcare providers.

2010 Guest Speaker. “Caring for Buddhist Patients.” Brampton Civic Hospital. Presentation to healthcare providers.

2010 Guest Speaker. “Caring for Buddhist Patients.” Scarborough General Hospital. Presentation to healthcare providers.

2009 Guest Speaker. “Mental Health and Illness in Buddhism.” COTA Health (Community Occupational Therapy Associates). Presentation to multidisciplinary outreach organization for homeless mental health clients.

2009 Presenter. “Mental Health and Illness in Buddhism.” Cultural Diversity and Mental Illness Conference.

2007 Guest Speaker. “Caring for the Dying Buddhist and their Families.” Sunnybrook Hospital – Spiritual Care Rounds.

2007 Guest Speaker. “Buddhist Perspectives on Infant Death and Bereavement.” Women's College Hospital. Presentation to Perinatal and Gynaecology Bereavement Committee.

2006 Presenter. “A Buddhist Perspective on Death and Caring for Dying Buddhists.” Caring for the Dying in a Multicultural Society Conference

2005 Guest Speaker and Panelist. “Caring for Buddhist Patients and a Buddhist Approach to Caregiving.” Sunnybrook Hospital – Spiritual Care Rounds. Multi-faith Considerations for Health Care Providers.

APPEARANCES

2015 “Ready to Die.” Interviewed on South Asian religious perspectives for upcoming feature-length documentary by Tania Pisa on death & dying.

2014 “Religion and Bioethics.” Guest host for online interfaith panel @bioethxchat

2014 “Canadian Buddhist Converts and Religious Centres.” Interview on Drew Marshall Radio Talk Show (“the most listened-to spiritual radio show in Canada”).

2007 “Death and Funeral Rites in Buddhism.” Interview on OMNI multi-faith television show 3D Dialogue.

2006 “Spirituality and health care.” Interview on OMNI multi-faith television show 3D Dialogue.

2006 “Death.” Interview on OMNI television show Path to Enlightenment.

OTHER POSITIONS

2014-present Licensed Officiant (Registration #65255),
Chaplain of Pastoral Care (non-denominational).
Clergy Support Memorial Church, All Season’s Weddings.
Licenced in Ontario to officiate weddings, funerals and naming ceremonies.

2014 Expert Witness. Cham Shan Temple v. Director, Ministry of the Environment: Case Nos. 13-140/13-141/13-142. Duties included: Witness Statement and Appeal letters on Buddhism and the importance of environmental context in meditation and pilgrimage practices for Environmental Review Tribunal in the matter of the Sumac Ridge Wind Project which proposes the building of Industrial Wind Turbines in close proximity to a major Buddhist retreat centre development project.

ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT

2014 Chief Presiding Officer for Faculty of Arts and Science summer final examinations. Office of the Faculty Registrar, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO.
Duties included: Administering Faculty final examinations (e.g. opening and organizing examination rooms; making announcements; pick-up/distribution/drop-off of examination materials; collecting student signatures; dealing with emergency situations; maintaining the confidentiality of examination materials; meeting and tribunal attendance)

2013 Chief Presiding Officer for Faculty of Arts and Science winter final examinations. Office of the Faculty Registrar, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO.

2012 Scribe for Care of Souls and the Soul of Care Religious Diversity and Healthcare community research workshop, Religion in the Public Sphere initiative (under Prof. Pamela Klassen), Department for the Study of Religion, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO. Duties included: Note-taker and composition of a two-page report on the workshop.

2010 Research Assistant for Prof. William Tuladhar-Douglas, (2010 TLKY Distinguished Visiting Professor in Buddhist Studies) Department for the Study of Religion, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO.
Duties included: Assisting with research and events related to agriculture, landscaping and sacred architecture of immigrant Buddhists in the Greater Toronto Area.

ACADEMIC GRANTS & AWARDS

2015-2016 Clinical and Organizational Bioethics Fellowship ($45K)
Centre for Clinical Ethics, St. Joseph’s Health Centre.

2014-2015 Research Travel Grant ($2875)
School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto.

2011-2112 Doctoral Fellowship ($5000)
Lupina Centre for Spirituality, Healthcare and Ethics.

2010 Advance Planning for Students (UTAPS) Grant ($4100)
University of Toronto.

2010 Graduate Admission Award ($500)
Department for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto.

2009 John MacRory Fellowship ($2500)
University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies.

2009 University of Toronto Grant ($2700)

2009 Graduate Admission Award ($3500)
Department for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Religion and Health; South Asian Religions; Bioethics; Medical Anthropology; Ethnography; End-of-life; Healthcare decision-making; Aboriginal Studies; Feminism; gender; marginalization; migration and diaspora.

2011 Masters thesis: “A Bioethical Analysis of a Buddhist Death in a Toronto Catholic Hospital.”

2014-2015 Current Dissertation research: “An ethnographic investigation of the influence of religion on end-of-life decision-making among Hindu, Jain and Tibetan Buddhist adherents in contemporary India and Canada.”

LANGUAGES

Tibetan 4 years of intensive study (colloquial and classical) in India and 3 years (classical) at U of T (A+ throughout, PhD Tibetan language exam completed April 2013)
French proficiency in reading and writing
(PhD French language exam completed Sept. 2013)
Hindi 2 semesters at U of T, language study in India 2014-2015
Sanskrit 1 semester at U of T
Chinese 3 semesters at U of T, 1 semester at Ryerson
Hebrew proficiency in reading and writing

ANTHROPOLOGICAL FIELD-WORK

2014-2015 6 months of Medical Anthropological dissertation data collection in India
(Delhi, Jaipur, Cochin, Dharamsala).

2013 Several months of Medical Anthrolological research project development in collaboration with the Kitasoo-Xai’Xais First Nations community of Klemtu, B.C.

HEALTHCARE EDUCATION

1997-98 Palliative Care Multidisciplinary Certification. Sheridan College.

1995 Health Care Aide Certification. George Brown City College.
Included 200 hours in-class theory and 200 hours clinical field training at Queen Street Mental Health Centre in psycho-geriatric ward.

HEALTHCARE WORK EXPERIENCE

CLINICAL ASSISTANT – St. Michael’s Hospital
2014/
2007-2012 Trauma-Nuerosurgery Intensive Care Unit.
2008-2009 Emergency Department
2005-2007 General Internal Medicine
1997- 2001 Haematology/Oncology/HIV/AIDS (also, Palliative care)

HOSPITAL ASSISTANT – Wellesley Central Hospital
1996-1998 General Internal Medicine (HIV/AIDS Progressive Care Unit)
1995-1996/
1997/1998 Emergency Department

HEALTH CARE AIDE
1997/1998 Casey House HIV/AIDS Hospice (Drake Medox)

CHARITABLE WORK/VOLUNTEERING

Forthcoming
2015 Founder/organizer for 6th annual “Rocking the Foundation” Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada benefit concert (almost $9Gs raised to date)

Past
2015/2014/2013/
2012/2011 Organizer of 5 annual PINKTOBER breast cancer benefit concerts
(total raised to date: $6250)

2015 - Founder/organizer for inaugural Because I am a Girl benefit concert
with partial proceeds in support of Plan Canada’s Because I am a Girl
initiative supporting education, health and empowerment of girls in the
developing world (total raised: $1200)

- Occasional volunteer language tutor for Tibetans at Lha Charitable
Trust Institute for Social Work and Education, Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh, India).

2015/2012 Musical volunteer for Barn Burner outdoor benefit concert in support of the Breast Cancer Foundation of Canada.

2014 Musical volunteer for Tennyson Quance Foundation for Autism & Autism Ontario (AdbandsX)

2014/2013/2012/2008/
2007 Founder/organizer for five annual “Rocking the Foundation” Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada benefit concerts (almost $9Gs raised to date)

2013 - Occasional volunteer cook for team at Kitasoo Xai’Xais Health
Centre, Klemtu B.C.

- Volunteer sound/lighting/stage manager and musical volunteer for
visit of multiple award-winning Aboriginal motivational hip-hop artist
K.A.S.P. in Klemtu B.C.

2012 - Musical volunteer for St. Joseph’s Health Centre Oncology Clinic
benefit

- Part of Department for the Study of Religion (U of T) “Movember”
fundraising team for men’s health research

2012 Buddhist representative at Faith Communities in Action Against Poverty (ISARC) prayer vigil at the Ontario Parliament Building in support of budget equity

2011 Musical volunteer for Red Cross benefit concert for Japan

2010 - Volunteer for the Toronto visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

- Buddhist representative at two Multi-faith and Diversity Days:
Building Community Partnerships at William Osler Health Center’s
Etobicoke General Hospital and Brampton Civic Hospital.

2010/2009 Volunteer entertainer & speaker for Harmony Hall Senior’s Day Centre.

2009 - Founder/organizer for inaugural “Sounds4SalvAide” benefit concert
(over $2Gs raised to support medical mission to El Salvador in
purchasing physician packs that helped 900 people).

- Musical volunteer for Tennyson Quance Foundation for Autism
Therapy and POV (Adbands5) and North Halton Community Living.

- Event Organizer/fundraiser in Toronto for touring monks from
Ganden Jangtse Tibetan Buddhist Monastery, South India.

2007 Musical volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, Sick Children’s Hospital, African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF).

2004/2001 Volunteer, twice assisting Tibet House Denmark-sponsored Dutch Veterinary mission to sterilize dogs in South & North India (Mundgod & Dharamsala).

1998-2001 Fundraiser, helped raise over $13Gs for refugee Tibetan Buddhist nunnery in Kathmandu, Nepal.

SPECIAL INTERESTS


Award-winning/Canadian radio top-50 charting professional musician; percussion; concert promotion; charitable fundraising; EDM DJing; travel; camping; cycling; swimming; tennis; water and snow sports; photography; Asian cooking; digital graphic design; meditation.