RHSRNbc Team

Stefan Grzybowski, MD

RHSRNbc Director

Dr. Stefan Grzybowski is a rural health systems researcher and the principal investigator of the CCEDARR Canada study, funded by the Foundation for Advancing Family Medicine. Prior to moving to research at UBC, he practiced as a family physician for twelve years on the Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii. Dr. Grzybowski’s current research focus is on advancing rural community resilience to climate change and ecosystem disruption, and the development of rural BC health services catchment maps.

Dr. Grzybowski is a Senior Scholar with the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, Professor in the Department of Family Practice at UBC, co-director of the Centre for Rural Health Research, and director of the Rural Health Services Research Network of BC.

Esther Kim

Network Coordinator

Esther Kim is the network coordinator for the Rural Health Services Research Network of BC. She recently completed the Master of Public Health program at the University of Toronto, with specializations in Indigenous Health and Environment & Health. Her research interests include the continued implementation of culturally safe primary care services, the intersections of food security and community well-being, and the impacts of climate change on individual and community health. She also has a BA&Sc in Cognitive Science from McGill University. Esther was born and raised in British Columbia, and in her spare time she enjoys reading, going on hikes, and playing the piano.

Alexandra Bland

Rural Community Resiliency to Climate Change Research Coordinator

Alexandra Bland is the Research Coordinator for the Co-RIG project examining rural resiliency during the COVID-19 pandemic. She holds a BA in International Relations from the University of British Columbia and an MSc in Health and International Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her past research has primarily focused on global health and health disparities in low and middle-income countries. The topic of her MSc dissertation was evaluating effective pneumonia prevention strategies to reduce under-five pneumonia mortality in high burden countries. She is passionate about health equity, health systems strengthening and the social determinants of health. Outside of work Alex loves to bake and go hiking with her dog Alfie.

Ava Kleban

Volunteer Research Assistant

Ava Kleban is a volunteer research assistant for the Rural Health Services Research Network of BC. She is currently an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Sustainability at McGill University, with a focus in biology and conservation. Ava is interested in the impacts of climate change on community well-being, the role of education in climate action, and protecting biodiversity. Ava was born and raised in Squamish, B.C., and has a deep appreciation for the environment and rural communities. Outside of school, she enjoys getting outdoors to hike, run, and explore the landscapes that first sparked her passion for sustainability.