About me

My name is Dr. Monica Ghabrial (she/her).
I am a research psychologist, currently working as a CIHR-funded Research Scientist at Western University with Dr. Greta Bauer on two national studies of trans and non-binary health: Trans Youth CAN! and Trans PULSE Canada.

I obtained my M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology from University of Toronto. My dissertation research involved very mixed methods (content analysis, qualitative analysis, psychometrics, psychophysiology) and focused on stress, resilience, and cardiovascular activity/reactivity among queer and trans (QT) Black people, Indigenous people, and people of Colour (BIPOC).
In this work, I developed and validated the first measure of positive identity among Queer BIPOC, the Queer People of Color Identity Affirmation Scale. I also led the first study of autonomic resilience in this population, by conducting a laboratory stress task and comparing metrics of cardiovascular activity (e.g., heart rate) to performance on psychosocial measures (e.g., the scale I had previously developed).
This dissertation was selected to represent University of Toronto in the Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts division of the 2021 CAGS-ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award competition.

In addition to continuing strengths-based research with QTBIPOC, I am interested in examining experiences of LGBTQ+ newcomer and refugee people - in particular, the barriers that LGBTQ+ people face in immigration/refugee services. 

I also enjoy and have experience with advocacy, education, and knowledge translation. With funding from CIHR, I run an education website on LGBTQ+ health, www.queercarekit.com. If you are seeking consultation in developing educational materials or are in need of a speaker for an event related to stigma and health, equity in academia, or issues concerning LGBTQ and/or BIPOC populations, please feel welcome to contact me. 

In my free time, I enjoy art history, reading memoirs, lifting weights, and, if I'm fortunate enough, travelling (as pictured throughout this website!).