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1 | CV: Sunny Yimeng Dong Formerly Samantha | Sunny Yimeng Dong (she/her) co-create knowledge products and communities with diverse healthcare stakeholders – including patients, youth, families, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers. She bridges art and science to amplify innovative health research, policies, and practices. Currently, her niche is in mental health and patient engagement. Her lived experiences as a first-generation Chinese immigrant and youth with mental health challenges have shaped her worldview and passions. Beyond mobilizing knowledge, Sunny loves creating communities around music. | Vision: A world where the best mental health evidence isn’t locked away in journals or conferences but is easily accessible to patients, families, service providers, policy experts, and anyone who needs it. Mission: Amplifying mental health research, policies, and practices through multimedia and co-design. Values: Co-design with community, centering lived experiences, commitment to accessibility, and a curiosity to learn. | Contact: sunny@mobilizementalhealth.com Portfolio: mobilizementalhealth.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sunnyyimengdong Location: Richmond Hill, ON, Canada (Land Acknowledgement) | |||||
2 | ORGANIZATION | TITLE | DATE | LOCATION | DESCRIPTION | SKILLS* | LINKS | ||
3 | EDUCATION | The Hospital for Sick Children, Learning Institute; University of Toronto, Continuing Professional Development | Knowledge Translation Professional Certificate™ (KTPC) | 10/2024 – 11/2024 | Toronto, Canada | Professional development training on Knowledge Translation/Mobilization in the Canadian context. | Knowledge Translation, Community Engagement | What is the KTPC? What is Knowledge Translation? | |
4 | McMaster University, Continuing Education | Family Engagement in Research Certificate (FER) | 1/2023 - 4/2023 | Hamilton, ON | Explored strategies to engage families in health research and co-designed a Knowledge Translation tool on patient-oriented research considerations. | Problem-based Learning, Community Engagement, Service Design | What is FER? The co-developed KT Tool: Accessibility Accommodations in Patient-Oriented Research | ||
5 | McMaster University, Faculty of Health Sciences | Honours Bachelors of Health Science (BHSc) | 9/2018 - 5/2022 | Hamilton, ON | Relevant Courses: Biomedical Graphics, Statistics and Epidemiology 1 & 2, Health Systems and Health Policy, Critical Appraisal of the Medical Literature, Psychobiology, Intro to Psychology, Artistic Explorations of Community Issues, Communication Skills, Integration of Child Physical and Mental Health, Sex/Gender and Health | Problem-based Learning, Research, Policy Interpretation | Transcript BHSc Course Descriptions | ||
6 | WORK | CHILD-BRIGHT Network | Multimedia Communications Specialist | 5/2025 – Present | Virtual | Write newsletters, manage social media, design websites and toolkits for pediatric brain-based developmental disability research initiatives. | Graphic Design, Community Engagement | ||
7 | Mobilize Mental Health | Multimedia Designer for Knowledge Mobilization (Freelance) | 6/2024 – Present | Virtual | Provide design and consultation services for mental health communication (e.g., infographics, videos) and service design (e.g., managing an online community of practice, patient engagement in research). | Graphic Design, Video Creation, Service Design, Knowledge Translation | |||
8 | Pediatric Outcome imProvement through COordination of Research Networks (POPCORN) | Youth Advisor (as needed basis) | 12/2023 – Present | Virtual | Shared lived experiences to inform the interpretation of health administrative data on COVID-19 stringency and mental health hospitalizations. Co-drafted a commentary paper to amplify youth perspectives. | Research, Community Engagement | |||
9 | Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), Drug Checking Working Group | Knowledge Broker and SharePoint Architect (Contract: 300hr) | 12/2023 – 3/2025 | Virtual | Co-designed the online infrastructure for the drug checking community of practice with stakeholders. Deliverables included a User Guide, SharePoint and MS Teams engagement platforms, a membership database, evidence briefs, and infographics. | Service Design, Graphic Design, Community Engagement, Policy Interpretation | |||
10 | University of Lethbridge, Patient Oriented Innovative Nutrition Trial (POINT) | Research Assistant and Youth Advisor (Part Time: 8hr/week) | 11/2023 – 6/2025 | Virtual | Conducted a rapid review (not peer-reviewed) of current nutrient-based interventions for ADHD youth to spark discussion with a patient-oriented advisory group and inform the co-design of an innovative clinical trial led by Dr. Brenda Leung. | Research, Community Engagement | Rapid Review: Nutrient and Non-Pharmacological Treatments for ADHD Youth | ||
11 | CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research | Social Media Coordinator and Content Creator (Full Time: 30hr/week) | 5/2022 – 4/2023 | Virtual | Produced over 200 social media posts and 25 newsletters to amplify disability research, events, and opportunities, utilizing accessible design principles (e.g., plain language, alt text, color contrast). | Graphic Design, Video Creation, Community Engagement, Knowledge Translation | CanChild Newsletters (see May 2022 to April 2023) | ||
12 | Research Assistant (Part Time: 10hr/week) | 9/2019 – 4/2022 | Hybrid: Hamilton, ON | Co-designed knowledge translation materials, helped organize CP-NET research conferences, initiated the design of the Transition Hub Instagram and website, designed the Annual Report websites, and photographed conferences and portraits of CanChild members. | Research, Graphic Design, Video Creation, Community Engagement, Photography, Knowledge Translation | CanChild Reports (2019 – 2022) Transition Hub Instagram CP-NET Conference 2022 | |||
13 | Education Program in Anatomy, McMaster University | Head Teaching Assistant (Part Time: 8hr/week) | 9/2021 – 4/2022 | Hybrid: Hamilton, ON | Developed standardized anatomy and physiology teaching materials, trained 30 teaching assistants, and facilitated communication between course instructors and students. | Facilitation, Service Design, Graphic Design, Knowledge Translation | Engagement Tip Sheet for Teaching Assistants A Fun Morale Booster Video for Students | ||
14 | Teaching Assistant (Part Time: 5hr/week) | 9/2020 – 4/2021 | Virtual | Facilitated tutorials and labs using self-designed teaching materials, adapted facilitation methods based on quarterly evaluation surveys, and creatively engaged students virtually during COVID-19 restrictions using tools like Google Jamboard and Kahoot. | Facilitation, Graphic Design, Knowledge Translation | Sample Teaching Notes: - Neurotransmission - CNS Brain and Spine - CNS Eyes and Ears - MSK Upper Body - MSK Lower Body - Cardiology - Hemodynamics - Fetal Heart and Cardiac Cycle - Immunology - Hematology | |||
15 | Campfire Circle (formerly Camp Trillium) | Camp Counsellor, Photographer and Instructor (Full Time: 40hr/week) | 6/2019 – 8/2019 | Waterford, ON | Facilitated activities at an overnight camp for childhood cancer, captured photos, and created weekly slideshows for families to cherish. | Photography, Video Creation, Community Engagement | |||
16 | PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATION | CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research; Bachelors of Health Science Program, McMaster University | Youth engagement in research: Exploring training needs of youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Authors: Dong SY, Nguyen L, Cross A, Doherty-Kirby A, Geboers J, McCauley D, Soper AK, St. Dennis A, Steeves D, Trehan N, & Gorter JW. DOI: 10.1186/s40900-023-00452-3 | 7/2023 | Open Access on Research Involvement and Engagement | Led a patient-oriented research team of 5 youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities and 6 researchers. Facilitated accessible learning and communication methods; applied for grants, submitted REB applications, recruited participants, conducted interviews, analyzed data, published a manuscript, and co-presented at 6 conferences. | Research, Community Engagement | What is YER? | |
17 | KNOWLEDGE TRANSLATION AND MULTIMEDIA HIGHLIGHTS | University of Toronto, Translational Research Program | Tenant Engagement Matrix | 8/2024 | Virtual | Designed the layout and graphics of the Tenant Engagement Matrix (8-page PDF), a tool for Toronto Community Housing staff to connect tenants with community programs. | Service Design, Graphic Design, Knowledge Translation | Tenant Engagement Matrix | |
18 | Pediatric Outcome imProvement through COordination of Research Networks (POPCORN) | Mental Health Research Infographics | 7/2024 | Virtual | Created visual abstracts for two peer-reviewed research papers: 1) Mental Health Hospitalizations in Canadian Children, Adolescents and Young Adults Over the COVID-19 Pandemic: Infographic - EN Infographic - FR 2) Pandemic Stringency Measures and Hospital Admissions for Eating Disorders: Infographic - EN Infographic - FR | Graphic Design, Research, Knowledge Translation | What is the Indirect Consequences Study? Newsletter Feature | ||
19 | Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) | Drug Checking Demographic Infographic | 8/2024 | Virtual | Synthesized and visualized demographic data of drug checking working group members. | Graphic Design, Knowledge Translation | Demographic Infographic | ||
20 | MAPS Canada | Special Access Program Tip Sheet for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy | 12/2023 | Virtual | Synthesized Health Canada's policy on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy along with inputs from the SAP Community of Practice. | Graphic Design, Community Engagement, Policy Interpretation, Knowledge Translation | SAP Tip Sheet | ||
21 | CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research | CanChild Spotlight Video Series | 4/2023 | Virtual | Initiated “CanChild Spotlight” social media videos to showcase the work and share stories of CanChild researchers, highlighting their impact and calling the public to take action. | Video Creation, Knowledge Translation | CanChild Spotlight | ||
22 | Accessibility 101 Workshop | 11/2022 | Virtual | Synthesized best practices for web accessibility (WCAG 3 standards) into a visual slide deck, and facilitated workshops to train CanChild members. | Graphic Design, Public Speaking, Knowledge Translation | Accessibility 101 | |||
23 | Transition Hub Demographic Infographic | 3/2021 | Virtual | Synthesized and visualized the demographic data of Transition Hub (community of practice) members. | Graphic Design, Knowledge Translation | Transition Hub Infographic | |||
24 | Infographic Design Presentation | 2021 | Virtual | Prepared an infographic design presentation to inform CanChild members about methods for optimizing visual literacy. Inspired by a biomedical graphics course at McMaster University. | Graphic Design, Public Speaking, Knowledge Translation | How I Design Infographics | |||
25 | C-BiLLT Short Video Series | 7/2020 | Virtual | 1) Meet Our Heroes 2) Handling Stares and Stigma 3) A Future Filled with Opportunities | Video Creation, Knowledge Translation | What is C-BiLLT? | |||
26 | Professional Conference and Portrait Photography | 2019-2020 | Hamilton, ON | Photographed CanChild conferences, community events, and member headshots. | Photography, Knowledge Translation | CP-NET Science and Family Day 2019 CanChild Headshots | |||
27 | ICF Framework and F-Words Poster Re-design | 2019 | Hamilton, ON | Redesigned the ICF/F-Words Framework, which has since been circulated at conferences, in publications, and online. | Graphic Design, Knowledge Translation | ICF/F-Words Framework for Child Development | |||
28 | PRESENTATION HIGHLIGHTS | POPCORN Annual Conference 2025 | Building Blocks of Patient Engagement | 5/2025 | Montreal, QC | Oral Presentation | Public Speaking | ||
29 | 2025 NorthWest SPOR Collaborative Forum | A co-developed ADHD Patient Journey Map: An arts-based approach to patient engagement in the Patient-Oriented Innovative Nutrition Trial (POINT) | 5/2025 | Calgary, AB | Poster and Oral Presentation | Public Speaking, Community Engagement, Graphic Design | |||
30 | EKO Spring Symposium 2023 | “Nothing About Us Without Us”: Strategies for Equitable and Meaningful Youth Engagement. Presenters: Dong SY, St. Dennis A, & Geboers J. | 4/2023 | Toronto, ON | Oral Presentation | Public Speaking, Graphic Design | Presentation Slides | ||
31 | Luke's Legacy Family Research Rounds | “Nothing About Us Without Us”: Strategies for Equitable and Meaningful Youth Engagement. Presenters: Dong SY, St. Dennis A, & Geboers J. | 3/2023 | Virtual | Oral Presentation | Public Speaking, Graphic Design | Research Round Recording | ||
32 | McMaster Child Health Research Day 2022 | Youth Engagement in Research: Exploring Training Needs of Youth with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. Presenter: Dong SY. | 3/2022 | Virtual | Oral Presentation | Public Speaking, Graphic Design | Presentation Slides | ||
33 | Children’s Healthcare Canada Annual Conference 2021 | Youth Engagement in Research: Exploring Training Needs of Youth with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. Presenters: Dong SY & Trehan N. | 11/2021 | Virtual | Poster Presentation | Graphic Design | Research Poster | ||
34 | CP-Net Science and Family Day 2021 | Youth Engagement in Research: Exploring Training Needs of Youth with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. Presenters: Dong SY & St. Dennis A. | 10/2021 | Virtual | Oral Presentation | Public Speaking, Graphic Design | Presentation Recording | ||
35 | CHILD-BRIGHT Virtual Symposium 2021 | Assessment of usual transition care of youth with brain-based disability: A Feasibility Study Presenter: Dong SY. | 5/2021 | Virtual | Poster Presentation | Graphic Design | Research Poster | ||
36 | Developmental Pediatrics Academic Rounds, McMaster University | State of the Art of Transition to Adult Care for Youth with Brain-Based Disabilities: Usual Care and Novel E-health Intervention at McMaster Children’s Hospital. Presenters: Gorter JW, Dong SY, & Nguyen | 3/2021 | Virtual | Oral Presentation | Public Speaking | |||
37 | VOLUNTEER | Campfire Circle, The Hospital for Sick Children | Art Instructor (Seasonal) | 7/2020 – 6/2024 | Hybrid: Toronto, ON | Facilitated monthly craft sessions online and/or in the hospital with children and families affected by childhood cancer. | Facilitation | ||
38 | MAPS Canada, Special Access Program (SAP) Community of Practice | Community of Practice Lead | 10/2022 – 2/2023 | Virtual | Hosted 7 national virtual meetings, connecting over 100 stakeholders (healthcare providers, suppliers, and patients) of Health Canada's SAP for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Co-created the SAP Tip Sheet as a knowledge translation tool. | Service Design, Policy Interpretation, Community Engagement, Graphic Design, Knowledge Translation | What is the SAP Community of Practice? | ||
39 | Young Canadians' Parliament, Children First Canada | Youth Facilitator (Seasonal) | 8/2021 – 1/2023 | Virtual | Facilitated discussions with youth (ages 12-18) to inform a policy brief, develop advocacy strategies, and conduct mock debates on mental health and climate change. | Policy Interpretation, Community Engagement | 2021 - 2022 YCP Policy Recommendations 2022 - 2023 YCP Policy Recommendations | ||
40 | Emergency Department, McMaster Children Hospital | 1-on-1 Patient Visitor (2hr/week) | 9/2019 – 6/2020 | Hybrid: Hamilton, ON | Engaged children and family members with fun activities during long wait times, facilitated virtual games during COVID-19 restrictions, and photographed volunteers for the newsletter. | Facilitation, Photography | Newsletter Feature | ||
41 | AWARDS/FUNDING | CIHR Healthy Youth Catalyst Grant | Collaborator, Youth Advisor | 3/2024 – 3/2025 | Canada | Amount: $100,000. Project: Co-development of a youth engagement in research training program. Collaborators: Nguyen L, Cross A, Micsinszki S, McCauley D, Chisholm C, Pancucci M, St. Dennis A, Castaldo M, Dong SY, El Galad A, Geboers J, Hay V, Kanatgaratnam S, Steeves D, Trehan N, Weaver C, Black A, Doherty-Kirby A, Allemang B, Batthish M, Beattie K, Buchanan F, Fournier A, Grandisson M, Kennedy (Deibert) S, Marcotte J, McMorris C, Munce S, Shikako K, Tomas V, Yamaguchi S, Di Rezze B, Georgiades S, Reynolds J, Kraus de Camargo O, Lacaze T, McCarry S, Southward C, Tsang V, Zwicker J. | Grant Writing | Detailed information | |
42 | The CHILD-BRIGHT Network, Training Innovation Fund | Student Principal Investigator | 12/2021 - 12/2022 | Hamilton, ON | Amount: $10,000. Project: Youth Engagement in Research: Exploring Training Needs of Youth with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. Collaborators: Dong SY, Nguyen L, Cross A, Doherty-Kirby A, Geboers J, McCauley D, Soper AK, St. Dennis A, Steeves D, Trehan N, & Gorter JW. | Grant Writing | |||
43 | Mitacs Research Training Award | Student Principal Investigator | 8/2020 - 12/2020 | Hamilton, ON | Amount: $6,000. Project: Youth Engagement in Research: Exploring Training Needs of Youth with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. Collaborators: Dong SY, Nguyen L, Cross A, Doherty-Kirby A, Geboers J, McCauley D, Soper AK, St. Dennis A, Steeves D, Trehan N, & Gorter JW. | Grant Writing | |||
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45 | NOTE: | If you're reading this, I appreciate your diligence and curiosity. Do you see a potential win-win collaboration? Let's have a Zoom coffee chat! ☀️ | *SOME DEFINITIONS: | Problem-based learning = An active and collaborative learning style focused on understanding and application rather than memorization. Fun fact: it was pioneered at McMaster University! Community Engagement/Co-Design = A broad term for work that actively involves stakeholders, knowledge users, or individuals with lived experience, including client-centered approaches, patient-oriented research, community-based participatory action, and integrated knowledge translation. Service Design = Planning and organizing a service’s resources (people and processes) in order to (1) directly improve the staff’s experience, and (2) indirectly, the client/user/stakeholder experience. | |||||