Meet Our Team

Dr. Deborah Sloboda is a Professor and the Associate Chair of Research in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University, Canada She holds a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Perinatal Programming. Dr. Sloboda investigates how early life adversity impacts the risk of non-communicable disease later in life and in other studies, she works with expectant mothers and services that support pregnant women to improve diet, and body composition of women before and after conception. Dr. Sloboda leads the Art of Creation Initiative.

Sara Dickinson is an arts educator, working with teachers and educators to use dynamic arts-based lessons that bring to life core curricular subjects like Math, Language, Science and Social Studies through Music, Visual art, Rap, Spoken Word, Drama and Dance. Sara was the Manager of Education Outreach at the Art Gallery of Hamilton and the Director of AGH: for 8 years. She was a principal artist at the Royal Conservatory of Music in the Learning Through the Arts program for over 15 years before moving to Hamilton to manage the program in South Central Ontario. She currently co-leads the arts-based workshops for the Art of Creation Initiative.

The Art of Creation Initiatve emerged out of the creative collaboration of a team of investigators, artists, students, and community partners who have helped create and shape the Initiative. This work has grown through many contributions, including research, workshop development, exhibition planning, creative practice, and community engagement. Those collaborators are listed below:

Prof. Mary Barker, University of Southampton — Mary studies behaviour change, nutrition, and health before and during pregnancy, with a focus on supporting healthier communities.
Jordan Chin, MPH — Jordan is a public health researcher whose work focuses on arts-based science communication, public engagement, and early life health. She completed her Masters of Public Health on the evaluation of the Art of Creation, helping to understand how art can support learning, reflection, and community conversation about developmental origins science.
Gursimran Deol, MSc, HSED — Gursimran completed her MSc in Health Science Education at McMaster University, exploring how non-pregnant partners support health during the periconception period and assisted in data collection on the Exhibition evaluation.
Prof. Stephan Dombrowski, University of New Brunswick — Stephan is a health psychologist who studies behaviour change and how people adopt and maintain healthier behaviours.
Sophie Hogan, Sophie Hogan Photography — Sophie is a photographer whose work uses images and personal stories to explore social issues and community experiences.
Dr. Luseadra McKerracher, Aarhus University — Luseadra studies pregnancy, nutrition, food security, and reproductive health using community-based and health equity approaches.
Dr. Tina Moffat, McMaster University — Tina studies nutrition, food security, pregnancy, and child health, with a focus on social and cultural factors that shape health.
Dr Beth Murray-Davis, McMaster University — Beth is a midwife, educator, and researcher with expertise in pregnancy care, reproductive health, and person-centred care.
Cornelia Peckart – Hamilton, Ontario – Cornelia is a visual artist and arts educator who workshop facilitator for the Art of Creation workshops. She supported participants in using art to reflect, share ideas, and connect with the science in a personal and creative way.
Prof. Kym Rae, Mater Research Institute / University of Queensland — Kym works with Indigenous communities on health research, arts-based health education, and community-led approaches to improving health.

Nicole Acupinpin and Amy Thompson — Nicole and Amy supported the project’s research, and community engagement work.