Faculty profile

Jessica Gaber

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Research CoordinatorMcMaster University

Research

Jessica Gaber is a Research/Program Coordinator for projects that focus on promoting healthy individual behaviour change, large-scale systemic change, or both. She is also a Health Policy PhD candidate exploring how to do research in carceral settings more ethically, appropriately, acceptably, and feasibly. She is skilled in developing, implementing, and evaluating health interventions, including through qualitative methods, mixed methods, and implementation science, with a pariticular expertise in qualitative.  Jessica is a Registered Social Worker with a Master of Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University and experience in three sides of social work practice: research, community development, and clinical work. She’s most interested in projects that can bring voices to populations in need and support communities in making change where change is needed. Before joining the Department of Family Medicine, she worked in research at the Offord Centre for Child Studies (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neuroscience), as well as in crisis intervention, mental health counselling, and community mental health both at home and in western Africa.

Research areas, by share of publications

Research areas are derived from OpenAlex topics of their publications.

33 publications.

01

Exploring access to desired and appropriate contraception during incarceration: A qualitative description of the experiences of women in custody in Ontario, Canada

Norris E, Gaber J, Zhu J, Jennings L, Vanstone M, Liauw J, Jurgutis J, McLeod KE, Kouyoumdjian FG

Women's Health20261 citations
02

Healthcare considerations for aging people in prisons

Sanya N, Gaber J, Cavanagh A, Howard M, Kouyoumdjian FG

PLoS ONE2026
03

Understanding Trauma-Informed Care in Correctional Facilities: A Scoping Review

Gaber J, Scallan E, Kouyoumdjian FG

Journal of Correctional Health Care202510 citationsFirst author
04

Continuing the conversation: practical strategies to enable acceptable and feasible health research in prisons

Gaber J, Kerrigan C, Grenada IM, Kief N, Metcalfe J, Kouyoumdjian FG

Archives of Public Health20255 citationsFirst author
05

Exploring the effects of community-based volunteering to support older adults on volunteers: A mixed methods study in Ontario, Canada

Gaber J, Parascandalo F, Di Pelino S, Datta J, Lamarche L, Begum H, Clark RE, Gagnon C, Oliver D, Price D

Evaluation and Program Planning20254 citationsFirst author
06

Interest-holder priorities for health surveillance of people incarcerated in Canada: A qualitative study

Gaber J, Sanya N, Cavanagh A, Bear S, Howdle S, Grenada IM, Howard M, Iftene A, Kouyoumdjian FG

Public Health20251 citationsFirst author
07

Identifying accurate methods of assessing blood pressure and health information by lay volunteers in the Philippines: Adapting a Canadian cardiometabolic health program to LMICs

Angeles R, Arnuco FD, Cristobal F, Dolovich L, Kaczorowski J, Guenter D, Selvarajah K, Parascandalo F, Gaber J, Agarwal G

Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health2025
08

A Process Model of Formative Work to Strengthen a Prison Health Surveillance System

Gaber J, Sanya N, Lawson J, Grenada IM, Kouyoumdjian FG

Gesundheit und Wohlfahrt. Revue suisse d'hygi�ne20244 citationsFirst author
09

Applying Best Practices from CAPs to a Community-Academic-Corrections Partnership: Academic Partner Perspectives.

Gaber J, Elston D, Sanya N, McLeod KE, Kouyoumdjian FG

Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action20242 citationsFirst author
10

Understanding collaborative implementation between community and academic partners in a complex intervention: a qualitative descriptive study

Clark R, Gaber J, Datta J, Talat S, Bomze S, Marentette-Brown S, Gagnon C, Oliver D, Lamarche L, Forsyth P

BMC Health Services Research20238 citationsOpen Access
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Applying for
Subject: Prospective PhD student: Interprofessional Education and Collaboration Dear Professor Gaber, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Exploring access to desired and appropriate contraception during incarceration: A qualitative description of the experiences of women in custody in Ontario, Canada" (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]
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