Melissa MacKay, University of Guelph

Research

Read how they describe their research on their University of Guelph profile.

Latest papers

Building the future of public health in Canada: A modified Delphi survey for updated core competencies
Canadian Journal of Public Health · 2026 · first author
Correction: Building the future of public health in Canada: A modified Delphi survey for updated core competencies
Canadian Journal of Public Health · 2026 · first author
"It's like dynamite-It can do a lot of good. It could do a lot of harm": A qualitative study on the uses, benefits, and risks of genAI in public health.
Digital health · 2026 · senior author

All 26 publications

Latest funding

Climate Change Competencies for Public Health in Canada
CIHR · 2024 · Co-investigator
$125,000
Global Center: International Research Center for Enhancing Plant Resilience
SSHRC · 2024 · Co-investigator
$104,000
Shade for Health: Evidence-based design and decision-making about shade provision for healthy, climate-resilient built environments
CIHR · 2023 · Co-investigator
$125,000

All 4 grants and awards

26 publications.

01

Building the future of public health in Canada: A modified Delphi survey for updated core competencies

MacKay M, Sandhu HS, Henteleff A, Walker M, Haworth-Brockman M, Neil-Sztramko SE, Steinberg M, Betker C

Canadian Journal of Public Health20261 citationsFirst author

DOI: 10.17269/s41997-026-01151-8

02

Correction: Building the future of public health in Canada: A modified Delphi survey for updated core competencies

MacKay M, Sandhu HS, Henteleff A, Walker M, Haworth-Brockman M, Neil-Sztramko SE, Steinberg M, Betker C

Canadian Journal of Public Health2026First author

DOI: 10.17269/s41997-026-01221-x

03

"It's like dynamite-It can do a lot of good. It could do a lot of harm": A qualitative study on the uses, benefits, and risks of genAI in public health.

Shereefdeen H, MacKay M

Digital health2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1177/20552076261416713 PMID: 41767875

04

Exploring Reddit Discourse and Information Needs Surrounding Extreme Heat: Topic, Sentiment, and Engagement Analysis.

MacKay M, Zamani Alavijeh S, Gosselin S, Zarrinkalam F, McWhirter JE

Journal of medical Internet research2026First author

DOI: 10.2196/82426 PMID: 41740132

05

Assessing Communication Competencies in Canadian MPH Program Curriculum: A Content Analysis of Communication Courses.

MacKay M, McAlpine D, Grant LE, Papadopoulos A, McWhirter JE

Public health reports (Washington, D.C. : 1974)2026First author

DOI: 10.1177/00333549241308524 PMID: 39844715

06

A descriptive analysis of multi-jurisdictional enteric illness messaging web analytics data, 2020-2022.

Patel V, McWhirter J, MacKay M, Cheng L, Phypers M, Papadopoulos A, Grant L

Canada communicable disease report = Releve des maladies transmissibles au Canada2026

DOI: 10.14745/ccdr.v52i04a03 PMID: 42367583

07

Assessing the Dissemination of Federal Risk Communication by News Media Outlets During Enteric Illness Outbreaks: Canadian Content Analysis.

Shereefdeen H, Grant LE, Patel V, MacKay M, Papadopoulos A, Cheng L, Phypers M, McWhirter JE

JMIR public health and surveillance2025

DOI: 10.2196/68724 PMID: 40209203

08

A Pilot Study on Generative Artificial Intelligence's Reliability in Qualitative Research Quality Appraisal Using CASP and JBI Checklists.

Shereefdeen H, Thaivalappil A, Young I, MacKay M

Inquiry : a journal of medical care organization, provision and financing2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1177/00469580251399374 PMID: 41316952

09

The double-edged algorithm: A rapid review exploring the trustworthy and responsible use of generative AI in public health.

MacKay M, Kukan A, McWhirter JE

Digital health2025First author

DOI: 10.1177/20552076251393302 PMID: 41278377

10

The Public Health Communication Competency Framework: Results from a multi-method and consensus-building process.

McWhirter JE, MacKay M, McAlpine D, Grant LE, Papadopoulos A

Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique2025

DOI: 10.17269/s41997-025-01107-4 PMID: 41225276

Climate Change Competencies for Public Health in Canada

Co-investigatorCIHR2024Catalyst Grant: CPHO Report - General Pool

Principal investigators: McWhirter, Jennifer E

Keywords: Built Environment; Climate Adaptaion; Climate Change; Competencies; Education; Environmental Health; Nature; Public Health; Public Health Systems; Workforce Development

$125,000

Global Center: International Research Center for Enhancing Plant Resilience

Co-investigatorSSHRC2024National Science Foundation Global Centres

Principal investigators: Wilkins, Olivia

Keywords: metabolomics; spatial transcriptomics; bioinformatics; chemical synthesis; risk perception; natural products; consumer behaviour; chemical ontologies; computational biology

$104,000

Shade for Health: Evidence-based design and decision-making about shade provision for healthy, climate-resilient built environments

Co-investigatorCIHR2023Catalyst Grant: CPHO Report - General Pool

Principal investigators: McWhirter, Jennifer E

Keywords: Built Environment; Climate Adaptation; Climate Change; Heat Mitigation; Landscape Architecture; Place And Health; Public Health; Shade; Ultraviolet Radiation Protection; Urban Planning

$125,000

Modernizing and Strengthening Communication Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals to Transform Canadian Public Health Practice

Co-investigatorCIHR2022Catalyst Grant: CPHO Report - General Pool

Principal investigators: McWhirter, Jennifer E

Keywords: Communication; Core Competencies; Education; Health Communication; Public Health Pedagogy; Public Health Practice; Public Health Workforce; Training

$100,000

From public funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998 with their latest competition results, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Genome Canada, the Canadian Space Agency, Canada Research Chairs, the Fonds de recherche du Québec, Ontario research funding, Michael Smith Health Research BC, the Canadian Cancer Society, Heart & Stroke and Brain Canada.

Frequent collaborators

Department of Population Medicine
HR
School of Computer Science
School of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
Department of Internal Medicine
Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact
Department of Pathobiology
Other

Co-authors at University of Guelph, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Andrew Papadopoulos

Department of Population Medicine

20 shared papers, latest 2026

Daniel Gillis

HR

3 shared papers, latest 2022

Jennifer McWhirter

Department of Population Medicine

3 shared papers, latest 2026

Rozita Dara

School of Computer Science

3 shared papers, latest 2023

Ian Young

School of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

2 shared papers, latest 2025

Sarah Neil-Sztramko

Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact

2 shared papers, latest 2026

Shayan Sharif

Department of Pathobiology

2 shared papers, latest 2023

Malcolm Steinberg

Faculty

2 shared papers, latest 2026

Margaret Haworth-Brockman

Department of Internal Medicine

2 shared papers, latest 2026

Fattane Zarrinkalam

School of Engineering

1 shared papers, latest 2026

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Paper to mention

Subject: Prospective PhD student Dear Professor MacKay, 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 "Building the future of public health in Canada: A modified Delphi survey for updated core competencies" (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]