Heather Orpana

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Electronic Case Management Dear Professor Orpana, 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 "Are quantitative targets for social network size and interaction frequency appropriate for public health guidelines on social connection? Evidence from loneliness and related mental health outcomes." (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.] I also saw your CIHR-funded project "Why have suicide rates not increased during the pandemic? An interrupted time series of suicides in Ontario to examine changes in demographics and methods during the pandemic; an interrupted time series analysis and descriptive study of suicides looking at the effects of states of emergencies on suicides; and a mixed methods study of people who survive opioid overdoses to examine whether suicide deaths have been displaced into opioid overdose deaths." (2021), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. 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]