Giuliana Gadoni Giovanni Borges

Giuliana Gadoni Giovanni Borges

Smiles Without Borders: What Makes it Difficult for Newcomers to See a Dentist?

Ever wondered why it might be harder for people who've just moved to Canada to get dental treatment? There are many challenges that refugees and immigrants face when trying to care for their oral health. Things like money, not knowing the language, or just figuring out how healthcare works can get in the way, and that can lead to very serious mouth conditions. Currently, immigrants represent 30% of Ontario’s population, and Canada received over 140,000 asylum claims in 2023.

In my Master's thesis, I am applying the Community-Based Participatory Research approach, collaborating with newcomers in Southwestern Ontario to really understand what these barriers are. By hearing their stories and experiences, we can hopefully find better ways to facilitate their access to dental care and help everyone have a healthy smile. Understanding and addressing these barriers is important to promote equity in healthcare and improve the well-being of vulnerable populations.

Giuliana Gadoni Giovanni Borges
MSc candidate, Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry - Western University

Supervisors
Dr. Abbas Jessani
Dr. Cheryl Currie

Giuliana Borges is a Master’s student in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Western University and a former dentist from Brazil, where she practiced for seven years within the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). Her professional background in primary care informs her research focus on oral health disparities and the structural barriers faced by marginalized and vulnerable populations.

Giuliana’s academic work integrates both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, including statistical methods in data analysis, systematic reviews, and interview-based research. A strong advocate for health equity, she is committed to Community-Based Participatory Research, ensuring that community needs, voices, and contexts are central to the research process. Her goal is to generate evidence that informs inclusive policies and promotes oral health as a fundamental human right through interdisciplinary and community-informed approaches.

You can connect with Giuliana on LinkedIn or via email.

View Giuliana's work as it appears in the Inspiring Minds Digital Collection.