Helen Dimaras, PhD

Dr. Helen Dimaras is Associate Professor and Director of Global Health in the Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. She is cross-appointed to the Division of Clinical Public Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health and the Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto. She serves as Director of Global Eye Health Research in the Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences at The Hospital for Sick Children, and Scientist in the Child Health Evaluative Sciences program and Centre for Global Child Health in the SickKids Research Institute.

Dr. Dimaras completed a PhD in Molecular & Medical Genetics and post-doctoral training in clinical trials and global health. Her work has contributed to the understanding of the molecular genetic development of the childhood eye cancer, retinoblastoma. She leads a research program that lies at the intersection of global health, cancer genetics and patient engagement. Much of her work is focused on how to deliver optimal retinoblastoma care worldwide and improve patient outcomes, with patients as partners in these efforts.

Dr. Dimaras is featured by the Canadian Society for International Health on the Canadian Women in Global Health List.