Akram Mahani PhD, MSc, BSc

Akram Mahani is a qualitative researcher with wide-ranging empirical interests and background. Her research background spans across multiple population health, health policy, and health services research areas. Her interdisciplinary research aims to inform policies and practices that promote equitable population health outcomes. She has more than 20 years of experience in research, teaching, administration, and leadership in multi-disciplinary and applied settings across seven universities in three countries: Iran, England, and Canada.

Prior to joining JSGS, Akram spent two years as the evaluation coordinator for the Saskatchewan Population Health & Evaluation Research Unit's (SPHERU) Dementia Supports in Rural Saskatchewan project. Before that, she was a researcher at the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary, where she contributed to a number of different research projects, among others: primary care transformation in Alberta, funding models in support of integrated care, technology support for family caregivers caring for older adults in communities. Akram was also a researcher at the School of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Ottawa, where she learned a great deal about global health under the mentorship of Professor Ronald Labonte. Between February 2011 and September 2015, Akram held the position of Assistant Professor at the Department of Health Policy, Economics and Management at Kerman University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Her research during this time mainly focused on Health in All Policies and multi-sectoral collaboration for improving population health outcomes.

In 2013, Akram founded the International Journal of Health Policy and Management (Impact Factor 5.007) and served as its inaugural editor-in-chief until late August 2021.

Akram primarily teaches in the online Master of Health Administration (MHA) program, with a focus on courses related to health promotion, population health, performance measurement in healthcare organizations, and health care planning and evaluation.

Akram is working closely with a range of stakeholders including the City of Regina, Saskatchewan Health Authority, Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, and several community organizations to co-design and co-implement research focused on building healthy, inclusive cities and communities for all.

Designations

• PhD, Health Policy and Management, The University of Manchester, Manchester Business School (UK)
• MSc, Health Management, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran (Iran)
• BSc, Hospital Management, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman (Iran)

Download Akram Mahani abridged CV

Akram Mahani is currently accepting applications from new PhD and MPP students for September 2025.

Akram Mahani's research areas: Healthy sustainable cities and communities for all; multi-sectoral collaboration for improving population health outcomes; healthy public policies; integrated care with a focus on integrating public health and primary care; and health impact assessment.

Grants

• (SHRF) Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation Impact Grant (2025): “Key Features of Youth Mental Health Friendly Neighborhood: A Comparative Case Study”; Principal Investigator. Awarded $150,000. Start June 2025, End June 2027.
• (SHRF) Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation  Innovation Grant (2025): “Improving Primary Care Delivery in Rural Saskatchewan: Evaluating the Implementation of Two Pilot Patient Medical Home Models”; Co-Investigator; Project Lead: Dr. Haizhen Mou (University of Saskatchewan). Awarded $50,000. Start June 2025, End June 2026.
• (SSHRC) Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Insight Development Grant (2024): “Sustaining Innovative Community-driven Transportation in Northern Saskatchewan: Exploring the Impact of the Kikinahk Free Bus Service on Older Adults’ Social Participation and Quality of Life”; Co-Investigator; Project Lead: Dr. Jacob Alhassan (University of Saskatchewan). Awarded $74,965. Start June 2024, End July 2026.
• (SSHRC) Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Partnership Grant (2024): “Impact Training: Experiential Learning Toolkits to Increase Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts (SSHA) Capacity for Research and Innovation in the Social Sector”; Co-Investigator; Project Lead: Dr. Sandra Lapointe (McMaster University). Awarded $2,500,000. Start June 2024, End July 2030.
• (SSHRC) Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Insight Grant (2024): “Universal Childcare and Immigrant Women’s Labour Outcomes”; Co-Investigator; Project Lead: Dr. Haizhen Mou (University of Saskatchewan). Awarded $375,980. Start May 2024, End June 2027.
• (SHRF) Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation Impact Grant (2024): “Developing Innovative Rural Transportation Solutions for Vulnerable Youth in Northern Saskatchewan: Evaluating the Impact of the Kikinahk Free Bus Service on Mental and Sexual Reproductive Health Services”; Co-Investigator; Project Lead: Dr. Jacob Alhassan (University of Saskatchewan). Awarded $150,000. Start April 2024, End May 2026.
• (SHRF) Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation Align Grant (2024): “Understanding the Influence of Urban Design on Healthcare Costs: Stakeholder Perspectives”; Co-Investigator; Project Lead: Dr. Harminder Guliani (University of Regina). Awarded $10,000. Start October 2024, End November 2025.
• (SHRF) Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation Align Grant (2024): “Exploring the Social Acceptability of Wastewater-Based Health Surveillance”; Co-Investigator; Project Lead: Dr. Nicole Hansmeier (University of Regina). Awarded $10,000. Start July 2024, End August 2025.
• CIHR Catalyst Grant: Policy Research for Health System Transformation (2023): “Cross-Sectoral Collaboration to Improve Outcomes for Children/Youth in Vulnerable Contexts”; Principal Investigator. Awarded $150,000. Start March 2023, End April 2024.
• SHRF (Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation) Establishment Grant (2023): “Understanding how municipalities work in partnership with local public health systems to enhance population health outcomes and reduce health inequalities”; Principal Investigator; Awarded $150,000. Start July 2023, End April 2026.
• SHRF (Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation) Align Grant (2023): “Integration of Health into Urban Planning Policies”. Principal Investigator. Awarded $10,000. Start January 2023, End January 2024.
• SHRF (Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation) Align Grant (2023): Development of an Evidence‐Informed Strategy for Primary Care Recruitment and Retention in Saskatchewan. Co-Applicant. Project Lead: Dr. Angela Baerwald (University of Saskatchewan). Awarded $9,998.
• CIHR Operating Grant: Knowledge Synthesis (2018): “A Scoping Review of Literature on Different Models of Allocating Funds to Facilitate Integrated Care”; Co-applicant; awarded $62,500
• AGE-WELL Network of Centres of Excellence (NCE) Catalyst Funding Program (2017): “Developing User-Centred Digital Supports for Informal Networks that Provide Care for Elders: A Co-Design Approach”; Co-applicant; awarded $49,000

Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications

• Mahani, A., Lyeo, J. S., Fung, A., Husack, K., Muhajarine, N., Diener, T., & Brown, C. (2024). How Municipal Actors Leverage Evidence to Support Urban Planning: Perspectives from the City of Regina. Canadian Public Policy, 50(4), 403-421. 
• Mahani, A., Lyeo, J. S., Fung, A., Husack, K., Muhajarine, N., Diener, T., & Brown, C. (2024). Barriers to integration of health and equity into urban design policies in Regina, Saskatchewan. Health Promotion International, 39(6), daae184.
• Riley, K., Iakovleva, M., Dueck, E., O’Watch, H., Hurlbert, M., Minot, C., Mahani, A., Ahmed, T., Lynds, M. (2024). Community Perceptions of Sustainability: (Re)Framing what Matters for More Just, Ethical, and Liveable Municipalities. Local Environment, 29(3), pp. 296-316. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2024.2306598
• Mahani, A., Lyeo, J. S., Fung, A., Husack, K., Muhajarine, N., Diener, T., Brown, C. (2025). How do Municipal Policy- and Decision-Makers Evaluate the Impact of Their Policies? Insights from the City of Regina in Saskatchewan, Canada. The Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation (In Press).
• Mahani, A. Revelli, M, Zahid, S., Ali, S., Reid, N. (2025). From Silos to Support: Lived Experiences of Youth and Families in Cross-Sectoral Collaboration Through TRiP (The Regina intersectoral Partnership), Child & Youth Services. (Under Review).
• Anim-Larbi, M., Puplampu, V., Maposa, S., Mahani, A., Chipanshi, M. (2025). Childhood Immunization Reminder Strategies Available to Parents in North America: A scoping Review Protocol. PLOS ONE (In Press).
• Okpalauwaekwe, U., MacPhee, B. K., Balezantis, L., Mahani, A., Zarzeczny, A., Ramsden, V. R., Baerwald, A. (2025). Facilitators, Barriers, and Priorities for Enhancing Primary Care Recruitment and Retention in Saskatchewan, Canada. BMC Primary Care (Under Review).
• Leslie, M., Khayatzadeh-Mahani, A., Birdsell, J., Forest, P.G., Henderson, R., Gray, R.P., Schraeder, K., Seidel, J., Zwicker, J. and Green, L.A., (2020). An implementation history of primary health care transformation: Alberta’s primary care networks and the people, time and culture of change. BMC Family Practice, 21(1), pp.1-20.
• Khayatzadeh-Mahani, A. Wittevrongel, K. Petermann, L. Graham, I. Zwicker, J. (2020) Stakeholders’ engagement in co-producing policy-relevant knowledge to facilitate employment for persons with developmental disabilities. BMC Health Research Policy and Systems. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-020-00548-2
• Leslie, M. Gray R.P. Khayatzadeh-Mahani, A. (2020). What is ‘Care Quality’ and Can it be Improved by Information and Communication Technology? A Typology of Family Caregivers’ Perspectives. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.12837
• Leslie, M. Eales, J. Fast, J. Gray, R.P. Magnaye, A. Khayatzadeh-Mahani, A. (2020). The care capacity goals of family carers and the role of technology in achieving them. BMC Geriatrics. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-020-1455-x
• Khayatzadeh-Mahani, Wittevrongel, K., Nicholas, D., Zwicker, J. (2019). Prioritizing barriers and solutions to improve employment for persons with developmental disabilities, Disability and Rehabilitation. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2019.1570356
• Leslie, M. Khayatzadeh-Mahani, A. MacKean, G. (2019). Recruitment of caregivers into health services research: Lessons from a user-centred design study. BMC Research Involvement and Engagement. 5 (17). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-019-0150-6
• Walsh, C.M. Khayatzadeh-Mahani, A. Leslie, M. (2019). Towards Social Services System Integration: A Report from Alberta’s Elder Care Support Provision Community. The School of Public Policy Publications. 12(16). https://doi.org/10.11575/sppp.v12i0.61837
• Leslie, M. Eales, J. Fast, J. Mortenson, W. B. Atoyebi, O. Khayatzadeh-Mahani, (2019). Towards sustainable caregiving: Using goals to re-frame the user-centred design of technologies to support caregivers, International Journal of Care and Caring. 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1332/239788219X15597493546652
• Masoud A, Khayatzadeh-Mahani A, Mehrolhasani M.H. (2019). Features of Effective Intersectoral Collaboration Structure in Health. Hakim Health Sys Res (In Persian), 21(3):191-199.
• Khayatzadeh-Mahani, Nolte, E., Sutherland, J. Forest, P.G. (2018). International Experiments with Different Models of Allocating Funds to Facilitate Integrated Care: A Scoping Review Protocol, BMJ Open. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-021374
• Khayatzadeh-Mahani,, Leslie, M. (2018). Policies Supporting Informal Caregivers Across Canada: A Scoping Review Protocol, BMJ Open, 8(6). http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019220
• Leslie, M., Khayatzadeh-Mahani, A., Webb, C. Avery, G. (2018). Negotiating ‘Unnecessary’: Micro Clinical, Macro Political, and Co-Production Approaches to Defining Necessity in Care. Canadian Family Physician. 64 (8), 562-563. PMCID: PMC6189878
• Khayatzadeh-Mahani, A., Ruckert, A., Labonte, R., Kenis, P., & Akbari Javar, M.R. (2018). Health in All Policies (HiAP) Governance: Lessons from Network Governance, Health Promotion International. 34(4), 779-791. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/day032
• Khayatzadeh-Mahani, A., Ruckert, A., & Labonte, R. (2018). Obesity prevention: co-framing for intersectoral ‘buy-in’. Critical Public Health. 28(1), 4-11. https://doi.org/10.1080/09581596.2017.1282604

Book Chapters (Peer-Reviewed)

• Khayatzadeh-Mahani, A., Labonte, R., and Ruckert, A. (2018). Global health diplomacy, in: Oxford Handbook of Global Health Politics, editors: Kelley Lee, Colin McInnes, Jeremy Youde, Publisher: Oxford University Press.

Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications

• Mahani, A., Ali, S., Zahid, S., Rizai, M., Thomsen, E., Petermann, L., Townsley, K., Afshar Jalili, Y., Ratushniak, A., Martin, J., Fohr, R., McKenna, E. (2024). Cross-Sectoral Collaboration to Improve Outcomes for Children/Youth in Vulnerable Contexts. Policy Dialogue Report. https://hdl.handle.net/10294/16268
• Mahani, A. Lyeo, J.S., Fung, A., Thomsen, E., Rizai, M., Stone, W., Dudar, L., Reid, N., Black, D., Frei, L., Al-Humuzi, N., Alhassan, J., Ali, S., Zahid, S. (2024). Fostering Synergy: Enhancing Child and Youth Outcomes through Collaboration Across Human Service Organizations - Insights from TRiP (The Regina intersectoral Partnership). Research Findings Report. https://ourspace.uregina.ca/items/0b385416-600a-4fce-85ca-f5f6309f3c88
• Mahani, A., Lyeo, J. S., Fung, A., Ali, S., Husack, K., Muhajarine, N., Diener, T., Brown, C. (2024). Barriers to Healthy Urban Design Policies: Perspectives from the City of Regina in Saskatchewan. Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy. Available at: https://www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca/research-ideas/publications-and-policy-insight/policy-brief/urban-design-health-policy.php
• Mahani, A., Lyeo, J.S., Muhajarine, N. (2024) New Study Reveals Four Critical Barriers to Building Healthier Canadian Cities. February 14, 2024. The Conversation Canada. https://theconversation.com/new-study-reveals-four-critical-barriers-to-building-healthier-canadian-cities-218306
• Mahani, A. Akwen, N., Jeffery, B., Novik, N., & McIntosh, T. (2023). Interventions to Enhance Social Inclusions for Persons Living with Dementia and Their Care Partners in Rural Saskatchewan. Process Evaluation Report. Regina. SK. Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit.
• Akwen, N. Jeffery, B., Mahani, A., Novik, N., & McIntosh, T. (2023). Evaluation Report: City of Yorkton Facility Audit (Dementia Supports in Rural Saskatchewan Initiative). Regina, SK. Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit.
• Mahani, A. Petit, M. Stone, W. Dudar, L. (2023). Coordinating Human Service Systems for the Vulnerable: Lessons from The Regina intersectoral Partnership (TRiP). Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy. Available at: https://www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca/research-ideas/publications-and-policy-insight/policy-brief/trip-coordinating-human-service-systems.php.
• McIntosh, T. Mahani, A. Jeffery, B. Novik, N. (2021). Enhancing Social Inclusion for Older Adults Living with Dementia: A Community-Based Collective Impact Approach in Rural Saskatchewan. Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy. Available at: schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca
• Jeffery, B., Novik, N., McIntosh, T. Mahani, A. (2021). Dementia Knowledge Survey Report. Interventions to Enhance Social Inclusion of Older Adults with Dementia in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit. Available at spheru.ca

Conference Papers

• Mahani, A. Rizai, M. Zahid, S. Revelli, M. Ali, S. Al-Humuzi, N. Thomsen, E. (2025) Breaking Down Silos: Cross-Sectoral Collaboration to Support Vulnerable Youth in Regina Saskatchewan. Oral Presentation at CAHSPR (Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research) Conference. May 26-29, 2025. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
• Mahani, A. Ali, S. Zahid, S. Revelli, M. (2025) Beyond Tokenism: Embedding Health Equity in Municipal Decision-Making. Oral Presentation at APHEO 2025 Conference: Bridging Health Inequities: Strengthening Public Health Practice through Intentional Equity-based Approaches, May 4-6, 2025. Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
• Mahani, A. Al-Humuzi, N. Zahid, S. Ali, S. Stone, W. Thomsen, E. Rizai, M. Alhassan, J. (2025). Factors influencing cross-sectoral collaboration to improve outcomes for children and youth vulnerable context. Poster Presentation at Canadian Public Health Association Conference. April 29-30, 2025. Winnipeg, Manitoba.
• Mahani, A. Al-Humuzi, N. Zahid, S. Ali, S. Rizai, M. Revelli, M. Thomsen, E. (2025). Advocating for Collective Impact: Lessons from Cross-Sectoral Collaboration to Support Vulnerable Children and Youth in Canada. Poster Presentation at Interdisciplinary Social Accountability in Healthcare (ISACH) Conference. March 1, 2025. Massey College, Toronto.
• Mahani, A. Lyeo, J.S., Fung, A., Husack, K., Muhajarine, N., Diener, T., Brown, C., Ali, S., Zahid, S. (2024). What are the Barriers to Building Healthy Cities and Communities: Perspectives from the City of Regina, Saskatchewan. Poster Presentation at CAHSPR (Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research) Conference. May 14-16, 2024. Ottawa, Ontario
• Okpalauwaekwe, U., Merriman, H.P., Smith, H.T., Mahani, A., Kusheriuk, M., Ermel, D., Osman, M., Yu, J., MacLean, C., Witt, J., Oyedokun, T., Fehr, C., Muller, A., MacLean, B., Balezantis, L., MacPhee, B., Campbell, J., Reis, O., Roodt, J., Smith, S., Wong, M., Hosain, J., Lawrence, K., Ruddy, G., Gordon, J., Opikokew-Wajuntah, C., Zarzeczny, A., Karnitsky, M., Ge, F., Daniel-Whyte, S., Ramsden, VR., Baerwald, A. (2023). Development of an Evidence‐Informed Strategy for Primary Care Recruitment and Retention in Saskatchewan, Canada. Poster Presentation at 51st NAPCRG Annual Meeting. October 30 - November 3, 2023. Hilton San Francisco Union Square in San Francisco, California (USA).
• SahAkwen, N., Mahani, A., Jeffery, B., Novik, N., McIntosh, M. (2023). “The 5-year Grant Period is Over Before You Know It”: Rethinking Sustainability Planning for Enduring Community-Led Dementia Friendly Interventions. Poster Presentation at the Canadian Association on Gerontology- CAG2023: Community Engaged Teaching, Research & Practice. October 26-28, 2023. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 
• Jeffery, B., Mahani, A., McIntosh, M., Novik, N., SahAkwen, N. (2023). Engagement of Persons with Lived Experience of Dementia in Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating Community-Driven Programs. Poster Presentation at the Canadian Association on Gerontology- CAG2023: Community Engaged Teaching, Research & Practice. October 26-28, 2023. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 
•  Mahani, A., Jeffery, B., Washington, L., McIntosh, M., Novik, N., Harazny, M. (2022). Implementation of a Policy Instrument to Assess Age and Dementia Friendliness of Public Facilities in Rural Saskatchewan. Canadian Association on Gerontology- CAG2022: Closing the Research-Practice Gap: Knowledge Mobilization & Implementation Science. October 20-22, 2022. Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
• Leslie, M. Gray, R. P. Birdsell, J. Crowshoe, R. Forest, P.G. Green, L. MacDonald, T. Khayatzadeh-Mahani, A. Schraeder, K. Seidel, J. Zwicker, J. Henderson, R. (2019). Key Challenges for Alberta’s Primary Care Networks. CASHPR Conference, Halifax, Canada.
• Leslie, M. and Khayatzadeh-Mahani, A. (2018). Evolving how we design gerontechnology software: User-centered design and the shift from ‘needs’ to ‘goals’ in symposium: Caregiver-centered design of gerontechnologies for supporting unpaid care in the community organized by International Society of Gerontechnology XI World Conference in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA.
• Leslie, M. and Khayatzadeh-Mahani, A. (2018). Researcher Panelist presenting “Tracking Down Caregiver Goals: Co-Design in Action at Technology that Cares”. https://events.huddol.com/event/technology-that-cares/