Founder and Director, Tara Zupancic, MPH
Tara is a public health scientist specialized in environmental health, health equity and knowledge translation. For over 20 years, Tara has focused on the relationship between the environment and human health with an emphasis on child well-being and vulnerable populations. She works to advance equity in public helath programs and policy, combining scientific evidence with the leadership and lived experience of communities.
Dedication: My mother was born in Hamburg Germany in 1941. At four years old, she fled with her mother and three siblings from the allied bombings. They eventually reunited in an Austrian refugee camp near Linz where they lived for ten years before coming to Canada. My dad was born on a farm near Ljubliana in the former Yugoslavia (now Slovenia). When he was five years old, his father was abducted and murdered, under the guise of politics. My dad and his four siblings were raised by his mother and aunt. At the age of 18, under the cover of night, he swam into Austria after two former failed attempts. He made his way to Canada with dreams of exploring South America.
Both of my parents speak fondly of their youth and see the world as a place of goodness. They are examples of steel forged in fire while maintaining hearts of gold. I owe my sensibilities about humanity, fairness, and wellbeing to them. It’s through them I understand “all good things are wild and free”.
Selected Publications and Presentations
Zupancic, T, Westmacott, C. (2016) Working with local governments to support health equity through the built environment. BC Centre for Disease Control.
Zupancic, T., The Nature of Cities: building health from the ground up (Keynote). European Forum on Urban Forestry, Ljubljana, Slovenia, June 1st, 2016.
Zupancic, T., Kingsley, M., Jason, T., Macfarlane, R. (2015). Green City: Why nature matters to health. Toronto Public Health. The city of Toronto. http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-83421.pdf
Zupancic, T., Bulthuis, M., Westmacott, C. (2015). The impact of green space on heat and air pollution in urban communities. The David Suzuki Foundation. https://davidsuzuki.org/science-learning-centre-article/impact-green-space-heat-air-pollution-urban-communities/
Masuda, J. R., Zupancic, T., Crighton, E. et al. (2014). Equity-focused knowledge translation: a framework for “reasonable action” on health inequities. International Journal of Public Health, 59(3), 457-464.
Masuda, J.R., Zupancic, T., Poland, B., and Cole, D. (2008). Environmental health and vulnerable populations in Canada: mapping an integrated equity-focused research agenda. The Canadian Geographer 54(4): 427-450.
Zupancic, T., Masuda, J., Hancock, T., et al. “Equity-focused Knowledge Translation in Children’s Environmental Health”. Canadian Public Health Association 2012 Annual Conference, Public Health in Canada: Creating and Sustaining Healthy Environments. Shaw Conference Centre, Edmonton, Alberta June 14, 2012
Zupancic, T., “Reducing Health Inequalities: Influencing Change Through Settings Approaches.” Canadian Public Health Association 2012 Annual Conference, Public Health in Canada: Creating and Sustaining Healthy Environments. Shaw Conference Centre, Edmonton, Alberta June 11, 2012
Zupancic, T., “Supporting Urban Communities’ Capacity to Promote Environmental Health Equity Through Dialogue.” Climate Change Adaptation and Health Equity Workshop Summary Report Metro Hall, 55 John Street, Room 310, Toronto May 24, 2011. Workshop Summary Report: http://www.toronto.ca/health/hphe/pdf/climatechangeandhealthequity.pdf
Zupancic, T., “Equity-focused Environmental Health Assessment” Extreme Heat and Climate Change in Urban Settings. Engaging Priority Populations, 2011 OPHA/HPO Fall Forum October 6, 2011, Toronto Marriot, Toronto, Ontario http://www.cvent.com/events/2011-opha-hpo-fall-forum/agenda-02c13b0003c84ba58e8133aa825ffe6a.aspx
Zupancic T and Burkhart, S., “An Introduction to Children’s Environmental Health” Best Start Annual Conference 2005
Other
Peer Reviewer (2012) Urban Physical Environments and Health Inequalities: A Scoping Review of Interventions Canadian Institutes for Health Information https://secure.cihi.ca/free_products/UrbanPhysicalReport2012EN_web.pdf