After obtaining her B.A. in social work at the University of Quebec at Montreal (Canada 1986) and working as a community activist for several years, Geneviève decided to continue her studies at the University of Montreal, where she earned a M.A. and a Ph.D. in sociology. Her Ph.D. thesis (Canada 1998) combined her interest in the social introduction of new procreation technologies with her interest in lay knowledge and action. Her work showed that: 1) lay knowledge of procreation technologies is complex and diverse; 2) the foundation of this lay knowledge is similar to that which structures scientific knowledge; and 3) procreation is often “renaturalized,” even modified, by women using these technologies.

In 2002, Geneviève joined Pascale Lehoux at the GRIS (Interdisciplinary Health Research Group) as a research assistant. Health technologies and lay knowledge continue to be major themes in her research activities.

Myriam has a B.Sc. (1988) and a M.Sc. (1990) in social anthropology from the University of Montreal. She completed her Ph.D., again in anthropology, at the University of Cambridge (England 1996), which included 18 months’ of fieldwork in Russia.

 Myriam is principally interested in knowledge transfer and the perspective(s) of health care users.

After studying history for two years in France (University of Lille III), Stéphanie moved to Quebec, where she graduated from Laval University with a B.A. in anthropology (Canada 1994) and an M.A. in anthropology (Canada 1995). She then decided to undertake Ph.D. studies, again in anthropology, at the University of Montreal. After two and a half years of fieldwork in Vietnam and several years of analysis and writing, Stéphanie graduated in 2004.

During her fieldwork in Vietnam, not only did Stéphanie manage to learn a few words of Vietnamese and how to ride a motorcycle, she also worked for the “Courrier du Vietnam,” the only French newspaper in the country, and for the French Embassy. While she was still in Vietnam, Pascale Lehoux (Professor, Department of Health Administration, University of Montreal) offered her a job at the GRIS (Interdisciplinary Health Research Group) at the University of Montreal. Returning to Quebec in January 2001, she became a research assistant and the coordinator of the International Masters in Health Technology Assessment and Management (Ulysses Program).

Stéphanie is interested in anthropology, health issues and medical innovation, as well as health technology assessment and knowledge transfer. She is also an avid photographer.

Helena was raised in Switzerland and Italy and has a degree in political science (Licence sc. pol.) from the University of Lausanne (Switzerland 1994). After initially working as a journalist in the Swiss francophone daily press, she joined a public relations and communications firm, where for the next three years she specialized in public affairs and health.

In 1998, she joined the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health as coordinator of the national HIV/AIDS prevention campaign, a position she held for more than four years. Then, eager to gather experience in the private sector, she decided to seek a position in the watch making industry. In 2002, she joined Swatch Ltd. in Biel (Switzerland) as Director of Public Relations & International Events.

In April 2005, Helena settled in Canada. She is currently Head of Communications at the University of Montreal School of Public Health. She is fluent in French, English, Italian and German. She is married and her passion is playing jazz.

After receiving a diploma in mechanical engineering technology (Canada 1990), Patrick spent some time in the field of computer assisted design. But he quickly turned his attention to applied programming in mechanical engineering. It was in this field that he went on to become a programmer, analyst and teacher. He has practiced his profession in Sherbrooke (Quebec), Ottawa (Ontario) and, finally, Chattanooga (Tennessee).

After a decade of focusing on programming, Patrick headed back to school for a somewhat radical change in direction – television production. He then worked in post production (editing) for various television series broadcast throughout Quebec by Just for Laughs and the Canal Z and Canal D cable networks.

His love for media production and his enduring interest in science lead him to join the HINNOVIC team in 2007.