Sepsis, Equity, and the Fight for a National Standards In Canada with PhD. Candidate & Prominent Researcher Fatima Sheikh

In this powerful episode of The Gritty Nurse Podcast, host Amie Archibald-Varley sits down with researcher Fatima Sheikh, a PhD candidate at McMaster University, to unpack the urgent crisis of sepsis.

This conversation goes beyond the bedside, focusing on the social and structural determinants of health that fuel sepsis prevalence and worsen patient outcomes. Fatima argues for recognizing sepsis as a critical public health issue that begins in the community, not the hospital.

Key topics discussed:

• The need for a national action plan to address policy gaps in sepsis care and prevention.

• The critical significance of equity in research and clinical practice.

• The role of community engagement in early recognition and prevention.

• The potential—and pitfalls—of using AI in sepsis diagnosis and management.

This is a crucial listen for nurses, public health professionals, policymakers, and anyone concerned with health justice. Learn why treating sepsis as a medical emergency is essential and what structural changes are needed to save lives.

More about Fatima:

Fatima Sheikh (She/Her) is a PhD Candidate at McMaster University and a Health Equity Specialist at Hamilton Health Sciences.

Her research focuses onunderstanding how social determinants of health influence both the incidence and outcomes of critical illnesses. She also explores how these determinants shape healthcare delivery, with the goal of informing equitable health policies, responsible evidence use, and inclusive care practices. Fatima's academic foundation includes a master's thesis centered on equity, diversity, and inclusion, in which she investigated how gender and ethnicity affect N95 respirator fit among a diverse group of Canadian healthcare workers. At the core of Fatima's work is a commitment to understanding how social and structural factors shape health and disease, their systemic implications, and the power of cross-sector collaboration to drive meaningful change.

Listen now to learn why talking about death is the key to a better life.

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