Dr. Saskia Sivanathan is a neuroscientist turned data scientist and is currently the Chief Research & KTE Officer at the Alzheimer Society of Canada who has also done stints at Alberta Health Services and the World Health Organization. She joins Ara on this week’s episode of #TheTamilCreator to discuss her upbringing in Saudi Arabia, working at the World Health Organization in Switzerland, how and why she got involved with work revolving around aging and dementia, voluntarily living in a senior home for two weeks (as a resident) and much more.
Follow Saskia:
- LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-saskia-sivananthan-011a492/)
- Twitter (https://twitter.com/saskiasiva)
Timestamps
00:19 - Ara introduces this week’s guest, Dr. Saskia Sivananthan
00:56 - Dr. Saskia speaks on the impact of growing up in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
05:15 - Opting for an academic career path as a result of her love for learning, before changing her mind
08:50 - Being forced into playing the piano and then falling in love with it
11:47 - Living in Senior Homes for two weeks (just to see what it was like)
17:15 - How surplus demand for healthcare affects the quality of healthcare provided
21:16 - Working at Alberta Health Services
25:40 - Working at the World Health Organization in Switzerland
30:00 - Returning to Canada to take up her current role
33:09 - What Dr. Saskia’s job scope entails
35:20 - Information around dementia that the public needs to be more aware of
38:12 - How Dr. Saskia began doing work around dementia; meeting Vince
46:26 - Biggest learning lessons over the last five years
51:56 - What Dr. Saskia would tell her 16-year-old self
53:28 - The personal legacy she wants to leave behind
55:01 - Creator Confessions
59:44 - The Wrap Up
Intro Music
Produced And Mixed By:
- The Tamil Creator
- Yanchan
Written By:
- Aravinthan Ehamparam
- Yanchan Rajmohan