For Dr. Greg Hundemer (Medicine/OHRI), hypertension isn’t just a common medical condition—it’s a puzzle waiting to be solved. As a nephrologist and researcher, he is particularly interested in the hormone aldosterone and its role in high blood pressure and vascular disease. While aldosterone is essential in times of stress—helping our bodies retain salt—its dysregulation contributes to many cases of hypertension, increasing the risk of heart and kidney disease.

Challenging the "one-size-fits-all" approach

Hypertension affects one in four adults, yet treatment approaches often fail to address the underlying causes unique to each patient. “We need to move away from a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to hypertension,” says Dr. Hundemer. “By targeting the unique mechanisms driving an individual patient’s hypertension, we could make significant strides in preventing heart and kidney disease.”

The power of mentorship

Throughout his career, mentorship has been a guiding force. During his fellowship at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, he was introduced to Dr. Anand Vaidya, a world leader in primary aldosteronism. “His innovative ideas transformed my understanding of hypertension and sparked my interest in clinical and translational research,” Dr. Hundemer reflects. He continues to seek Dr. Vaidya’s guidance while also building strong mentorship connections in Ottawa with colleagues like Drs. Greg Knoll, Kevin Burns, Manish Sood, Ayub Akbari, and Swapnil Hiremath.

Advice for future researchers

For those pursuing research, Dr. Hundemer highlights three key lessons:

1. Hard work, dedication, and persistence are essential—obstacles are inevitable, but how you respond to them will determine your success.
2. Research is a team effort. Build a strong, supportive network and don’t limit it geographically—collaborations across Canada and beyond can be invaluable.
3. Prioritizing work-life balance is critical for long-term success. “Family is my #1 priority, and all of my success is thanks to their support.”

Beyond medicine: a high-flying past

Prior to his internal medicine residency, Dr. Hundemer spent four years as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force, working with the U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft program. “I may be one of the only kidney doctors to have flown above 70,000 feet and seen the curvature of the Earth,” he shares. His military experience profoundly shaped his path, reinforcing the resilience and adaptability that now define his approach to medicine and research. 

Dr. Beth Potter (SEPH) is committed to improving care and outcomes for children with rare genetic diseases. While these children often have complex medical needs, the small number of cases for each rare disease makes it difficult to conduct rigorous studies, leading to a lack of evidence to guide care. To address this, Dr. Potter and her collaborators work within multi-centre networks to co-design studies with patients, families, and health care providers. “By working together, we can make the best use of limited resources, enroll participants from a larger area, and focus on the most important research questions and outcomes,” she explains. She also explores methods to streamline care evaluation, including clinical trials that leverage high-quality patient registries. She currently leads the INFORM RARE research network.

A career shaped by newborn screening

Dr. Potter’s research journey began with a passion for maternal and child health. After completing her PhD, she focused on population-based newborn screening programs and soon recognized a major challenge: the scarcity of evidence on treatment effectiveness for rare diseases targeted by screening. “With my background in epidemiology, child health, and screening, I was well-positioned to focus on improving the evidence base,” she says. This coincided with Ontario’s newborn screening program expanding and moving to CHEO under the leadership of Dr. Pranesh Chakraborty. Their collaboration in this area has spanned nearly two decades.

The power of mentorship and collaboration

Throughout her career, mentorship and collaboration have been instrumental to Dr. Potter’s success. “I have had fantastic mentors, including my doctoral supervisor, Dr. Kathy Speechley, and post-doctoral supervisors, Drs. Brenda Wilson and Ian Graham,” she says. She values the opportunity to work with diverse collaborators across disciplines, which allows her to continuously learn. Over the past eight years, she has also worked closely with patient and family partners. “It has been particularly rewarding to learn from their unique perspectives and to see the benefits of partnership.”

Advice for future researchers

Dr. Potter encourages aspiring researchers to follow their passion. “It’s important to be strategic to build a successful career, but I think it’s even more important to pursue research that you really care about,” she advises. “Doing research that I find meaningful helps me persist through the inevitable challenges and bring energy and creativity to my work.”

A new perspective on student life

This academic year has given Dr. Potter a fresh perspective—her oldest child began university at the University of Ottawa. “It’s been fun to see things from the student perspective as my oldest navigates undergraduate life!” she shares. Watching this transition has deepened her appreciation for the student journey and the experience of post-secondary education.

Dr. Mireille Ouimet’s (BMI/UOHI) research explores cholesterol trafficking and lipid metabolism in cardiovascular diseases, with a particular focus on lipid droplet metabolism and autophagy in foam cells. She is especially interested in lipophagy—a selective form of autophagy that regulates lipid droplet turnover. Recently, her work has expanded into neurodegeneration, investigating how cholesterol balance influences cognitive health. “Lipid metabolism plays a critical role in many diseases, and understanding these fundamental processes can open new doors for treatment,” she explains. 

A personal and scientific drive

Dr. Ouimet’s journey into research was anything but conventional. She began her undergraduate studies in electrical engineering with plans to attend medical school, but along the way, she discovered a passion for discovery research. “I was drawn to the elegance of science in answering complex, fundamental questions,” she recalls. Her motivation is also deeply personal—her family has a history of stroke, heart disease, and high cholesterol, including herself. “I have elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], a particularly pro-atherogenic lipoprotein that is often overlooked in clinical practice—so I always encourage people to get their Lp(a) checked!” she adds. For Dr. Ouimet, the combination of scientific curiosity and the hope of improving patient care keeps her motivated. “Ultimately, I want our research to make a meaningful difference at the bedside.”

Mentorship and a supportive research community

Dr. Ouimet credits several key mentors for shaping her career. During her PhD, Dr. Yves Marcel ignited her passion for cholesterol efflux mechanisms and encouraged her scientific curiosity. As a postdoctoral researcher, she worked with Kathryn Moore, who emphasized the importance of working smart and embracing interdisciplinary research. Beyond academia, her biggest role model is her mother, who broke barriers in a male-dominated field. “Watching her navigate those challenges instilled in me a deep sense of resilience,” Dr. Ouimet says. She also values the strong sense of camaraderie among her colleagues at UOHI and uOttawa. “I’m incredibly grateful for this collaborative research community—it makes a significant difference in both my work and well-being.”

Advice for the next generation

To young researchers, Dr. Ouimet emphasizes the importance of stepping outside comfort zones and following one’s passions. “Don’t chase trends or try to please others—stay true to yourself,” she advises. She also encourages setting boundaries, recognizing limits, and finding balance between work and personal life. “It’s okay to take time for yourself and your family without guilt,” she notes. At the same time, she stresses the importance of surrounding oneself with a strong support network. “Build a ‘village’ of mentors, colleagues, and collaborators who lift you up and make the work enjoyable.”

A quirky quarantine companion  

Dr. Ouimet’s pandemic purchase? A free-roaming lionhead rabbit named Billy with a surprisingly refined palate. “He would sneak sips of beer and wine from our glasses whenever we weren’t looking—living his best life during quarantine!” she laughs. A fitting reminder that sometimes, the best discoveries happen in the most unexpected places.