The RADIUS Health Promotion Lab aims to help prevent the widespread issue of lifestyle-based chronic diseases – diabetes type II, heart disease, and certain cancers – through the creation and incubation of innovative new models, ventures, partnerships, and health system interventions. The Health Promotion Lab uses an equity-based framework to support dialogue and action on addressing risk factors including unhealthy eating and physical inactivity, as well as root causes such as the social determinants of health.
Health Equity: what we are working towards by addressing the unfair and avoidable health differences shaped by the social determinants of health that are deeply rooted in systems and institutions
Social Determinants of Health: the conditions in which we live in that contribute to one’s vulnerability to preventable chronic diseases and health challenges
Intersectionality: a term first coined by Kimberle Crenshaw- we apply this concept in our work to achieve health equity by centering the lived experiences of impacted communities to understand the health differences among communities and how it’s influenced by the interconnectedness of social identities
Lab: A collaborative space for focused learning discovery and action, focused on systemic change
The Reimagine Health Program is a six-month cohort-based program that supports community members and leaders to explore health equity issues in their communities and build ideas to prevent chronic diseases. Through Reimagine Health, we support you to produce new and better initiatives that address the systems that actively influence health disparities.
The Slingshot Accelerator Program is a six-month program that supports early stage, social impact ventures that are ready to grow. Through Slingshot’s unique combination of cohort based learning, individualized mentorship, and equity investment, RADIUS supports ventures to become investment, market, and growth ready.
The Trampoline Business Model Validation Program is a two to three month pre-accelerator for very early stage ventures or individuals with a health promoting solution. Through Trampoline’s validation program, we test your business model for alignment in three key areas, daylight critical gaps, and give you the confidence you need to move forward.
Ilhan Abdullahi
Program Manager
Ilhan is a Somali-Canadian whose parents’ migration journey brought her to these unceded Coast Salish Lands at a very young age. Stemming from her family’s experience of being racialized newcomers, Ilhan has been passionate in addressing social and health inequities and developed a commitment to social justice. Having spent some time in community activism, youth work and health promotion in the Lower Mainlands of Vancouver, Ilhan then moved to Toronto to pursue her Masters in Public Health and gain a critical intersectional analysis on what promotes vulnerability to health inequities. She has recently returned to BC and is ecstatic to get involved in health equity and community work. When she’s not working, you can find her embarking on solo travels somewhere in the world.
Vanja (VJ) Terzic
Incubation Programs Manager
Véronik Campbell
Associate Director, Labs
Véronik is a capacity enabler, strategy wiz, and settler on ancestral, traditional, and unceded Coast Salish lands. Véronik loves the growth and energy that emerge when we find ways for all to feel fully listened to and empowered to contribute to bold and beautiful things.
In her role as Associate Director of the RADIUS Lab portfolio, this translates into Véronik finding her true flow when working with community leaders to find ways to grow their capacity and impact in service of systems change. She does so in a way that encourages continuous self-awareness, disrupts white supremacy culture, and ensures the priorities of marginalized communities are fundamental to guiding decisions.
And when it’s time to slow down and re-energize, you’ll find Véronik rosy-cheeked after a day in nature, preparing a feast, surrounded by family and friends.
If you still have questions about Health Promotion Lab, email Ilhan Abdullahi at iabdullahi@radiussfu.com.
