Benjamin Leung

Benjamin Leung is a PhD candidate in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto, under the supervision of Professor Timothy C.Y. Chan. Ben previously completed his Master of Applied Science (2019) and Bachelor of Applied Science (2017) at the University of Toronto. In 2022, he was a visiting postgraduate student at the University of Edinburgh and is currently an honorary clinical data analyst at the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Ben’s research interests encompass the application of optimization and data analytics methods to resuscitation, emergency medical services, and pre-hospital response to time-urgent medical conditions. He is specifically interested in improving response to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest through a variety of means, such as through alerting bystanders nearby to help, increasing the accessibility and usage of automated external defibrillators, and building better ambulance response models; “All of these are with the goal of improving outcomes for cardiac arrest, which averages around 10-15% globally despite best efforts” Ben remarks. Ben is also keen on modelling and improving cardiac arrest response and has been working on ways to incorporate equity and fairness of processes as key components of his research.

When asked what he enjoys about being a part of the CANet CHAT community, Ben said, “As an aspiring resuscitation scientist with an engineering background, I have expertise in quantitative methods, but not so much experience with the clinical world. Being a part of CANet CHAT has helped me make, strengthen, and keep important connections with both mentors and peers, who have helped me grow in both my clinical knowledge base as well as becoming a better researcher, colleague, and human being”.

Ben is a proud recipient of the 2023 CANet CHAT Travel Award, which assisted in attending the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions (ACC) in March 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

In addition to his professional interests, Ben is an alumni mentor (and former team captain) of the University of Toronto Concrete Canoe Team, where they design and build canoes made from reinforced concrete and race and compete against canoes made by other students across Canada. Yes, they float!