She completed her Ph.D. at the University of Pompeu Fabra, Spain and her M.Sc. from the School of Public Health and Health Systems at the University of Waterloo, Canada. Prior to joining the faculty in HBHE, Dr. Mehdipanah was involved with the SOPHIE project (Evaluating the Impact of Structural Policies on Health Inequalities) funded by the European Community's 7th Framework Program. Within this project, she has led a four-year evaluation of an urban renewal policy and its effects on the health and health inequalities in some of Barcelona's neighborhoods. She specializes in innovative research methods including realist evaluations and concept mapping to develop conceptual frameworks linking complex interventions to health. She has published in the areas of urban renewal, housing and policies aimed at eliminating health inequalities.