This spring, the CaRDM Eq Training Program proudly celebrates a major milestone: our first graduates!
Designed to build capacity at the intersection of digital health, health equity, and cardiac care, the program enriches participants’ graduate studies with unique opportunities for technical training, professional skills, interdisciplinary mentorship, and real-world experience.
As these inaugural graduates move on to exciting next steps, we asked them to reflect on their CaRDM Eq experience — and how the program helped shape their paths. Here’s what they had to say.
Behrad Taghibeyglou
PhD Candidate in Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto
What’s next for you?
I have secured a post-doctoral researcher position at the Electrical and Computer Engineering and Speech Language Pathology departments at the University of Toronto, and will be cross-appointed with the Data Science Institute and Vector Institute.
How did the CaRDM Eq program impact your journey?
CaRDM Eq was a huge help and enriched my studies by providing a wide range of excellent skills. Most importantly, the lessons I gained from the Communications for Access module helped me polish my interview presentation and proposal for the Postdoctoral Fellowship that I was awarded.
Ruben Castillo Barberi
Graduate Student in Chemistry, University of Toronto
What’s next for you?
I recently started working as a Territory Sales Specialist at Mettler Toledo.
Mettler Toledo makes high-precision instruments used in labs, manufacturing, and retail for weighing, analysis, and quality control. Their tools can be used to support accurate measurement of crucial data for managing conditions like heart failure in clinical or remote settings.
How did the CaRDM Eq program impact your journey?
CaRDM Eq definitely played a monumental role in my graduate journey. It introduced me to a whole new world of opportunities outside of the lab through networking events and collaborations. I was truly inspired by the TRANSFORM HF team’s focus on collaborating with different stakeholders. Whether it’s clinicians, researchers, or patients, the program really illustrates the importance of collaborating with all players involved in the innovation of digital health technology.
CaRDM Eq also introduced me to the ECHO Discovery Program, which sparked my interest in sales. Coming out of the six-month training, I continued to develop the soft skills I needed to break into this field. My interests still lie in the development of point-of-care devices, and I aim to pursue a long-term career in medical device sales.
Ryan Li
Graduate Student in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto
What’s next for you?
I’m currently looking for a job in industry. Specifically, I am pursuing roles in biomedical engineering, laboratory management, and consulting.
How did the CaRDM Eq program impact your journey?
CaRDM Eq trained me in a lot of ways, especially on how to work respectfully with people with lived experience through the Co-Creation module, as well as with Indigenous partners through On the Land. The program opened my eyes to a new world of possibilities in the future of heart failure, research, and clinical studies.
Looking Ahead
The CaRDM Eq Training Program is about more than just technical skills — it’s about nurturing future leaders with the ability to ground science and innovation in lived experience for equitable and impactful solutions. We’re so proud of Behrad, Ruben, and Ryan, and we can’t wait to see where their journeys take them next.
