Maria Abou Taka
Maria Abou Taka was an American-Canadian immunologist with a passion for advancing patient-centred healthcare through research, advocacy, and the arts. In London, Ontario, she combined scientific inquiry with a strong commitment to mental health advocacy. During her time at Western, she championed initiatives that expanded access to culturally responsive mental health services for thousands of students, shaping campus-wide policies to improve care equity.
Her research spanned diverse areas of oncology and immunology, including macrophage regulation in pneumonia, radiomics for improving surgical techniques in head and neck cancers, and strategies to enhance transplant outcomes. Guided by a vision of equitable healthcare, she focused on translating scientific discovery into clinical solutions that empower patients and communities.