Sterling Stutz
Sterling Stutz is a PhD Candidate in Social and Behavioural Health Sciences at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, with a Collaborative Specialization at the Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies at the University of Toronto. Her doctoral research is a community-engaged qualitative study examining antisemitism as a social determinant of health within Toronto’s Jewish communities in the wake of October 7th, 2023. Grounded in postcolonial and diaspora theory, her work explores how rising antisemitism impacts Jewish health, safety, and belonging, and is supported by a SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS-D).
Sterling holds a Master of Public Health in Indigenous Health from the University of Toronto and an Honour’s Bachelor of Arts in Health and Environmental Studies from York University. Prior to beginning her PhD, Sterling worked in local public health during the COVID-19 pandemic and at the Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health at the University of Toronto. Her earlier work focused on community-driven approaches to health equity, with a particular emphasis on Indigenous cultural safety, anti-Indigenous racism in healthcare systems, and ethical, relational research methods. She has co-authored numerous publications in these areas. While her current work reflects a shift toward examining health inequities within her own Jewish community, this transition builds on her foundational commitments to equity, accountability, and community-based research.
In addition to her research, Sterling teaches in Canadian Jewish History and Contemporary Jewish Canadian Communities in Canadian Studies at University College, University of Toronto. In recognition of her contributions to teaching and curriculum development, she received the 2024 Superior Graduate Student Course Instructor Award. Across all areas of her work, Sterling is committed to fostering Jewish belonging and resilience while advancing research that supports the health and well-being of communities experiencing structural oppression.
