Dr. Maximova’s research focuses on solutions to improve the early life experiences, development, and well-being of children and youth experiencing poverty. She played a major role in evaluating the impact of the APPLE Schools (A Project Promoting healthy Living for Everyone in Schools) intervention program targeting physical activity, healthy eating, and mental health among more than 21,000 children and youth experiencing marginalization in Canada. She also spent several years with the Government of Canada working on policy issues focused on poverty in early life, ‘working poor’ families, income support for low-income families, family-friendly policies, affordable housing and homelessness.
Dr. Maximova has received several awards including a Career Development Award in Prevention Research from the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute, and a CIHR COVID-19 Rapid Research grant to study the impact of prolonged school closure and social isolation on mental health and lifestyle behaviours of elementary school children experiencing disadvantage.
Dr. Maximova is a scientist with MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions in the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael’s Hospital. She is an associate professor in the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, and an associate professor in the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health.