Samantha Sutherland is an Honours Biomedical Science student at the University of Ottawa, whose interests surround women’s, maternal and newborn health, with a focus on health equity among underserved communities. Currently, she is conducting a scoping review investigating the biological and social determinants of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in Indigenous populations, specifically exploring influences of nutrition and the gut microbiome. Through this work, she hopes to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of how social inequalities and biological mechanisms interact to influence maternal and newborn health outcomes; potentially creating a culturally informed and equitable platform for healthcare approaches to this issue. Beyond research, Samantha enjoys teaching canoeing, spending time outdoors, cooking and various community involvement initiatives.