Each year, YWCA Hamilton honours women whose leadership strengthens our community. PHRI is proud to celebrate two of our own among the 2026 Women of Distinction nominees: Emilie Belley Côté, scientist and associate deputy director, and Gita Wahi, associate investigator.
Both are nominated in the Health and Wellness category, which recognizes women who work to improve the health of their communities and advance health equity for women, girls, and gender‑diverse people.
Emilie Belley-Cote
Emilie obtained her MD from Université de Sherbrooke. After training in internal medicine and cardiology and completing an MSc in Clinical Sciences at Sherbrooke, she completed a critical care fellowship at McMaster University. In 2019, she finished her PhD in Health Research Methodology at McMaster University. She is now an associate professor in the Department of Medicine and practices critical care cardiology in the cardiovascular intensive care unit and coronary care unit at Hamilton General Hospital. Her research interests include perioperative cardiac surgery care, knowledge synthesis, and guideline development. She leads the CIHR‑funded LIMIT, DANCE, and PRINCE trials. She has published more than 300 articles, including work in NEJM, Lancet, JAMA, and leading critical care journals.
Gita Wahi
Gita focuses her research on improving the health and well‑being of children and families, particularly those affected by or at risk of childhood obesity. Her work involves health promotion, early intervention, and developing treatment strategies in collaboration with families. She studies the causes and treatment of childhood obesity, addresses health disparities among underrepresented communities, and uses community‑based approaches to ensure culturally relevant care. Her research is closely connected to her clinical practice, allowing her findings to inform patient care directly. She also works with community and health‑sector partners to expand the reach of her work.
The YWCA Hamilton Women of Distinction Awards celebrate women and girls across Hamilton and Halton who are creating meaningful change in their communities. This year’s nominees are recognized for their leadership and their commitment to advancing health, wellness, and health equity for women, girls, and gender‑diverse people. Award recipients will be announced on March 5 at the annual Women of Distinction Gala in celebration of International Women’s Day.
