Name
Saba Saleem
Program
Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering
Research Supervisor
Dr. Rehan Sadiq
Hometown
Lahore, Pakistan
Awards
NSERC Doctoral Award
UBC Okanagan Graduate Research Scholarship
Green Nephrology Award from the Canadian Society of Nephrology
Top Research Abstract Award from the Canadian Society of Transplantation
Please describe your research. What inspires you about your research?
Climate change is a major global public health challenge, and the healthcare sector plays a dual role by responding to its health impacts while also contributing significantly to environmental burdens. Despite this, the environmental footprint of healthcare services is often overlooked.
My research focuses on integrating environmental considerations into healthcare decision-making, with a specific emphasis on kidney care services. I aim to reduce the carbon footprint, resource use, and waste generation associated with kidney replacement therapies, including dialysis and kidney transplantation, while maintaining or improving patient outcomes. This involves evaluating innovative technologies, optimizing processes, and developing evidence-based strategies to support environmentally informed clinical and policy decision-making.
What inspires me most is the opportunity to create meaningful impact at the intersection of patient care and planetary health. Kidney care, particularly dialysis, is life-sustaining yet highly resource-intensive. By advancing sustainable solutions in this critical field, I contribute to building a healthcare system that protects both human health and the environment. The challenge of embedding environmental sustainability into such a complex and essential area of medicine continues to motivate my work.
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I have a great passion for research and exploring new ideas. I wanted to develop the expertise and research skills necessary to address complex and real-world challenges. During my earlier academic and professional experiences, I recognized that many environmental impacts within healthcare systems are insufficiently quantified and rarely integrated into decision-making processes. I was motivated to gain advanced methodological training and a deeper theoretical foundation to contribute meaningful, evidence-based solutions. A graduate degree has allowed me to think critically, work independently, and engage in interdisciplinary collaboration, all of which are essential for addressing systemic issues such as sustainable healthcare delivery. It has provided me with the tools to not only understand these challenges but also to design practical and scalable solutions that can influence policy and practice.
Why did you choose to come to UBC Okanagan?
I chose to study at UBC Okanagan because of its strong emphasis on interdisciplinary research and sustainability. The university provides outstanding facilities and research infrastructure that foster innovation and support high-quality, impactful work. Its location in a diverse natural setting further strengthens opportunities to engage with environmental challenges in a meaningful and applied way. UBC Okanagan also offers a collaborative and supportive research environment, with access to advanced analytical tools and strong connections to academic and community partners. Its focus on addressing real-world problems through applied research aligns closely with my goal of advancing sustainable kidney care. Being part of a research-intensive institution that prioritizes both environmental stewardship and societal impact was a key factor in my decision.
Where do you hope your research will take you next?
I hope to further develop my research by integrating environmental sustainability principles into healthcare systems, with a stronger emphasis on real-world implementation and policy influence. My goal is to translate research findings into practical frameworks and decision-support tools that can guide hospitals, healthcare providers, and policymakers toward lower-carbon, resource-efficient care models.
In the next stage, I aim to collaborate more closely with health authorities, clinicians, and industry partners to scale sustainable kidney care solutions beyond pilot studies and into routine practice. Ultimately, I see my work contributing to broader systemic change, embedding environmental performance metrics into healthcare planning and shaping policies that align patient outcomes with planetary health.
Please share a little bit about yourself.
Beyond my academic interests, I enjoy travelling and exploring new places and cultures, as they are enriching experiences that broaden my understanding of the world. Each new destination offers unique insights into different cultures, histories, and ways of life. Whether it is immersing myself in local traditions, tasting authentic cuisines, or marvelling at natural wonders, these experiences inspire me and often influence my approach to research and life. Travelling fuels my curiosity fosters personal growth, and allows me to appreciate the diversity and interrelation of our global community.
Additionally, as a wife and mother of three wonderful children, my family is at the center of my life. We love spending weekends hiking in nature, trying out new activities together, or simply enjoying quiet moments at home. I believe that these moments of exploration and family bonding are essential for maintaining a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle outside of my research.