Gina Trubiani, PhD,
Associate Director, Operations,
Environmental Health & Safety
Gina has been with the University of Toronto (U of T) since 1998.
What do you do off the clock?
I am a health care administration officer, platoon commander and lieutenant with the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves.
How did you first become interested in joining the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves?
I have been interested in the socioeconomic effects of stress in the workforce for many years, so after completing my PhD (collaborative neuroscience program) in the Department of Cell & Systems Biology (at U of T), I decided to take my science background to the field so I could learn more about occupational stress first hand and better contextualize what I had discovered during my doctoral work.
I come from a strong military family and I could think of no better way to experience stress in the workplace than to become a soldier. It has been a phenomenal experience to say the least.
The Reserves work part-time (usually evenings, weekends and sometimes summer training) and health care administration officers complete a myriad of training requirements all across Canada. This past summer I completed my field training in CFB Borden, Ontario.
What (or who) inspires or influences your work?
My troops are a constant source of inspiration for me. As a platoon commander, I have approximately 25 troops in my chain who are incredibly hardworking soldiers. Some are students or work full-time, and many have done tours of duty abroad, all while balancing their civilian responsibilities and family commitments. I work very hard and will continue to do so to ensure that I am worthy to lead them.