After becoming an NP, Mia worked with stakeholders to create low-barrier models of HIV prevention, and hepatitis B and C care at a time when few, if any, self-referral options existed. This aligned with Mia’s research, through which she has contributed to nearly all aspects of care in these areas — from improving diagnostic testing to evaluating models of care within quality improvement studies (including NP-led care!), observational studies, clinical trials, and administrative health and health economics.
Although hepatitis B virus (HBV) has a vaccine, new pediatric infections continue to occur in Canada, as many provinces do not vaccinate at birth. In her research, Mia demonstrated that children born in Canada and living in Ontario are acquiring HBV prior to adolescent vaccination, and that switching to a birth-dose strategy would be cost-effective. She and her colleagues continue to lobby NACI and the provincial government for policy change.
In the case of hepatitis C, to engage stakeholders — including government — and support the expansion of HCV treatment in Ontario, Mia was part of a core group that led a province-wide consultation process. This effort resulted in the release of The Ontario Hepatitis C Elimination Roadmap in 2023. These recommendations are now guiding provincially funded initiatives aimed at improving testing, linkage to care, and treatment of HCV.
Mia’s most recent research in HCV focuses on demonstrating the impact of these new initiatives on health outcomes and provider practice patterns, as well as specifically evaluating screening and treatment in pregnancy.
Mia Biondi, PhD, NP-PHC
Assistant Professor & NP Program Coordinator, School of Nursing, York University
Director of Implementation, Viral Hepatitis Care Network
Adjunct Research Professor, Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University
LinkedIN:
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/mia-j-biondi-phd-np-phc-245a1978
Websites:
https://health.yorku.ca/health-profiles/index.php?dept=&mid=206826
