Dr. Megan Racey

Adjunct Professor

College of Biological Science, Department of Human Health Sciences

Profile

I am passionate about advancing human health by translating high-quality research into meaningful action. My work focuses on bridging the gap between academia, policy, and practice to ensure evidence is accessible, credible, and impactful for diverse knowledge users.

I bring extensive experience in quantitative and qualitative research, with an interdisciplinary background spanning healthcare, public health, and the agri-food sector. Currently, as a Research Coordinator at Obesity Canada, I lead and support multidisciplinary research and evidence initiatives with local, provincial, and national partners and thought leaders - contributing to evidence synthesis, knowledge translation, and the development of clinical practice guidelines and recommendations.

As a research methods specialist, I have worked to synthesize and translate evidence across the lifespan to inform prevention and treatment approaches for complex health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and frailty. I am particularly motivated by work that supports dignity-centred, anti-stigma care and strengthens evidence-informed decision-making across clinical, community, and policy contexts.

I value roles that sit at the intersection of research, systems change, and real-world impact—where rigorous evidence directly informs practice, guidelines, and the co-design of community-based research and implementation initiatives.

Education

PhD, Human Health & Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph
MSc, Human Health & Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph
BSc with Distinction, Nutrition & Nutraceutical Sciences, University of Guelph

Research

My research focuses on obesity, diabetes, and chronic disease management, with particular expertise in evidence synthesis, clinical practice guidelines, knowledge translation, and implementation. My recent work has included research on type 2 diabetes remission, postpartum diabetes prevention following gestational diabetes, obesity management targets, and comprehensive obesity care. I have contributed to interdisciplinary research teams involving clinicians, researchers, people with lived experience, policymakers, and health system partners across Canada and internationally. I have a particular passion for knowledge mobilization - studying how evidence can be moved beyond publication and into practice, policy, education, and public understanding. I have experience in integrated knowledge mobilization, implementation-focused research, co-design, stakeholder engagement, and the development of evidence-informed tools and resources for diverse audiences.

I have contributed to systematic reviews, meta-analyses, guideline development, consensus processes, and co-designed research involving clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and people with lived experience. My current work at Obesity Canada involves national and international research initiatives focused on advancing obesity care, including the development and implementation of clinical practice guidelines and frameworks designed to move obesity care beyond weight-focused outcomes toward broader measures of health, function, and quality of life.

I am also interested in how emerging tools, including artificial intelligence, can improve the efficiency, accessibility, and translation of health research while maintaining methodological rigour.

Selected Publications

Sockalingam S, Racey M, Sherifali D, Alberga AS, Ard J, Horn DB, Busetto L, Kaplan LM, Le Roux CW, Macklin D, Nece P, Patton I, Pearce N, Preiss Y, Salmon Leguede MEG, Sharma AM, Teoh SH, van Rossum EFC, Wada J, Wharton S. Rethinking obesity management targets: Findings from an international MoSCoW prioritization workshop. Obesity Pillars. 2026;19:100311. doi: 10.1016/j.obpill.2026.100311.
Sherifali DT, Racey M, Greenway MK, Alliston PE, Ali MU, Gerstein HC, Integrated Knowledge Translation Type 2 Diabetes Remission Advisory Team. Type 2 Diabetes Remission: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Nonsurgical Randomized Controlled Trials. Diabetes Care. 2025;48(12):2181–2191. doi: 10.2337/dc25-0562.
Racey M, Alliston P, Sherifali D, Sriskandarajah A, Sushko K, Lipscombe L. Co-Designing a Postpartum Diabetes Prevention Program After Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A MoSCoW Prioritization Workshop Exercise. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. 2025;225:112269. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2025.112269.
Sherifali D, Racey M, Fitzpatrick-Lewis D, Greenway M, Sockalingam S, et al. Missing the Target: A Scoping Review of the Use of Percent Weight Loss for Obesity Management. Obesity Reviews. 2025;26(11). doi: 10.1111/obr.13960.
Sushko K, Racey M, Alliston P, Sherifali D, Smith K, Lipscombe L. Implementation Components of Diabetes Prevention Programs After Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Scoping Review. Current Diabetes Reports. 2025;25:58. doi: 10.1007/s11892-025-01615-0.
Greenway M, Domjancic M, Liu YC, Benzaquen A, Racey M, Jack SM, Sherifali D, Whitmore C. How Do Trauma- and Violence-Informed Care Approaches Underpin Bariatric Surgery Interventions for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Remission? A Scoping Review. Obesity Reviews. 2025;26(12). doi: 10.1111/obr.13980.
Li Z, Tobe S, Sherifali D, Racey M, Hua-Stewart D, Gravel CA, Lewis M, Mehta S, Hill MD, Haider N, Lindsay P, Liu P, Edwards JD. Consensus Methodology for the Canadian Brain and Heart Clinical Practice Guidelines. CJC Open. 2026;8(3):336–343. doi: 10.1016/j.cjco.2025.11.018.
Sahye-Pudaruth S, Racey M, Lipscombe L, Sushko K, Alliston P, Sriskandarajah A, Zehra A, Caplan L, Sherifali D. Assessing the Fidelity of Health Coaching for Adults With or at Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes: A Scoping Review. Patient Education and Counseling. 2026;151:109768. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2026.109768.