Dr. Sarah Raza

Research Associate

• Ph.D. (University of Alberta)

Sarah Raza is a Research Associate at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute and Policy Analyst with the Government of Canada. Her research aims to better understand the clinical, social, and system-level factors that influence outcomes for autistic children and their families. She holds a PhD in Medical Sciences (Pediatrics) from the University of Alberta, where she investigated the early detection, diagnosis, and intervention of autism. During this work, she identified broader challenges in how families access and navigate services and supports, sparking her interest in translating scientific evidence into policies that better support autistic individuals and their families. Her research program spans autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities across the lifespan, with interests in early development, access to evidence-informed supports and interventions, family experiences, and the systems that shape access to care and support. Drawing on experience in both research and policy, she seeks to generate evidence that informs decision-making and contributes to meaningful improvements in services, systems, and quality of life for autistic individuals and their families.