Macenzie Rebelo joins the Diabetes Action Canada (DAC) team as a Communication and Engagement Associate. She is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University, where she earned her Master’s in Journalism.

Over the past four years, she has dedicated her journalism to advocating for people with autoimmune conditions and disabilities. Drawing on her lived experience with an autoimmune condition, Macenzie is passionate about advancing equity and inclusion, and amplifying community voices to drive meaningful change.

Here are some questions prepared by the DAC team to get to know Macenzie better:

1. We always start our sessions with an icebreaker: If you could have unlimited amounts of any summer treat, what would it be and why?

For me, nothing says summer quite like fresh slices of watermelon. Growing up, it was always my family’s go-to sweet treat after a backyard barbecue or a day trip to Wasaga Beach. With the rising cost of fresh fruit these days, the idea of having unlimited access to perfectly ripe watermelon sounds like an absolute dream.

2. Tell us a little about yourself and the path that brought you to this role.

I took a somewhat unorthodox path to my role at DAC. My academic journey originally began in film, but after the pandemic, I realized I needed to pursue a career that better aligned with my health needs and lifestyle as a person with a disability and lupus.

Writing and storytelling had always been passions, so in 2022, after writing for several publications, I decided to pursue a master’s degree in journalism. Around the same time, I began working at Lupus Canada as a Writer and Communications Associate. Through that role, I combined my interests in storytelling, patient engagement, and advocacy, which ultimately led me to join Diabetes Action Canada in 2026!

3. What interested you most about joining Diabetes Action Canada as Communications Associate?

As someone living with a disability and chronic illness, it is important to me that people with lived experience are included in the research, programs, and policies that directly affect them. When I saw that DAC was hiring for a Communications Associate, it felt like the perfect opportunity. I had been looking for a role in healthcare that was committed to amplifying patient voices and embedding patient engagement into its work.

The position combined so many of the things I love: storytelling, writing, marketing, and design, while also allowing me to contribute to meaningful change in the healthcare space. It felt like the ideal blend of creativity and advocacy. The stars truly aligned, and the opportunity came along at exactly the right time.

4. What will you be working on in your new role?

In this role, I work alongside Linxi Mytkolli, Director of Patient Engagement and Knowledge Mobilization. My work focuses on storytelling, design, and communications that highlight DAC’s impact in patient engagement, knowledge mobilization, and digital health.

I help share patient voices through initiatives such as the Patient Voices blog, the Research-to-Action Fellowship, and Patient Circles, while also creating articles and content that showcase the important work happening across the organization.

One of my favourite parts of the role is the opportunity to be creative. From designing social media content to supporting webinars and events, no two days are the same, and I get to combine storytelling, advocacy, and design in meaningful ways.

5. What excites you about communicating research, patient engagement, and the experiences of people affected by diabetes?

I have loved experience with diabetes, as it affects both sides of my family. Like lupus, diabetes is often an invisible illness, and through my work, I have found a strong sense of kinship within the diabetes community. While our conditions may be different, many of the challenges we face, like navigating daily life, relationships, and the healthcare system, are remarkably similar.

It is important to me that people affected by diabetes see themselves reflected in the policies, research, advocacy, and care that shape their lives. I feel fortunate to play a role in creating spaces where people can safely share their experiences, have their voices heard, and contribute to meaningful change. Knowing that these stories can help inform real-world impact is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work!

6. Outside of work, what are a few things that bring you joy or that people might be surprised to learn about you?

For much of my life, I was a painter and visual artist. Unfortunately, my condition has made painting more difficult over time, but art remains a huge part of who I am. I studied Art History during my undergraduate degree and now pursue art journalism on the side, with a particular focus on highlighting the work of disabled and queer artists.

It will likely come as no surprise that I am also an avid reader. I make a point of reading every day and am currently on my 15th book of the year. I tend to gravitate toward historical fiction, mythological retellings, biographies, and memoirs. As a lifelong Greek mythology enthusiast, one of my favourite books of all time is The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller.

I am also passionate about music and enjoy playing guitar whenever my hands allow it. Beyond that, I love to travel. Some of my favourite destinations have been Ireland and the Azores, where my family is from. This year, I am excited to visit Amsterdam, where I plan to see the works of my favourite painter, Johannes Vermeer, at the Rijksmuseum.