Educational & Career Goals
My short-term goal is to complete my Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Cancer Biology. Then, I will complete a summer research internship at SickKids Hospital in Toronto, going back to complete a project I have been working on for the past two summers. I hope to complete and submit the publication paper I have been working on alongside the team by August.
As for my long term goals, I hope to attend medical school. In medical school, I will continue conducting research, and become more engaged with medical innovations. I hope to visit different conferences and present my own research work as well, getting access to more collaboration in the scientific field. Specfically, my SickKids research so far has focused on a neonatal intestinal condition called Necrotizing Enterocolitis. There is a leading laboratory at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, called the Hackam lab, that also studies Necrotizing Enterocolitis. As a medical student, I hope to complete an abroad summer internship with the Hackam lab as well, facilitating collaboration between the Pierro lab at SickKids and the Hackam lab at Johns Hopkins.
Further in the future, I hope to specialize into gastrointestinal diseases and even start my own research team to lead clinical trials.
Education pathway Summary
1. Complete Bachelor of Medical Sciences with an honours specialization in Biochemistry and Cancer Biology at Western University.
2. Pursue medical school and complete research modules throughout medical education.
3. Specialize into gastroenterology.
4. Complete the Clinical Investigator program at University of Toronto to better engage with medical research and start a laboratory.
Transferrable Skills & Their Benefits to My Future Career
Critical Thinking &
Problem Solving
In my CEL project, I tackled a real-world issue, the inequitable access to cancer clinical trials, and worked to identify feasible, evidence-based solutions. This experience strengthened my critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are essential for any future physician. As a doctor, I’ll be equipped to assess complex patient cases and develop tailored, effective care plans. Additionally, this experience has prepared me to advocate for systemic changes at the institutional level to help improve the overall quality of care for patients.
Assessment of and Advocacy for Health Equity
Through my CEL project, I developed a deeper understanding of how systemic barriers—such as low health literacy—contribute to health inequities, particularly in cancer care. I learned to assess the structural factors that influence patient outcomes and to explore ways to address those barriers. This experience not only sharpened my ability to recognize inequities but also strengthened my commitment to advocate for more inclusive, patient-centered care. As a future physician, I will be able to identify the social determinants that affect patient outcomes and advocating to improve the health of both individuals and communities.
Collaboration & Teamwork
My CEL project provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen my teamwork skills in a real-world healthcare setting. Working closely with a small group, we navigated various tasks such as literature reviews, environmental scans, and solution development. This experience taught me how to listen actively, communicate clearly, and support my peers, even under pressure. As a future physician, I will be able to apply the skills I cultivated during my CEL project to work effectively alongside multidisciplinary healthcare teams that often include various perspectives and backgrounds
Adaptability
Throughout my CEL project, I developed a strong sense of adaptability which is an essential skill for anyone entering the healthcare field. When our project coordinator unexpectedly stepped away, my team and I had to quickly pivot, re-evaluate our progress, and adjust our project goals under a tighter timeline. We met with our course coordinator to restructure our plan and ensure that our work could still have a meaningful impact. This experience taught me how to stay flexible in the face of uncertainty and remain calm under pressure. As a future physician, I know that adaptability is crucial, whether it's responding to changes in a patient's condition, new medical research, or unexpected challenges in clinical settings. My CEL experience gave me the tools to navigate change with confidence and resilience.
Communication in Difficult Conversations
A personal weakness of mine has been the inability to speak up to figures of authority. However, through my CEL project, I learned how important it is to have difficult conversations. My initial hesitation to bring up concerns about the lack of assigned work led to our team having to rush the project on short notice toward the end of the year. Ultimately, when my team and I spoke with Rayyan (our project coordinator) about the struggles we faced, the conversation was not judgmental—it was solution-oriented. As a future doctor, I know that having difficult conversations with authority figures is essential for advocating for patient needs and preferences—especially when others may not be aware of them. Therefore, the skill I take away can lead to meaningful changes that improve the quality of care.
Scholarly Article Preparation
As part of my CEL experience, I gained valuable insight into the process of preparing a scholarly article. From conducting literature reviews and analyzing data to drafting and editing written sections, I contributed to each stage of the manuscript development process. This experience helped me understand the level of precision, critical thinking, and attention to detail required to produce scholarly work. These skills have strengthened my ability to communicate scientific findings clearly and professionally which is an essential asset as I continue pursuing research opportunities in medical school and beyond. Therefore, the skills I take away from CEL make me better-prepared to take on research in real world as a medical student and even later, as a physician who aspires to conduct clinical trials.
How My CEL Course Has Impacted My Future Career
My CEL course experience has played a significant role in preparing me for a future career in medicine by equipping me with essential, transferable skills that form a strong foundation for success as both a medical student and physician.
Through this course, I strengthened my critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving abilities—skills I will rely on when making clinical decisions and advocating for patients’ needs.
I developed a deeper understanding of health equity, learning how systemic barriers like low health literacy impact care, and how to advocate for more inclusive, patient-centered solutions. This experience has made me even more passionate about addressing the social determinants of health and pursuing justice-centered approaches. My CEL experience will help me become a more well-rounded doctor, one that not only treats patients' symptoms in the clinic, but also goes beyond the hospital walls to advocate for their needs in the broader community.
Working in a team taught me adaptability and collaboration, especially in the face of unexpected challenges. These are essential qualities for being an effective member of multidisciplinary care teams. I also gained experience in scholarly article preparation, which enhanced my ability to contribute to research and clearly communicate scientific findings.
Most importantly, my CEL course taught me that meaningful, translational work can happen outside of the lab, and that compassionate, evidence-informed advocacy lies at the heart of both impactful research and effective healthcare.