IS
Fall 2015-2016 Electoral Texts
NOSM Student Society (NOSMSS) Executive Position
1) NOSM Student Society Year 1 Class Representative
a. East
James Campbell
Easties of e2015, I would love to be your class rep. Why might you vote for someone
who seems to only care about his small arms filling out his scrubs and someone who
has been wildly accused of hiding an Instagram account from the class? Indulge me as
I explain.
One reason is I love the duties of class rep. Creating cohesiveness through our class is
something I would enjoy and will certainly strive to do irrespective of my student
society involvement. There are lots of ways to do this, and scotch tastings certainly
aren’t the only way. Activities that involve the community such as fundraisers or
events can bring a class together as much as any party can. I also would love the
opportunity to be involved with planning orientation week next year. I believe
everyone in our class had an amazing time and it would be a privilege to be a part of
organizing and being creative with orientation week next year. I also really enjoy the
responsibility that comes with representing our student body with any issues that
come forward, whether it be curriculum or otherwise. This is something I’ve had to do
before, which leads me to my next point.
I have experience with this. In physiotherapy school I was actively involved in the
student society and was president in my last year. This came with a wide range of
duties, one being orientation week. I oversaw the execution of orientation week
which received very positive feedback. In my time there, I also took feedback from
students and implemented a business symposium where physiotherapy and
healthcare leaders from around Toronto came for a day and gave workshops. This has
now become a standard part of the curriculum. I also acted as the main point of
communication between external organizations such as the alumni society, insurance
companies, banks etc. for our class, along with overseeing and being involved with
countless other duties. Because of this experience, I also know what it takes to
balance extracurriculars and school. This will not be put on the backburner during
busy times. For me, involvement is a stress outlet. I love this stuff.
I’m also someone who generates ideas. To say I know what we need to change at this
point would be irresponsible, but I am truly open to anything as long as it doesn’t
involve crime. One thing I want to implement in the class is a wellness accountability
system, basically helping our class stay healthy through the ups and downs of medical
school.
Finally, I promise you, I will find Fred the Med. I will not rest, I will not sleep, until Fred
is brought to justice.
Nora-Beth Saunders
Hi Everyone,
Most people are familiar with my background at this point, however just in case, I will
provide a quick synopsis. I completed my Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. While there, I ran cross-country as well as
track and field for the University (5 and 10 kilometer distances). I returned home and
luckily, after 8 months of searching, found a job as an engineer in my hometown of
Sault Ste. Marie. My responsibilities and the experience I gained at this job, in
particular, make me confident I can take on the role of the Year 1 Class
Representative.
I was hired by Arauco North America to be their Operational Excellence Coordinator, a
fancy title for the engineer that would develop and implement their continuous
improvement program at their wood panel manufacturing facility. A few specific
challenges I took on while in this position will demonstrate that I can be an effective
representative on your behalf.
Some of the responsibilities of our Class Rep. are to assist in organizing buddy events,
Student Orientation Week, and other events NOSM’s Student Society may be involved
in. During my time at Arauco, I was tasked with developing and marketing an
improvement program. This included creating informational flyers, ordering T-shirts,
and organizing meetings with specific groups of employees. Additionally, I became
comfortable speaking in large and small groups (I’m tiny, but I have a big voice!), as I
had to conduct training presentations with the site’s 120 employees. This shows not
only that I am organized and also that I am comfortable running events and
communicating with fellow colleagues.
More importantly, the First Year Class Rep. must act as an advocate for all Year 1
students. This is exactly what my job at Arauco entailed! I was the middleman
between management and operations, just like I would be your liaison for you and
your concerns. In all honesty, this facilitator’s role was my favourite part of the job. I
loved the hours I got to spend each day within the facility, away from my office,
chatting with the technicians and listening to their ideas, comments, and concerns. I
would then meet with management the next day to actively promote the needs and
desires of my coworkers and advocate on their behalf. I found this responsibility
incredibly rewarding.
In closing, I really hope you will elect me as your representative. Since coming in
August, I have been interested in getting involved with the NOSM SS, hopefully over
the next four years. Further, attaining this position would be an opportunity for me to
deepen my relationships with all of you, as we continue in this new, exciting phase of
our lives.
Thanks everyone!
Nora-Beth
Benjamin Cassidy
VOTE CASS’ (with sass) FOR CLASS!!!
Benjamin Cassidy for NOSMSS Year 1 Class Representative (East)
PLATFORM
I am by no means a politician… but I am a policy maker and advocate.
I HAVE NO INTEREST in being disingenuous or showing face for the sake of gathering
support.
I AM interested in making a difference and representing the beautiful collection of
unique persons that make up the Year 1 class.
I believe I have the energy, character traits and past experience to embrace the
different facets of this role:
- embodying the work hard/play hard mentality and organizing INCLUSIVE social
activities,
- while also articulating our class’ concerns at NOSMSS and administration meetings.
I will do my best to bring student-led curriculum reformation to the table. A few things
I have already noted and plan on pursuing:
1) Inform NOSM policies surrounding LEAVES OF ABSENCE due to personal situations
(e.g., grief leave) to be more in line with NOSM’s mandate of encouraging healthy
work-life balance.
2) Work with Francophone Affairs to provide more FRENCH LANGUAGE EXPOSURE
AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION OPPORTUNITIES for anglophones to facilitate active
engagement in NOSM’s social accountability mandate (i.e., ICE/CCC placements).
3) Work with Aboriginal Affairs (and fellow students!) towards further opportunities to
INTERACT AND BETTER UNDERSTAND ABORIGINAL PRACTICES AND LANGUAGES.
4) Encourage CROSS-SITE CLASS COHESION (Warren has done an amazing job with his
creative idea of Guess the Classmate emails!)
5) HAVE FUN!
PAST EXPERIENCE
- First openly gay student elected to Catholic high school presidency in Ontario
- 4 years Undergraduate Student Association experience (Tutor Director, VP Internal)
- 2 years executive member Psychology Graduate Student Association (Secretary &
Treasurer)
- VP Finance of York U Graduate Student Association (balanced $400,000 budget, used
Roberts Rules when chairing meetings)
NO STRANGER TO THE JUGGLING ACT
Balanced my role as VP Finance with both a full time job and full time masters
program- I am equipped with the skill set to balance my own study with my role as
class representative.
STRONG SENSE OF INTEGRITY
As some (or many!) may have noticed, I do not hesitate to speak up when I feel
something is unjust or unfair. I AM ALWAYS THERE WHEN IT COUNTS.
CLASS 2019 REPRESENTATIVE
As a member of a marginalized group (LGBT2-SQ),
As a mature student with a youthful, open mind,
As a boy who grew up on a farm and a man who lived in the city,
As a world traveller, but Canadian at heart (I even have a maple leaf tattoo!),
As a professional deeply invested in medicine with many other passions (Crossfit,
fiction writing),
As someone who balanced a 7-year relationship while in school, but currently single,
As an older and younger brother…
As a fellow NOSM FAMILY MEMBER, I actively seek to represent everyone. The
diversity of our class is our greatest strength and I want everyone to feel like they have
a voice.
So, I ask you to do me the honour of voting CASS (with sass) FOR CLASS rep!
b. West
Warren Stevenson
I'll try to keep things concise, I'm sure many of you don't want to read too much! First
of all, I'd like to humbly thank whoever decided to nominate me for the First Year
West Class Rep. Your confidence in me has inspired me to step out of my comfort zone
and apply for something I admittedly do not have any experience with. I've never been
Class President, I've never been on any form of Student Council, and I'm not even very
good at organizing things!
So what would you get out of me? More activities like "Guess the Classmate" to get to
know each other better and to maintain contact with our brothers and sisters on the
East campus (NOSM at Laurentian). I have experience as an orientation week leader
and was a Resident Adviser in my last year at the University of Waterloo. As an RA, I
was responsible for developing weekly social programs for my floor of 40 first year
students and I worked closely with several other wonderful and inspiring people to
construct the best residence experience for residents and RA's alike. In addition, I'm
honest, always open to criticism, outgoing and I will defend my classmates and what
they feel they deserve without question. We are family after all.
So a vote for me means that you may not have the most experienced Class Rep, but
you'll have someone who represents our class to the best of his abilities and will
(hopefully) grow to be a strong leader for NOSM's Graduating Class of 2019.
Jessica Gencarelli
I am in a unique spot because as soon as I was conceived I wanted this position.
Getting into NOSM was an important stepping stone but this is just so much more.
Jokes aside I believe I am good candidate for this position based off my past volunteer
experiences, one in particular being co-founder and President of the UWO chapter for
the Sunshine Foundation. As President, a large portion of my role consisted of
communicating between the UWO chapter and head office to organize events. I also
established connections between our chapter and other organizations for sponsors,
and engaged the community and school in various activities to raise funds and
awareness. Feel free to ask any other questions about my past experiences
Andrew Bond
2) Global Health Liaison (Jr.)
Victoria Shaw
Global health has never been so important and so accessible. With the power of
communication and media outlets, we are more connected with the rest of the world than
ever before. Many of you know that I spent 8 months last year living and working in Uganda, a
small country in East Africa which has faced historical hardships and devastating health
conditions. I was privileged to work as an intern for Save the Mothers, a program whose
mission is to reduce maternal and infant mortality; preventable deaths that would never
occur in a 1st World health care setting. With my experience in Uganda, as well as a short
term trip to Nicaragua 3 years ago, I have developed a passion for global health and the
impacts that we as future physicians and health advocates can have. This impact is not just
within our own communities and those of Northern Ontario, but has the potential to reach
and change the conditions of health across the world.
As the Global Health Liaison Jr., I would do my best to give students the knowledge and
opportunities for International electives and share my own experiences and those of others
to ensure that each student was well briefed and oriented for pre- and post-departure
training. I have personally experienced unfamiliar culture and health care settings and can say
that preparation and orientation are key to successful experiences. I would encourage and
promote participation in volunteer events for the Global Health committee and ensure that
current world issues and global health topics had a forum for discussion and involvement.
Lastly, it is important to recognize that you don’t have to travel half a world away to make a
difference in global health; there is power in advocacy and through advocacy there is power
to change.
3) NOSM Student Society Recording Secretary
Nora-Beth Saunders
Hi Everyone,
I believe everyone may know my background at this point, however, just in case I will give you a
quick synopsis. I completed by Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering at Lamar University
in Beaumont, Texas. While there, I ran cross-country as well as track and field for the university (5
and 10 kilometers on the track). I returned home and luckily, after 8 months of searching, found a
job as an engineer at home.
It had been suggested to me several times that I might be a good candidate for the NOSM
Student Society Recording Secretary, and I thought I might just share a couple of the reasons why
that might be. I think I have above average typing skills, since taking Grade 9 business, which
certainly would help me in keeping accurate meeting minutes. Furthermore, I am a note-taker by
nature. While in class and during small group sessions you will usually see me writing or typing
down everything that is said. Lastly, I believe I’m an organized individual so the meeting minutes I
record would be sent to NOSMSS members quickly and also in a logical and easy to read format.
In closing, I hope you will consider me for NOSMSS Secretary. Since coming in August, I have been
interested in getting involved with the NOSMSS for the next four years, and this position would
allow me to do so.
Thanks everyone,
Nora-Beth
4) NOSM Student Society VP External Jr
Talia Ryan
Hello All,
My name is Talia Ryan. I am running for the VP External Communications Junior. As a continued
member of the Ontario Medical Student Association Wellness Committee, I feel confident and
well appointed to represent the NOSMSS on the OMSA and the CFMS. Throughout the past year,
I have made professional connections with other students working within the OMSA. These
relationships will enhance my responsibility to act as a liaison with other VP of external
communications representatives from other medical schools.
As a second year student, I believe not having entered into clerkship yet will enhance my
commitment to my role in this position. I am well adjusted in my studies and learning
environment which grounds my efforts within this executive position. Further, I will be studying
locally at NOSM and will have convenient connection to the first and second year students on
campus.
I have always been highly involved within educational committees. Currently, I am the president
of the Laurentian University Inter-professional Committee. This is a role that requires
communication between local health professionals but also with organizations and interprofessional societies at other universities. Since being on this committee for the past two years, I
have thoroughly developed my communication skills having represented NOSM and Laurentian
University. From the beginning formations of this committee two years ago, the growth and
progress have been exponential. We have collaborated and built respectable ties with health
professionals and organizations within Sudbury. As a result, Laurentian University and NOSM will
be hosting their very first simulation challenge this year!
Subsequently, I have a representative role on the Government Affairs Advocacy Committee at
NOSM. This position has enhanced my understanding of the community needs within the local
areas of Sudbury and Thunder Bay. This year our goal was to advocate for the local poverty and
homeless at the governmental level to create positive change. Specifically, we highlighted the
need for local harm reduction centers for these populations. Participating in these advocacy
efforts has provided insight in how to effectively communicate and exemplify our voice as
medical students. As a committee, we also took letter writing training and are arranging media
training in order to better our communication skills with governmental and parliament members.
This summer, I participated in two studentships abroad with involvement through the IFMSA.
Here, I had the opportunity to network and learn from medical students from around the globe! I
plan on sharing the insights I gained from these experiences with the students at NOSM so that
we can collaborate and compete at the international level.
With pleasure and enthusiasm, I plan on utilizing my experience and developing knowledge as
tools to represent NOSM as a liaison with the OMSA and CFMS. I look forward to honouring my
commitment within this role. I am excited to access and share information and opportunities with
the NOSM family. I take pride in the success of our students and feel strongly that I can
compliment that success.
Thank you kindly,
Talia
Meagan Roy
Allow me to introduce myself as Meagan Roy; candidate for the position of VP External Jr. Filling
this role has been trying over the past few months. If elected, I know that I will be able to take on
both the responsibilities and time dedication that are required in this role. I have been involved
with various OMSA and CFMS activities in the past, such as OMSW, Leadership and Lobby Day,
Altitude as well as a variety of conferences and networking events. These events have allowed
me to represent NOSM in a professional manner, and get to know the current members of the
OMSA. These relationships will allow me to keep NOSM students well informed of ongoing and
upcoming events, and make sure that we are well represented in two important organizations
that we may often be overlooked in because of our status as the new kids on the block, and our
small numbers. I will make sure that NOSM students receive the recognition that we deserve
while maintaining the great relationships that have been established by our previous VP External
Representatives. I am excited at the prospect of acting as liaison between NOSM students and
our external links! Thank you for taking the time to read the electoral texts. Good luck to all other
candidates.
NOSM Committee Position Nominations
1) Aboriginal Admissions Subcommittee
a. East
Allyson Dill
Having maintained an active role in the Aboriginal community and having contributed
to several admissions processes in the past year, I am confident that I am well-suited
to the position of Aboriginal Admissions Subcommittee East Representative.
b. West
Meagan Roy
Aanii!
My name is Meagan Roy, and as outgoing Aboriginal Admissions Subcommittee East
Representative, I am running for the position of Aboriginal Admissions Subcommittee
West Representative. This position involves meeting with the subcommittee twice per
year to discuss Aboriginal applicants to NOSM. It is an experience that I have enjoyed
doing for the past two years. Being involved in reviewing candidates for an
opportunity to interview at NOSM is one that I take seriously, and I believe that it is
important as part of our school’s social accountability mandate. I know that I have
successfully taken the time to review each candidate and given the effort to make sure
that these students are well represented. I hope to be able to continue in this position
in the future. Thank you!
Hailey O’Donnell
I am very interested in getting involved with the Aboriginal Admission Subcommittee
at NOSM. I would like to help in the Aboriginal Admissions process, and feel this would
be a suitable position for me while learning at NOSM.
Mireille Bohémier
2) Aboriginal Reference Group
a. East
Reed Morrison
Hello colleagues; my name is Reed Morrison and I am proud to be running for the
position of East representative to the Aboriginal Reference Group (ARG). I trust that
you will find my personal, educational, and professional background allow me to
provide balanced and thoughtful contributions to the ARG.
Personally, I was introduced to the Aboriginal worldview through my father, who
ensured my brother and I took part in traditional events and ceremonies from a young
age. As an Aboriginal scholar, I was encouraged to follow his path and pursued an
education in public health. As I built a better understanding of the Indigenous
determinants of health, I started my own work in the area; including research in
building culturally safe physical activity programs and designing the curriculum for an
undergraduate Aboriginal health course offered here at Laurentian. As a public health
professional, I was engaged in culturally safe policies and programs to help Aboriginal
youth differentiate between traditional and nontraditional use of tobacco. Currently, I
am part of a national group of Aboriginal students presenting a comprehensive policy
paper on Indigenous health in medical education to be adopted by the CFMS.
My goals as East representative to the ARG are to provide insight to the group
regarding the student experience at NOSM as well as evidence-based policy advice. I
promise to take feedback from other students to the ARG to ensure our curriculum
and policies reflect what you believe will help you become better physicians. I am also
committed to ensuring recommendations from the ARG to NOSM administration
reflect current best practice and will allow the school to attain its social accountability
mandate.
I hope you will allow me to represent the student body on this very important
reference group.
Thank you in advance,
Reed Morrison
b. West
Mireille Bohémier
3) Academic Council
4) Admissions Committee
a. East
Geoffrey Lablond
Applying to medical school sucks. I know, I did it way too many times. This is why I’m
so passionate about the admissions process for NOSM. Last year I was lucky enough to
be involved with many steps in the admissions process. I graded essays, interviewed in
the spring, and even graded CASPer essays that NOSM has been piloting over the past
couple of years. This has given me great insight into NOSM’s process, and what type of
students they are looking for. I want to take this one step further by being a part of
the Admissions Committee overseeing this entire process. I want to ensure that the
admissions process at NOSM is fair and equitable to everyone, and maintains the
wonderful dynamic of students we currently have. I want to ensure that all available
research on the CASPer is being looked at before NOSM decides to formally make this
test a requirement. I also want to bring my experience as Class Representative to the
Committee, and ensure future NOSM entrants reflect the current student body’s
personality and that NOSM’s social mandates are being upheld. I sincerely hope you
will consider me for this position and thank you for taking the time to read my text (I
know you have better things to do).
Angela Cescon
Hi everyone! I’m a current second year, interested in serving as this year’s East
Representative on the Admissions Committee. Last year, I volunteered as an
Application Assessor and as an Interviewer, and learned a lot more about the process.
I’m keen to continue being involved with Admissions in this new capacity, bringing
forward any suggestions from NOSM students of all years, so that we can continue to
have awesome class compositions that are representative of the broader N. Ontario
community. I look forward to the prospect of bringing forward any of your concerns,
questions, or ideas regarding NOSM admissions!
Kristen Sheffield
Kristen Sheffield- Admissions Committee Representative
Full disclosure: I am by no means an admission expert, nor do I have experience in
accepting or rejecting medical school applications. What I am, however, is an
individual who has applied numerous times to gain acceptance to this wonderful and
amazing medical school. I feel as though that experience alone has provided me
valuable insight in to the type of person NOSM wants to accept and those they want
to reject, as I’ve possessed the attributes of both types of individuals.
While I’ve only been apart of the NOSM family for a few short weeks, I feel as though I
understand the type of student who would thrive in the NOSM environment. I’ve
gained insight into these characteristics through experiencing our unique curriculum
and style of learning, through my interactions with faculty members, and through my
experiences with each of you.
The students who gain admission will embody the true NOSM spirit. They will be
unequivocally kind and empathetic. They will be generous and unselfish without
expecting anything in return. They will be inclusive, non-judgmental, and accepting of
individuals from all walks of life. They will be fiercely intelligent, yet yearn for more
knowledge. The students that gain admission to NOSM will be unique individuals, with
distinctive experiences and diverse backgrounds, just like all of you, and those in the
classes before ours.
While I may not have experience on the other side of the admissions process, I do
know that I have the skill set and competencies necessary to excel in this role. I have
proven experience working as a member of a team; cultivated through numerous
years of team sport (both as a captain and a coach), in addition to several years as a
member of an interdisciplinary care team at the North Bay Regional Health Centre. I
am capable of managing multiple tasks as I have been able to balance the rigors of
starting medical school, publish articles in scientific journals, complete the final
manuscript of my master’s thesis, and maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. I
believe that these attributes will allow me to succeed at any duty I am tasked with as a
member of the admissions committee.
It would be my pleasure to play a role in selecting our future NOSM family members
and humbly ask for you vote as Admissions Committee Representative.
Olawale (Wale) Sogbein
Serving on the admissions committee is an important role requiring an individual with
an understanding and respect for NOSM's admissions process. I am extremely
interested in contributing new initiatives and ideals to the admissions board from a
student's perspective. I have prior experience serving as the Dean of Communications
on the Ottawa Health Sciences Student Association and I look forward to using skills
acquired from this position.
Sean Thomas
Maxwell Goodwin
Jessica Kent
b. West
Stéphanie Lachapelle
Hi/Bonjour!
I am please to be nominated to the position of Admissions Committee West
Representative. I was quite amazed how everyone in the admission process at NOSM
succeeded to define a class of 64 great and impressive students from a pool of over
2000 applicants. It made me curious about how it all work and how can they be so
successful in such a gigantic task. This will be a great opportunity for me to work with
this team and to learn more about the whole admission process.
Mara Boyle
Hello NOSM students!
My name is Mara Boyle and I am a 2nd year NOSM student, hoping to become the
NOSM student representative for the Admissions Committee.
As students, I think it is important for us to have a voice in deciding the characteristics
of the students chosen to join us on this journey in medical education. Being current
students in this program, we know the level of commitment and determination and
the values and morals that are key to succeeding in the program and ultimately, to
being exceptional medical students and future physicians. Personally, I believe that
chosen applicants should demonstrate a preparedness for a lifetime of learning, a
dedication to improving the health of their future patients and society, and have a
strong belief in values such as professionalism, communication, honesty, equality and
inclusivity. As your student representative on the Admissions Committee, I promise to
advocate for exactly these things and any other qualities that you feel are key.
The admissions process is a scrupulous one and requires a high level of
professionalism, confidentiality and objectivity from those that are involved. I believe
that I can meet these expectations and represent our undergraduate medical
students' ideas surrounding the "ideal NOSM student" with integrity.
Jessica Gencarelli
I would love to have the opportunity to be apart of the admissions committee!!I have
experience interviewing students to be apart of committees, taking into consideration
personalities, background, past experiences and other various factors to ensure they
are a good match!
Meagan Schenk
I would be absolutely honoured if I could help select our future colleagues; people
who will represent our school and care for the community members, family and
friends in Northern Ontario that I care about. I’ve been involved in scoring the
applications as well as interviewing potential candidates these past two years and
would love to be apart of the whole process this year from start to finish. I feel that
from my past two years at NOSM and my experience from the application and
interview process, I’ve built a great foundation that would help me select the right
people for NOSM so that we can continue to be a great school with great learners.
Meaghan Horbatuk
Hi my name is Meaghan Horbatuk. I am running for a position on the admissions
committee because I am looking to gain some experience with Northern Ontario
School of Medicine Student Society. I have seen first hand how NOSM has perfected
the art of admissions by selecting a group of fantastic individuals. The entering class of
2015 is comprised of high caliber learners and it's important that admissions continue
to enroll the best possible candidates. If elected, I would strive to maintain and build
upon the high quality selection process.
Hailey O’Donnell
I am very interested in getting involved in the admissions process at NOSM and would
like to help in any way I can. I respect the admissions process, and feel this would be a
suitable position for me while I am learning at NOSM.
Andrew Bond
Alicia Violin
Warren Stevenson
Jacqueline Larizza
Elyssia Adamo
5) Faculty Development Committee
Ryan Weist
Dear colleagues,
Thank you for considering my candidacy for the position of Faculty Development Committee
Representative. I’ve decided to pursue this position as I have a strong interest in Continuing
Education and Professional Development. To this effect, I hope to continue representing the
NOSM student body in matters relating to Faculty Development. Moreover, I am also certain
this position will provide me with countless opportunities for continued personal and
professional development.
My past experience as a student representative includes acting as a graduate student blogger
as well as helping to create the McGill Goodman Cancer Center student website. During my
time at NOSM, I have also actively pursed leadership roles on the executive of interest groups
including the Space Med, Sports Med and Exercise is Med IGs. As a student delegate on the
Faculty Development (2013, 2014) and the Health Sciences Library (2014) committees I have
represented the interests of NOSM’s student body with the upmost integrity and
professionalism.
With my combination of past experience and passion, I strongly believe that I can adequately
represent the student body in all matters related to Faculty Development in 2016-2017. In
this regard, I am offering my time and skills to help ensure that the future of NOSM is both
positive and productive.
Thanks again for reading my candidature!
Best regards,
Ryan Weist
Year 3 East, UME
6) Francophone Reference Group
a. East
Leïla Reguigui
Bonjour my fellow classmates!
I’m very happy to be running for the position of Francophone Reference Group East
Representative. For those of you who don’t yet know me (or who don’t know me very
well), my name is Leïla! I was born and raised right here in Sudbury, and did my
undergraduate degree at Laurentian University. In my years here, I’ve become acutely
aware of the challenges that arise in bilingual milieus, and more specifically, to those
that are posed to linguistic minorities, such as the Francophones of Northern Ontario.
There are significant inequities in the opportunities that are afforded to Francophones
in many regards, including health, but not limited to it, and it’s always been my intent
to defend and advocate the interests of my community in any way I can. As such, I’m
currently on the Board of Directors of the Carrefour francophone de Sudbury, but
have previously been a Delegate for the AEF (the francophone students’ association),
and my CV is basically just cultural volunteer work galore (if there’s a francophone
cultural event happening, you’ll find me there!). Essentially, I’m a proud FrancoOntarian (as evidenced by the very cool and not at all dorky Franco-Ontarian flags on
my license plates), and it’s this appreciation for my culture and language that
prompted my interest in this position.
More importantly perhaps, I’d like it to be known that though this message is
evidently addressed to those of you who identify as francophone or Francophile, it’s
not limited to you. Indeed, I’m hoping that this relates to most (if not all!) of you.
Therefore, if you did some years in French immersion but now feel awkward and out
of practice speaking French, or if you don’t know any French but would be willing to
learn if only to better serve the health needs of Franco-Ontarians, I’m talking to you,
too! My hope is to effectively represent all of you, and to make sure that all of your
needs are met in terms of services and learning opportunities in French. Indeed, some
of you have already expressed a willingness to attempt clinical practice in French
(which I think is phenomenal by the way), but feel intimidated by the prospect of
doing so, especially in settings or communities where proper care relies heavily upon
linguistic competence. Given our institution’s social accountability mandate, and the
obvious importance of practice in reaching proficiency, this definitely constitutes an
issue worth addressing, and it’s one that I would endeavour to rectify as your
Representative.
Above all however, my hope it to foster a sense of belonging and of inclusivity through
which all are accepted and feel comfortable expressing themselves in French,
regardless of perceived skill-level. The francophone community of Sudbury, and of
Northern Ontario in general, is truly wonderful, and though I cannot speak on behalf
of all of its members, I have a very strong suspicion that it, like me, would welcome
you with open arms.
Merci! :)
b. West
Meagan Roy
Bonjour!
My name is Meagan Roy, and I am running for the position of Francophone Reference
Group West Representative. Many people are unaware that I am fluent in French, but
I come from a very French family. The importance of speaking French was fully
realized by me in medical school, when speaking about misdiagnosis and consent
issues in the Francophone population. When my sister decided to raise her children in
French, I also experienced a sense of protection toward their ability to be understood
in their native tongue, and to express themselves in whichever language they are most
comfortable. This is why this position has become of interest to me, and I am
confident that my ability to communicate in both English and French will allow me to
advocate for the inclusivity of the Francophone population. Merci pour votre
considération envers ma candidature pour cette position.
Hello!
Je m’appelle Meagan Roy, et je suis une candidate pour la position de Représentative
du campus Ouest pour le Groupe de Référence Francophone. Un fait qui surprend
plusieurs personnes est que je suis très à l’aise avec la communication en français,
mais ma famille est extrêmement française. L’importance de pouvoir parler le français
m’a été soulignée durant mon éducation médicale en parlant d’erreurs diagnostiques
ainsi que des problèmes de consentement dans la population francophone. Lorsque
ma soeur a décidé d’élever ses enfants avec la langue maternelle étant le français, j’ai
réalisé un désir de leur protéger pour qu’ils puissent être compris dans leur langue
maternelle et d’avoir une habileté à s’exprimer dans la langue qu’ils se trouvent le plus
confortable. Celles-ci sont les raisons que cette position m’intéresse et je suis
confiante que mon habileté à communiquer en français et en anglais m’aidera être
une avocate pour l’inclusivité de la population francophone. Thank you for considering
my candidature for this position.
Stéphanie Lachapelle
Hi/Bonjour!
I am pleased to be nominated to the position of Francophone Reference Group West
Representative. As my upbringing was fully francophone, the cause of francophone
health moves me enormously. I am looking forward to learn more about those health
issues in the francophone perspective and to be able to contribute to the
advancement of health for francophones in Northern Ontario.
7) Global Health Advocate (GHA)
Nick Harrower
I am a second year student at NOSM and I am running for the position of Global Health
Advocate. I believe that as future physicians we must be informed and proactive when it
comes to issues of global health and wellbeing. We must endeavour to not only improve the
health of our local populations but also to make a contribution to the health of the larger
global community. This requires further education and training, initiative and advocacy for
anticipated or pressing global health needs.
As a Global Health Advocate (GHA) at NOSM I will facilitate global health initiatives at the
local level based upon the health needs outlined by the CFMS Global Health Program. I will do
this in a way that highlights our unique strengths as a medical school to meet the needs of
certain populations and draws upon the vast array of interprofessional experience found
within our student body.
An extensive background of cross-cultural experiences and a passion for meeting the needs of
the underserviced in an international context will make me an effective Global Health
Advocate.
Kian Madjedi
Hello everybody,
My name is Kian Madjedi and I have just started this incredible journey of medical school. My
academic background is in cultural anthropology / Indigenous studies, and I am currently
wrapping up a master’s degree in rural and northern health.
My engagement with global health issues runs deep in both my academic and my personal
lives. My father’s experiences as a refugee to Canada taught me the importance of
understanding the human side to conflict – a perspective I have cause to reflect on everyday
amidst headlines of the ‘refugee crisis.’ My partner hails from an academic background in
global health, which means conversations about gender equity, and access to health care
resources spill over into dinner conversation (we are a blast to have at parties, I am sure).
I have had the opportunity to participate in the National Day of Action for Refugee Health for
the past two years, and through this, have learned the important role that advocacy can play
in helping to shape and re-shape policy. In the global health advocate role, I would hope to
partner with the other global health members of the NOSMSS to help support medical
learners in developing our skills, awareness and understanding around the role of advocacy
for issues both local and international in scope.
8) Government Advisory and Advocacy Committee (GAAC) Jr
Samantha Nordlund
Hi fellow students!
My name is Sam Nordlund and I’m running for the position of the Government Affairs and
Advocacy Committee Jr. Over the past year, I was involved with GAAC and became versed in how
this committee works within NOSM. I was fortunate enough to attend Lobby Day where I lobbied
the federal government alongside medical students from Canada on the importance of
developing a universal pharmacare program. It was a great learning experience, and helped
further my understanding of the role of the Canadian government in medicine, and how we as
medical students can effect change. This past year, GAAC had a focus on creating a policy paper
on harm reduction and advocating for the creation of wet shelters in Thunder Bay and Sudbury,
and I am looking forward to continuing to work on this project.
As the GAAC Jr, I plan on working closely with the CFMS and OMSA, and keeping NOSM students
informed on how we can get involved in government and advocacy events important to us. I
believe this year will be a very exciting year especially with the upcoming federal election and
that there will many ways for us to get politically involved in our community!
9) Health Sciences Advisory Group
a. East
Ryan Weist
Dear colleagues,
Thank you for considering my candidacy for the position of Health Sciences Advisory
Group East Representative. I’ve decided to pursue this position as I have a strong
interest in Information Management and Library Services at NOSM. To this effect, I
hope to continue representing the NOSM student body in matters relating to Health
Sciences Library on the East campus. Moreover, I am also certain this position will
provide me with countless opportunities for continued personal and professional
development.
My past experience as a student representative includes acting as a graduate student
blogger as well as helping to create the McGill Goodman Cancer Center student
website. During my time at NOSM, I have also actively pursed leadership roles on the
executive of interest groups including the Space Med, Sports Med and Exercise is Med
IGs. As a student delegate on the Faculty Development (2013, 2014) and the Health
Sciences Library (2014) committees I have represented the interests of NOSM’s
student body with the upmost integrity and professionalism.
With my combination of past experience and passion, I strongly believe that I can
adequately represent the student body in all matters related to NOSM's Library
Services in 2016-2017. In this regard, I am offering my time and skills to help ensure
that the future of NOSM is both positive and productive.
Thanks again for reading my candidature!
Best regards,
Ryan Weist
Year 3 East, UME
b. West
Kerrilyn Stinson
Hello classmates,
My name is Kerrilyn Stinson and I am a 3rd year student on the West Campus. I served
as the Health Sciences Advisory Group West Representative last year and I would be
pleased to serve for another year. I am currently sitting on the library working group
which is working towards assessing and making a recommendation on point of care
tools, ultimately affecting which resources we get subscriptions to. As a regular user of
the Health Sciences Library both as a NOSM student and previously as a graduate
student I would be happy to represent the needs of our student body. Thanks for your
consideration!
Sam Loud
10) Interprofessional (IP) Working Group
a. East
Stephanie Swiergosz
Hello classmates! My name is Stephanie Swiergosz and I am interested in the position
of Student Representative for the Interprofessional Working Group. I am very
interested in this position as it allows me to assist in planning and running
Interprofessional Eduction (IPE) events that you all can attend. Interprofessional
Education in health is critical for optimizing the health and wellness of patients.
Learning about the roles that other health professionals play within the circle of care
and learning how to collaborate and function as a team is something that we, as
future physicians, should educate ourselves in. I would love the opportunity the help
coordinate events that would help to enrich our educational experience.
I believe that I have some relevant experience that would be an asset to this role. My
background is largely in preventative health. I completed my undergraduate degree in
Kinesiology at Queen’s University in 2014, attended Brescia University for Dietetics in
2015, and worked for two summers in restorative care in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. I am
extremely passionate about comprehensive and holistic health care. I was an
executive member of Soul Food, a club at Queen’s University that helped provide food
to the homeless population in Kingston and also held social awareness workshops to
educate students and community members on food insecurity on a national,
provincial and local scale. During my four years with this organization, I was able to
collaborate with community organizations as well as plan, execute, and evaluate
workshops and conferences. I also assisted in marketing these events. Another
organization that I was an executive member of was Students Offering Support (SOS),
a student lead organization that raised money, through tutoring sessions, to build
schools in Latin America. I functioned as Vice President of Marketing and Recruitment
and was in charge of recruiting students to attend humanitarian trips and coordinating
payment and volunteer schedules. I also held the position of trip leader on the 2014
trip to El Chile, Nicaragua. I think that both of these positions allowed me to foster
skills in communication, organization, time-management, marketing, leadership, event
planning, and program evaluation. I would love the opportunity to use these skills to
assist in planning, running and promoting Interprofessional Education events for the
student body at NOSM.
For reasons similar to those listed above, I am also running for the Northern
Interprofessional Collaborative for Health Education (NICHE) Advisory Committee.
Having grown up in Larder Lake, Ontario, I am incredibly aware of the increased
incidence of chronic illness and challenges patients and health care providers face
when navigating the health care system. I believe that strengthening interprofessional
education can lead to more comprehensive and better quality care in northern
communities.
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to read this text! I am
excited at the opportunity to function in either of these roles at NOSM and think that I
can bring something unique to either position.
b. West
Andrew Bond
11) Joint Senate Committee
Tin Li
Hello, my name is Tin. I am a third year student with a background in undergraduate
physiology and biochemistry. I had previously served a two-year term as your representative
on the Academic Council. Today, I am seeking your support in my bid for re-election as the
East representative on the Joint Senate Committee. My first term was significantly shortened
due to the late election call. I therefore hope to continue my work on the JSC as your
representative, especially as the school begins finalizing its proposed graduate studies
program.
I am strong supporter of student representation on all levels of governance. This is our
opportunity to shape how this institution is run. As your potential representative, I
understand the importance of being receptive to the opinions and views of others, especially
yours. I will make every effort to ensure that my actions reflect the preferences and values of
the student body. I hope to contribute to the evolution of NOSM and strengthening the
quality of education for current and future learners. I look forward to working more closely
with all of you.
Warm Regards,
Tin Li
Kaylin Woods
Hello everyone!
I’m a 4th year student and hope to represent you and other members of the student body as
the East representative for the Joint Senate Committee. While the position is non-voting, I
hope to ensure the perspective of the student body is represented in recommendations put
forth to Senate of the two respective universities. I think my experiences over the past four
years allow me to offer informed input to this important process. Thanks!
Rose Michael
Hello!! I have always been passionate about participating in my community, including my
school community. I believe that it's important to participate in committees within NOSM to
ensure that students have a voice. I wish to represent you at the level of the Joint Senate to
ensure that I bring forward either our support or reservations for recommendations being
made to our academic curriculum. I have participated on the Laurentian University Senate in
my undergraduate degree and I loved bringing up issues that were important to the student
body, regardless if it didn't quite fit with the school's agenda. I promise to speak up for you.
Thank you so much for your consideration! Miigwetch!
12) Laurentian University Senate NOSM Representative
Zachary Strong
I am currently running for the Laurentian University Senate NOSM Representative to ensure there
is a strong and experienced voice in Senate, and to ensure that there is a representative who will
passionately advocate for the important matters of NOSM at Laurentian University.
I have over four years of experience in academic politics through my work with the Laurentian
Association of Mature and Part-Time Students (LAMPS). During this time I held various positions
including treasurer, executive council and Senate Representative. While representing LAMPS in
Senate I had a number of opportunities to voice the concerns of students and work with senior
administration and staff to meet the needs of various student bodies.
If voted in as the Laurentian University Senate NOSM Representative I will ensure that I work
closely with NOSM students and the entire NOSM Student Society to ensure that NOSM students
are represented at Senate and that their academic needs are met.
Thank you.
Zachary Strong
Rose Michael
Thank you so much for your consideration in my nomination for your representative on the
Laurentian University Senate! I have previously sat on the Laurentian University Senate during
my undergraduate degree and advocated on the behalf of mature and part-time students.
Anyone who knows me can speak to the fact that I don't shy away from speaking out against
injustices. Too often, administration forgets to put students first. I am passionate about
advocating for student's rights and look forward to speaking out on the issues that affect us.
Merci et miigwech!
13) Local Exchange Officer (Jr.)
Jeff McLellan
Having participated in an international exchange program during my undergraduate studies, I
have a wealth of experience in every aspect of the exchange process and understand how
important it is to have support at both ends. The application and planning process can be
confusing and overwhelming, but having been through a similar process myself, I can provide
relevant guidance and assistance as outgoing students navigate the process and prepare for
their departure.
Arriving in a new country can be intimidating, but having participated in an exchange and
traveling to many different countries around the world, I will be a valuable resource to
incoming students as they transition to learners in Canada. I remember speaking with
students at my host university about the transition and how helpful that was in allowing me
to have a great experience while abroad.
I also have significant leadership experience, including sitting on the Student’s in Free
Enterprise (SIFE) executive during my undergraduate studies, where I oversaw various
initiatives and projects, some of which included international student involvement.
My personal experience with the exchange process and my leadership skills will allow me to
excel in the role of Local Exchange Officer (Jr.), and I look forward to assisting anyone
interested in international electives.
Michelle Taylor
14) Local Officer of Global Health Education (LOGHE)
Samantha Nordlund
Hi Fellow NOSM Students!
I am Sam Nordlund and I am seeking to be re-elected for the position of Local Officer of
Global Health. I am a second year medical learner studying on the West campus. I believe the
field of global health to be a dynamic and increasingly important discipline. My passion for
global health started when I was volunteering in Ecuador working alongside an
interdisciplinary team. There, I witnessed the barriers many populations have accessing
health services in developing countries. I have also seen the many inequalities existing
between communities and demographics in Ontario while working as a nurse in an acute care
hospital setting.
I believe important links exist between health and health service infrastructure and
resource development, and that knowledge in the field of global health can be used to
promote, restore, maintain, and monitor the health of a population. In conjunction with the
Global Health Liaison (GHL) and the Global Health Advocate, I plan to help organize and
facilitate relevant events, such as public health education sessions. These will provide
opportunities for learners at NOSM to be informed on the issues currently related to global
health, including but not limited to: immigrant/refugee health in Canada, poverty reduction,
health equity, and maternal mortality. The scope of global health is massive and multifaceted,
and by better understanding the challenges affecting it today, we, as a school and as future
physicians, will be better able to address them more effectively.
I want to continue to work to develop educational resources for NOSM students to help all
learners become involved with global health initiatives closely linked with the social
accountability mandate of the school. I plan on continuing to foster a partnership with the
Multicultural Association to provide learning opportunities for NOSM students. Sessions on
working with translators in a healthcare setting as well as the status of refugee health in
Northern Ontario are some of the sessions to be planned for the upcoming school year.
I want to help foster a collaborative approach to global health learning within the
school. By working in partnership with the GHL, I want to help strengthen our knowledge and
understanding of global health issues through educational programs, rotations, and electives.
By providing learners the resources necessary to become competent within the issues
surrounding global health, I hope we will all be able to bring our wisdom forward into our
medical practices. We are the future of health care and we are responsible for paving the
way for change in the field of global health in our communities and in the world at large.
Michelle Taylor
Hello friends at NOSM. My name is Michelle Taylor and I am running for the position of Local
Officer of Global Health Education (LOGHE). Last year I was NOSMs Global Health Advocate
and enjoyed working with the Global Health team to advocate and educate about global
health issues such as pharmacare, tuberculosis and tropical diseases through speakers,
newsletters and political lobby day.
As the LOGHE, I would like to continue working on global health issues by improving the
content of global health within our curriculum. Issues of health access, access to medicines,
and refugee care are global issues, but also affect us locally. Global health does not only refer
to international health concerns, but equal access to health for at risk communities in Canada
as well. I look forward to continuing to work with the Global Health Committee to provide
opportunities for students interested in international experiences and to share information
about global health related to our learning here at NOSM.
15) Local Officer of Indigenous Health (LOIH)
Meagan Roy
Aanii, greetings, bonjour!
My name is Meagan Roy, and I am running for the position of the Local Officer of Indigenous
Health (LOIH). This is a new committee position for NOSM that I am excited to be considered for!
As a Métis woman, I have always remained very involved with activities put on by Aboriginal
Affairs, and in my community. My experience includes past youth representative for the Métis
Nation of Ontario in Sudbury where I attended monthly meetings and events. I have attended
smudge ceremonies and sweat lodges, as well as returning to my ICE 106 community for their
annual Beaverfest event. I also completed a research experience in an Aboriginal community this
past summer. I hope to be able to share my knowledge and experience of Indigenous health with
the student body through workshops or ceremonies. Thank you!
Mireille Bohémier
Hello my name is Mireille Bohémier and I’m a second year Métis student from the West Campus
in Thunder Bay. Indigenous health is a strong passion of mine and our school’s emphasis on
shaping physicians who will provide culturally competent care was one of the reasons why I
applied to NOSM. If I’m selected as the Local Officer of Indigenous Health, I will make it my duty
to increase student competency in aboriginal health issues at a local and national level. I’ll work
in partnership with the Global Health Committee to provide opportunities for medical students to
further develop their understanding of aboriginal health issues in Northern Ontario. Something
that will be certainly be quite helpful in our future practice!
16) Local Officer of Sexual and Reproductive Health (LOSRH)
a. East
Allyson Dill
I have been an active member of and am now the East representative of the Medical
Students for Choice interest group. I have experience in educating others on a variety
of reproductive health/choice topics and am committed to keeping them at the
forefront of medical education.
b. West
Carmen Petrick
Hello! I’m Carmen and I am excited to be running for the Local Officer of Reproductive
and Sexual Health position on the West campus. I am a first year student.
Through the last five years, I have been very involved with various organizations that
promote sexual and reproductive health and wellness. I volunteered for five years at
Options for Sexual Health, British Columbia’s non-profit provider of sexual and
reproductive health services through clinics, education programs, and other outreach
services. Options promotes healthy sexuality, diversity of sexual expression, and
positive sexual self-image for all individuals through their lives. I volunteered in a
community clinic for 4 years, assisted with harm reduction outreach services at major
community events and festivals, and recently completed Option’s ‘Sexual Health
Educator’ course.
I also had the incredible opportunity to complete an internship with a regional
HIV/AID Outreach, Network, and Support Society while in university. I lead and
participated in outreach and harm reduction community services, awareness
promotion, and fundraising events.
Finally, I served a term as Minister of Health and Wellness on my undergraduate
university’s Student Representative Council, providing me with familiarity and
experience working within university organizations and with student government.
I am passionate about sexual and reproductive health, and would love the opportunity
to build on my past experiences to promote awareness and education at NOSM West!
17) NICHE Advisory Committee
Stephanie Swiergosz
Hello classmates! My name is Stephanie Swiergosz and I am interested in the position of
Student Representative for the Interprofessional Working Group. I am very interested in this
position as it allows me to assist in planning and running Interprofessional Eduction (IPE)
events that you all can attend. Interprofessional Education in health is critical for optimizing
the health and wellness of patients. Learning about the roles that other health professionals
play within the circle of care and learning how to collaborate and function as a team is
something that we, as future physicians, should educate ourselves in. I would love the
opportunity the help coordinate events that would help to enrich our educational experience.
I believe that I have some relevant experience that would be an asset to this role. My
background is largely in preventative health. I completed my undergraduate degree in
Kinesiology at Queen’s University in 2014, attended Brescia University for Dietetics in 2015,
and worked for two summers in restorative care in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. I am extremely
passionate about comprehensive and holistic health care. I was an executive member of Soul
Food, a club at Queen’s University that helped provide food to the homeless population in
Kingston and also held social awareness workshops to educate students and community
members on food insecurity on a national, provincial and local scale. During my four years
with this organization, I was able to collaborate with community organizations as well as plan,
execute, and evaluate workshops and conferences. I also assisted in marketing these events.
Another organization that I was an executive member of was Students Offering Support (SOS),
a student lead organization that raised money, through tutoring sessions, to build schools in
Latin America. I functioned as Vice President of Marketing and Recruitment and was in charge
of recruiting students to attend humanitarian trips and coordinating payment and volunteer
schedules. I also held the position of trip leader on the 2014 trip to El Chile, Nicaragua. I think
that both of these positions allowed me to foster skills in communication, organization, timemanagement, marketing, leadership, event planning, and program evaluation. I would love
the opportunity to use these skills to assist in planning, running and promoting
Interprofessional Education events for the student body at NOSM.
For reasons similar to those listed above, I am also running for the Northern Interprofessional
Collaborative for Health Education (NICHE) Advisory Committee. Having grown up in Larder
Lake, Ontario, I am incredibly aware of the increased incidence of chronic illness and
challenges patients and health care providers face when navigating the health care system. I
believe that strengthening interprofessional education can lead to more comprehensive and
better quality care in northern communities.
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to read this text! I am excited at the
opportunity to function in either of these roles at NOSM and think that I can bring something
unique to either position.
18) Program Evaluation Committee (PEC)
a. Phase 1
Sara McDonald
I am running for the position of Program Evaluation Phase I Representative as I believe
that in the world of medicine and education knowledge is constantly evolving and
there is always room for improvement to better meet the needs of medical learners.
After completing my first year at NOSM I found myself analyzing certain aspects of the
program and reflecting on what could be done to improve our learning. I would like to
be apart of the committee that evaluates this to further promote change. I believe
that it is important to consider the views of the students as well as understand the
history of the program development in order to build a concrete curriculum. I further
feel as though it is important that with the changes in society and health care, it is
critical the curriculum evolves to better prepare learners to become successful
practicing physicians. As the Program Evaluation Phase I representative I will ensure to
professionally provide constructive feedback and input to the rest of the program
evaluation committee. I believe that I would be an asset to the Program Evaluation
Committee as a second year, Phase I learner in order to advocate on behalf of the
students to improve the program and further address the gaps within our curriculum.
b. Phase 2
Jazmyn Balfour-Boehm
Hello everyone!
My name is Jazmyn and I am a third year NOSM West student from Thunder Bay
residing in Kenora, Ontario for my CCC. I am a dedicated and enthusiastic individual
with a love for the outdoors and an eagerness to become involved in the NOSMSS.
I have applied for the position of “Phase 2 Program Evaluation Committee
Representative” because I hope to assist in cultivating a NOSM-wide philosophy of
reflection through the promotion of safe and healthy lines of communication while
supporting and addressing evaluations by both faculty members and students. If
nominated, I intend to collaborate with the other committee members to ensure the
current strategies for program evaluation are effective while helping to develop and
implement innovative methods to analyze and report evaluation data.
In essence, I believe it is significant that our voices be heard and that our feedback will
influence the ever-evolving process of program evaluation and continuous quality
improvement here at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine!
c. Phase 3
19) Research Committee
Krista Dowhos
Hello everyone!
My name is Krista Dowhos and I would like to be your student representative for NOSM’s
Research Committee. I have my HBSc with a major in Chemistry, and medical research has
long been one of my greatest passions. Medical research became a significant part of my life
when I began conducting research in the MRI lab at the Thunder Bay Regional Research
Institute (TBRRI) in 2011, and have continued this research ever since. My enthusiasm for
working in medical research is driven by my belief that research is a foundational component
to medicine and is critical for the evolution of medicine.
I have demonstrated my interest and aptitude in research in many ways. I participated in the
Summer School of Medical Imaging (SSMI) at the TBRRI for three years, allowing me to learn
about current medical research being done in Thunder Bay. In 2012, I won the SSMI Student
Research Award and in the same year I was also chosen to be a representative for the LU
Undergraduate Research Journal. In the past two years, I presented my research at the
International Workshop for Pulmonary Functional Imaging, the LU Department of Chemistry
Poster Session, and the Imaging Network of Ontario.
I have also shown my commitment to promoting medical research in several ways. In May
2014, I presented at a televised media release on how the TBRRI research program helps
university students succeed in a career in health sciences research. In July 2014, I presented
to Shad Valley students (a program for high school students interested in science) on the
importance of medical research and how to get involved. In May 2015, I presented at
Superior Science, a science camp for kids, on all the different opportunities in scientific
research in Thunder Bay.
As someone who is experienced in medical research and has collaborated with many other
researchers in Canada, I am always in tune with current advances in medical research, and
believe I can be instrumental in linking NOSM’s students and faculty with the rest of the
research world. I have already begun to do this is by co-founding, and being the co-president
of the NOSM Medical and Health Research Interest Group (MAHR). I co-created this group
with the intention of creating a platform for medical students to appreciate the importance of
research, the research being conducted in the community, and how they can stay involved in
research while pursuing a career in medicine. Last year, MAHR hosted several successful
events including a workshop on critical analysis of research papers, and presentations given
by renowned researchers in Thunder Bay. This year, we hope to organize a poster session for
NOSM and Lakehead University student researchers, to allow students to showcase their past
and current work to the public.
With this information, I hope you can appreciate my strong commitment to promoting
research at NOSM, and hope you will consider me for the position of Research Committee
Student Representative this year.
Thank you,
Krista
Funmbi Babalola
My name is Funmbi Babalola and I am a fourth year medical student on the East Campus. I am
currently involved in Research with a physician at Health Sciences North and I have been seen
second year of med school. It was by chance that I found out about this physician's research
which correlated with my research interests. During my fourth year rotations, I have learnt of
several current or potential research opportunities by residents and physicians at the hospital
where they are interested in student involvment, however this information does not passed
on to students. My goal would be to breech this gap and help students have maximal
opportunities to be involved in research and to have a variety of choices. I would like to
develop great commuication with several residency program directors and their assistants as
these are two key stakeholders who know of current or potential research in their
department. Also, I want to work with the Research team to improve the current summer
research program.
Caitlyn Vlasschaert
Hi there! I’m a first year learner interested in the Research Committee position. I bring to the
table a diverse repertoire of domestic and international experience, having worked in six
different laboratories in fields ranging from geriatric immunology to psychopathic
neurogenetics and microbial bioinformatics. I hope to become a clinician-scientist and
recently deferred NOSM admission in order to complete an M.Sc. on protein network
evolution wherein I generated four first author manuscripts within the one-year time frame
and wrote a successful NSERC Discovery Grant to fund the continuation of my work. I
recognize that great student-supervisor communication and faculty support were essential to
the realization of these endeavours. As Research Committee representative, I would use this
first-hand experience to ensure student research is continuously supported and promoted.
During my time as a graduate student, I also served as a Sectional Editor for the University of
Ottawa Journal of Medicine. Elected in this role once again this year, I am currently working
with the Editors-in-Chief to evaluate the possibility of establishing a collaboration with NOSM
wherein our medical students could serve as reviewers for this peer-reviewed publication. A
position on the Research Committee would provide a platform for me to work with a team
and develop a plan of action to ensure the successful forging of this partnership, which would
provide more opportunities for NOSM students to engage in research.
Sean Thomas
20) Student Assessment and Promotion Committee (SAPC)
Meagan Roy
Meagan Roy is running for the position of Student Assessment and Promotion Committee, West
Representative. While it may seem a bit counterintuitive to those of you who are aware of my
recent experience, but this experience is why I am passionate about this position. I believe that
every student should be aware of the policies and regulations that dictate their future as medical
practitioners, especially at this first step as medical students. My promise as representative on
the SAPC would be that each student is well represented during procedures, processes, and tools
for assessment that we deem appropriate, and that the guidelines, policies, and procedures are
followed. I undoubtedly have insight and firsthand experience with this, and I know that it will
serve me well in working with the SAPC for student assessment, and promotion. Thank you for
your trust in considering me for this position.
21) Student Travel Fund Allocation Committee
a. East
Jeff McLellan
Serving on the Student Travel Fund Allocation Committee requires a level of budgeting
experience and attention to detail. Coming from a Finance background, my analytical
skills, budgeting capabilities, and financial literacy are extensive. I also have
experience in allocating limited resources in my role as a Project Manager with a
student organization focused on continuing education. I was responsible for
evaluating proposals and selecting which ones to grant funding to – a very similar role
to that of the Student Travel Fund Allocation Committee.
Maxwell Goodwin
b. West
Connor Inglis
22) Undergraduate Medical Education Committee (UMEC)
a. Year 1
Benjamin Cassidy
In addition to my main goal to run as NOSMSS Class Representative Year 1 (East), I
eagerly accept the nomination for the Undergraduate Medical Education Committee
Year 1 Representative. I feel these roles are closely tied and could inform each other.
It would allow me to voice the concerns of our class both at the NOSMSS and the UME
and, hopefully, encourage reform.
I am flattered by the nominations and would be honoured to receive your vote!
Alicia Violin
Sam Loud
b. Year 2
Mara Boyle
Hello fellow second years!
I am happy to announce that I will be running to continue my position on UMEC as
your 2nd year representative.
This academic year has already seen the beginning of many changes in the NOSM UME
curriculum. Having been your UMEC representative last year, I am aware of the
discussions and events that have led to these changes, and have even played an active
role in them. I advocated for the class regarding unfair Theme 2 and 3 exam questions,
I have inquired extensively about assessment changes for the current year and even
for the standardization of SCS teachings. In light of these changes, it is especially
important that as students, you can trust your UMEC representative to effectively and
professionally advocate for a medical program that meets your expectations. With the
knowledge I have gained of the inner workings of UMEC, I believe that I can do this for
you.
Over the past year, the medical community has seen many changes coming from the
government level (e.g. residency cuts). As your UMEC representative, I promise that I
will continue to inquire from UMEC about their knowledge of how these changes are
affecting NOSM postgraduate and even undergraduate programs and what they are
and plan to do to support their students.
As I did last year, I will continue to send my monthly email updates of UMEC meeting
topics that are of concern to NOSM 2nd year students - I hope that you have found
these informative and helpful. I have always tried to be as diligent as possible in
responding to your concerns and addressing them at UMEC meetings. I will continue
to do so. Having said that, I am always open to fellow student suggestions as to how to
improve these processes.
I hope that you have all been happy with my efforts to represent our class needs and
concerns at UMEC over the past year. I would be pleased if you would put your trust in
me again for the upcoming year.
Sara McDonald
I am running for the Undergraduate Medical Education Committee Year 2
Representative as I want to take a proactive approach in ensuring that my peers and
myself receive the highest level of education that meets the evolving standards of
medical education in Canada. Undergraduate Medical Education is the foundation of
which we will all base our future practice on, and it is crucial that we receive the
highest standard of learning. I have participated in curriculum evaluation and
development during my undergrad and felt I was an important member of the team
and promoter of positive change within the program. I personally valued learning
about the curriculum philosophy during my undergrad and was eager to provide my
input as a student representative on behalf of my peers. If elected for the UME
committee Year 2 representative I will respectfully and professionally provide my l
input based on program evaluation, feedback from peers, and my views on where the
program can improve with respect to curriculum content and meeting LCME/CACMS
accreditation standards. I believe that it is important for the UME committee to value
and respect the student’s input with regards to curriculum content and meeting
accreditation standards. As future physicians it is important we are prepared for
practice and take control of our learning. I feel I would be an excellent advocate to
represent the student body on the Undergraduate Medical Education Committee.
c. Year 3
Daenis Camire
The VP Sr of Education has a very important role in receiving and compiling student
feedback regarding curriculum. They are responsible for coordinating efforts towards
an effective, supportive, and collaborative student academic experience. These efforts
ensure that the curriculum and extra-curricular academic activities are reflective of a
world-class medical program from which all students benefit. As a UMEC
representative, it streamlines the process of compiling and delivering student
feedback concerning curriculum on a platform that is received by UMEC committee
members from NOSM SS Executive. Traditionally, it is a goal of the VPs of Education to
aim to sit in this position as information is easily translated from multiple committees
and the student body.
23) Wellness Committee
a. East
Maxwell Goodwin
b. West
Sam Loud
Alicia Violin