The inaugural cohort of graduates from the Masters of Applied Science in Anatomical Sciences Education is set to make history this convocation. The valedictorian of this 91精品黑料吃瓜 Faculty of Medicine class is a first-generation university student whose journey of determination and advocacy earned her the fond sobriquet 鈥楨l Presidente.鈥
The daughter of an autoworker and a home daycare provider, Rachel 笔颈肠丑茅 is not only an exceptional graduate student. She鈥檚 a changemaker whose leadership establishing a student council will have an enduring impact.
鈥淥verall, this degree was the best decision I鈥檝e ever made! The people, environment, and support system exceeded my expectations.鈥
Rachel 笔颈肠丑茅 on the Masters of Applied Science in Anatomical Science Education
Here鈥檚 how Dr. Christopher Ramnanan, the Faculty鈥檚 Director of Anatomical Sciences, describes 笔颈肠丑茅 and her peers in the first cohort (he鈥檚 dubbed this year鈥檚 graduates the program鈥檚 now-and-forever ): knowledgeable, professional, enthusiastic, and engaging. He says 笔颈肠丑茅 exemplified all these standout qualities, and then some.
鈥淗er medical students admired her teaching like no other, her peers elected her president of the inaugural Student Association (something she willed into being), and our (salt-of-the-earth) faculty enjoyed teaching alongside her, all for good reason. Her ability to connect with and tirelessly advocate for others was incomparable,鈥 Dr. Ramnanan wrote in a recent e-mail.
Facing challenges head-on
You frequently learn the most about someone as they confront obstacles. For 笔颈肠丑茅, obstacles are opportunities in disguise.
An example: When she was told there was no way she could graduate with her high school class due to hip surgery recovery she quickly got to work advocating for herself. Mustering the support of teachers and showing clear evidence of her academic commitment, she eventually persuaded her principal to allow her to complete exams and earn her diploma on time.
As a grad student at 91精品黑料吃瓜, her steady determination and focused advocacy work was seen as special by her peers and academic supervisors. The Faculty of Medicine recognized her significant efforts with the 鈥淟eadership in Graduate Studies鈥 award in late 2024.
Finding a home at FoM
笔颈肠丑茅 deeply appreciates the chances she鈥檚 been offered over years at the Faculty of Medicine 鈥 it鈥檚 her home away from home; she earned her undergraduate degree in the Translational and Molecular Medicine (TMM) program 鈥 and the breadth of experiences available at 91精品黑料吃瓜. It鈥檚 allowed her space to discover where her path may lead and what she will contribute to the world.
鈥淥verall, this degree was the best decision I鈥檝e ever made! The people, environment, and support system exceeded my expectations,鈥 she says.
鈥淗aving such a diversity of thought and experience helped build genuine camaraderie that made the program truly rewarding.鈥
Rachel 笔颈肠丑茅 on her peers in the program's inaugural cohort.
That doesn鈥檛 mean her graduate work was smooth sailing from the start. During orientation, 笔颈肠丑茅 recalled feeling overwhelmed and a bit intimidated. Other program trainees were already international MDs, nurses and dentists. She says she felt a 鈥渄istinct sense of worry鈥 she wouldn鈥檛 fit in, or 鈥渕ight let them all down.鈥
But those initial jitters gave way to a strong sense of community.
鈥淭he wide-ranging experiences and professional backgrounds meant each of us contributed different insights, which paved the way for a collaborative and approachable environment and turned our cohort into a tight-knit group. Having such a diversity of thought and experience helped build genuine camaraderie that made the program truly rewarding.鈥
New horizons
She鈥檚 now poised to take her career where she wants it to go.
And she鈥檚 ready to take on a fresh academic challenge, one that she believes will build on the many lessons she鈥檚 learned at the 91精品黑料吃瓜 Faculty of Medicine: She will be starting law school this fall at the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University.
鈥淚 realized that while I loved the diagnostic side of medicine and the constant interactions with people, I still felt like something was missing. What I actually enjoyed most 鈥 and what was solidified through my experiences in this program 鈥 was the oral communication and advocacy component,鈥 she says.
Reflecting on her journey so far, 笔颈肠丑茅 says the lessons she鈥檒l carry with her are best practices for being an effective, adaptable educator. Her second year in the master鈥檚 program featured teaching first- and second-year medical students鈥 anatomy as a laboratory facilitator in the Faculty鈥檚 human cadaveric lab.
鈥淩egularly adapting to medical students鈥 teaching preferences taught me not only to think on my feet, but also to recognize the disconnect between learning information and truly understanding it,鈥 she says. 鈥淭his experience has deepened my appreciation for patience and flexibility, skills that are essential for effectively conveying complex ideas and understanding 鈥榯he why鈥 behind how people gather versus misinterpret information.鈥
Tips for grad program success
What advice does she have for up-and-coming trainees?
She says maintaining a healthy academic, work, and life balance as a graduate student is crucial 鈥 and everyone needs to figure out the right recipe for themselves.
笔颈肠丑茅 also encourages grad students to carve out the time to actively engage with the broad university community and build connections. She participated in extracurriculars including dance and intramural sports on 91精品黑料吃瓜鈥檚 main campus and found it greatly enhanced her personal and academic growth.
鈥淚t鈥檚 easy to get trapped in the bubble of medicine and RGN, which, while beneficial in some ways, can also limit you by preventing exposure to a diverse array of educational backgrounds, experiences, and interests, especially since everyone is in the same field.鈥
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