The Translational Research Program allows me to do exactly this. Through the program, I have learned how to perform contextual inquiry in specific patient populations, identify person-centric gaps in care, build trust and engage with research beneficiaries and stakeholders, and prototype low-fidelity interventions for validated needs and problems. These skills have prepared me to co-create health innovations in my coursework and Capstone project, but they have also provided a foundation for continuous learning in my personal life. 

My goal with being involved at UofT has always been to foster a sense of community. Graduate school is so much easier to manage when you know there are people in your corner supporting you and encouraging you to grow. By being an active member of multiple committees, I have been able to engage students in activities outside of academics, from social and de-stressing events or advocacy and community service initiatives.

In true TRP fashion, I noticed a few “unmet needs” regarding student life in the first year of my Master’s. For example, after a few conversations with peers, I realized many students were struggling with their mental health. To address this, I joined the Health & Wellness Student Advisory Committee (HWSAC), part of University of Toronto’s Student Health & Wellness Centre, where for two years I have provided feedback on Student Health policies and services to improve their accessibility, especially for graduate students. I also advocated for the rebrand of the TRP Fitness & Wellness Committee to the TRP Health & Wellness Committee to focus on more mental health-related initiatives (e.g., de-stressor events, therapy dogs).

Similarly, after noticing that members of different student groups in my program rarely know what’s going on in others, I helped streamline communications within and across all the groups to make them more accessible. Through this, I served as the liaison between the TRP administration and the student groups to disseminate information about budget proposal submissions, orientation, the club fair, etc. I also arranged and led meetings so that all groups could present their 2023-2024 event ideas and ask for feedback or help from other teams’, thereby enabling open communication and encouraging transparency.

I also advocated for the creation of a joint “TRP Student Life” social media account on Instagram and LinkedIn. This way, all groups could share event or recruitment information in a centralized way, making is easier for students.

I believe leadership begins with listening, and through these activities, I’ve learned to actively listen to students, faculty, and alumni to understand their needs and address them. I’ve also learned how important it is to communicate with your collaborators to establish professional boundaries! It can be very easy to overextend yourself, but knowing your limits and communicating them is key to productive leadership and avoiding burnout.

So many student leaders across the university work tirelessly “behind-the-scenes” to promote student wellness, whether that’s through planning events or revising policies. These leaders don’t do it to be acknowledged – they simply want to make a difference. Despite this, I feel incredibly grateful to be recognized among them for my own commitment to improving the TRP but also graduate life as a whole.”