What happened after high school?
I was accepted into my #1 program, the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences at the University of Guelph, completing a double minor in (i) psychology, and (ii) molecular biology & genetics (both physical and mental aspects of health). Immediately after I graduated, I began working at Genome Canada (GC) as a part-time summer intern. I realized that I loved this field and worked hard so that I was offered a permanent position at GC. At 22, I moved to Ottawa and bought a condo to be near our office. Genome Canada is an NFP that funds exciting genomics research across Canada. While ~50% of our funding goes to health, we also fund agriculture, fisheries/aquaculture, forestry, environment, and mining/energy. Within health, our projects combat cancer, rare diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and COVID-19. We also fund GE3LS - Genomics and its Ethical, Environmental, Economic, Legal & Social aspects - supporting interdisciplinary science.
What do you remember from the Discovery Day event and what impact did it have on you?
I remember being excited to travel to Queen's University and hear about the different applications of a health career. While I wasn't interested in medical school at the time, I still found it useful to learn about health and medicine programs and careers. It made me feel more excited and hopeful during that time when I was trying to figure out what to study and which universities to apply to, rather than just feeling stressed out about my options. Of course, I also remember winning a lottery competition that day and getting a gift card to Chapters (memorable as I have always been a bookworm).
Any advice for high school students?
Be flexible and open to other paths. There are so many jobs out there that we don't know about when we are in high school. I never planned on working in research funding because I never knew that field existed. I worked towards one career from the ages 16-21 but I realized that I loved my work at Genome Canada so much that I allowed myself to let the original plan go and shift gears, and I have ended up on a much happier and more successful path in my career and my life than I could've guessed.
About the CMHF
The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (CMHF) celebrates Canadian heroes whose work advances health in Canada and the world, fostering future generations of health professionals through the delivery of local and national youth education programs and awards.
This enduring tribute to our country’s rich medical history is showcased here and in our physical exhibit hall in London, ON
