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Alumni Stories, Gallery, In the Spotlight, Indigenous Stories

Indigenous graduate says inclusiveness and advocacy a strength

Dr. Meghan Beals says NOSM sparked her desire to explore her own Indigeneity. “I definitely overcame a lot of personal learning about my own culture during my four years at NOSM. I grew up off reserve and I didn’t have as much cultural exposure so there was a lot of personal growth and learning about my own Miꞌkmaq culture and the different inequities that Indigenous persons face in health care,” she says.

Meghan says her fondest memories stem from the in-person clinical community placements she experienced during her third year, prior to the pandemic. During those placements she built strong relationships with faculty and fellow classmates—bonds she plans to hold onto. “Our preceptors at NOSM really stand out. The physicians in those smaller communities across Northern Ontario are so receptive to students and so dedicated to teaching students that you honestly feel like a colleague, you don’t feel like a student,” Meghan says. “I think that it is very special and awesome that NOSM has so many dedicated faculty.”

Meghan will begin her residency in Family Medicine in Moncton, New Brunswick—much closer to her home on the East Coast where she worked as a paramedic and then as a respiratory therapist prior to medical school. She says NOSM felt like the right fit to pursue rural medicine. “I wanted to have more autonomy as a health professional and I was particularly drawn to the NOSM MD program because of its social accountability mandate to the rural communities. And being Indigenous, I knew that cultural inclusion and equity is at the forefront of the School’s curriculum, which is very valuable.”

A source of ongoing inspiration is the strong sense of advocacy Meghan felt at NOSM, which she aspires to bring to her career. “Being Indigenous, I want to take on an advocacy role that influences personal health from within communities that are close to me. Creating healthy communities will definitely be a part of my advocacy work in the future as a family physician. Being part of a community and demonstrating how committed you are to a healthy lifestyle, that in and of itself is strong advocacy—by being there for everyone.”

Alumni Stories, Francophone Features, Gallery, In the Spotlight

Cultural diversity and Operation Remote Immunity were highlights of Francophone graduates’ NOSM experience

Dr. Dominique Lachapelle, a Francophone graduate of NOSM’s MD Class of 2021, says lessons in resilience and collaboration will serve her well in future. “Medical school was challenging. It gave me the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone, learn from community placements, mentors and explore the rich cultural diversity of Northern Ontario,” she says.

This winter Dominique volunteered with Operation Remote Immunity, which she describes as a highlight of her medical school experience. She assisted with the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out in North Spirit Lake, Kashechewan, and Attawapiskat and was able to get credit for an elective for offering pandemic care. “It was really interesting to experience and to be part of such a strong collaborative effort made possible by community leaders in partnership with Ornge. It really was a great honour to be welcomed in these communities and contribute to the remote immunization operation.”

She also speaks fondly of the time she spent in Temagami First Nation located on Bear Island during her first-year of medical school, and of her third-year clinical placement in Temiskaming Shores. “I was inspired by the elderly patients who appreciated the care I helped provide in French. I look forward to future opportunities to deliver culturally safe care in Northern Ontario,” says Dominique. She adds that NOSM provided her with an understanding and learning experiences about the health-care barriers that Francophone patients and families face. Some valuable lessons included learning about French medical terminology and clinical skills. “As a Francophone student, I was very fortunate at NOSM to have strong mentors and Francophone preceptors.”

In July, Dominique will begin her residency in the Family Medicine Rural Stream in her hometown of Temiskaming Shores. She hopes to settle in the community and plans to practice family medicine with a broad spectrum, as well as a focus on health-care for the elderly. In her future practice, Dominique brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will allow her to provide culturally safe, accessible and inclusive care.

Alumni Stories, Gallery, In the Spotlight

Accomplishment in the height of the pandemic

Dr. Jai Mashru is quietly celebrating a huge milestone. A graduate of NOSM’s MD Class of 2021, Jai feels a great sense of accomplishment to graduate during one of the most challenging years of his medical education, a year which he also says was the most rewarding.

“I plan to give back to the community and give back to future learners in Northern Ontario. This is something that I want to do,” says Jai, who is the valedictorian of his class in Sudbury and the former president of the NOSM student council. Raised in Dryden, and having lived in Sudbury and Parry Sound, Jai says being matched to an internal medicine residency in Toronto and moving to an urban environment is another opportunity to grow before he realises his final goal which is to return to the North where he hopes to establish his own practice.

“Being at NOSM has instilled in me and my classmates the idea of being socially accountable in the work we do. That may be one of the biggest things I take away from my time at NOSM. So many have helped me along the way, and giving back is important to me. Continuing with mentorship and other initiatives is definitely something that I want to continue moving forward.”

Completing his final year of medical school during the COVID-19 pandemic meant being physically distanced from friends and family. Jai and his classmates found themselves challenged with changes to the normal MD program. Instead of experiencing a full rotation of electives offered across Canada, they were faced with uncertainties, more online instruction and rapid changes. Learning to adapt quickly is perhaps the greatest skill set this class will bring to their future residencies and practices.

“I feel a sense of accomplishment to have persevered. Moving to a new city, applying new skills, and making new connections—it’s something that I accomplished really well,” he says. “Forging new relationships and building everlasting connections with my classmates is something that will last.”

Jai says the community rotations he was able to experience had a lasting impact. Working with patients and preceptors in communities in the North helped him overcome feelings of imposter syndrome, helping him develop his resilience.

“It’s incredibly satisfying to reflect back on all of the work I’ve put in over the last four years, and it’s so much more than clinical knowledge and medical knowledge, there’s all the advocacy and different initiatives that have kept us all very busy,” says Jai. “This year really gave me the sense that I’m making a difference and that I belong. It’s gratifying.”

NOSM University