Name: Taylor Kravitz
Degree: MSc in Family Medicine
Hometown: Montreal, Canada
What did you love most about studying at McGill and/or in the Department of Family Medicine?
What I loved most was the sense of community within the Department of Family Medicine. Everyone was incredibly warm, supportive and generous with their time. Senior students were always willing to offer advice and encouragement, and professors truly fostered an environment where students felt valued. I especially appreciated how invested they were in mentorship.
If you could change one thing in the world to make it better, what would you choose?
More kindness! It sounds simple but I strongly believe that everyone should prioritize practicing small moments of kindness. These can have a far greater impact than we often realize. Taking an extra second to act with empathy can completely change the course of another person’s day. We never truly know what someone else may be going through, which is why maintaining perspective, and leading with compassion, humility and grace can make such a meaningful difference.
Please share a particularly proud or challenging moment from your degree?
One of the most challenging yet rewarding periods of my degree was preparing my thesis for submission during my surgical rotation in medical school, which was also my very first hospital rotation. During this time, I often balanced early mornings in the OR with ongoing writing and data analysis in the evenings. I am proud that I stayed organized and committed to producing meaningful, quality work. I was deeply passionate about my project, which motivated me throughout the process. I’m also very fortunate to have had incredible support from my supervisor, friends, colleagues and family who were all instrumental to helping me navigate this time.
Your fave hangout?
The hot dog stand on the field in the summer is always a classic favorite. A lot of us master’s students also loved exploring different cafés around Montreal to study or catch up and Amea quickly became one of our go-to spots.
A song, film, series, TikTok, video game, catch phrase that defines the past few years as a student at McGill?
This is a difficult choice, but one song that comes to mind is ‘Vienna’ by Billy Joel, a reminder to slow down, trust the process and enjoy our time as it unfolds!
Shoutout?
First, Professor Tracie Barnett, my master’s supervisor, who was incredibly supportive of both my research and my dream of pursuing medical school. I’m also very grateful to Professor Soren Harnois-Leblanc, who generously helped guide me through statistical methods and was always willing to mentor and support me. Importantly, I want to thank my friends and colleagues in the department, we did it together! And finally, my biggest shout out goes to my family and closest friends - my biggest cheerleaders and the people who kept me grounded, lifted me up, and motivated me through every challenge.
Top tip for incoming students in your program?
My grandfather always says, “Do something you enjoy, and you won’t work a day in your life.” That’s the advice I would give incoming students! Choose a project you’re genuinely passionate about. It makes even the hardest days feel meaningful, and you’ll get so much more out of the program. I would add that some of the best opportunities and learning experiences come from simply being open to others and taking advantage of the expertise around you. Talk to everyone, you never know where a new connection may lead you.
What's next for you?
I’m about to begin my fourth year of medical school, and I hope to continue my involvement in family medicine moving forward. I’m looking forward to building on the knowledge and experiences I’ve gained through both my coursework and research here and applying them more broadly to patient care in my future clinical work.
