2023 Admissions

Class of 2024

If you want to contact our student ambassadors, send them an email to admissions.med [at] mcgill.ca

Sabrina

Class of 2024

Languages: French, English
Education: BSc Biochemistry (Université de Montréal), MSc Sciences Biomédicales – option sciences psychiatriques (Honours, Université de Montréal), Advanced Specialty Certificate of Forensic Sciences (British Columbia Institute of technology), GCBA Business Administration (John-Molson School of Business, Concordia University), PhD Pathology (McGill University)

Cat lover, CrossFit enthusiast, surf newbie and very proud McGill Med Ambassador! I am a driven young professional and I unceasingly aspire to learn and improve, thus my motivation to become a clinician-scientist. As my academic background suggests, I am a well-rounded student with a wide range of experiences and interests. From my first year of university I knew that I wanted to do medicine, but I would not have guessed how challenging, yet so rewarding, the path to get there would be. I obtained my PhD in ophthalmic pathology in 2019 and I have several years of research experience prior to my doctoral studies, notably in the field of neurobiology and behavioural neuroscience. I also managed to study some Forensics and a bit of business along the way, and I truly believe that stepping out of my (science) comfort zone and learning new skills are an asset to being a good physician.I have gained valuable experience throughout my years in academia and I have had the opportunity to meet some of the most passionate, smart and unique people I know. As a student ambassador, I am honoured to be able to share these experiences with you, future colleagues and friends!

Student Ambassador Sabrina

Joelle

Class of 2024

Languages: English, French
Education: B.Sc. Kinesiology, McGill University (2016-2019), M.Sc. Neuroscience (concussion and traumatic brain injury research), McGill University (2019-2021)

My name is Joelle and I am from Montreal, born and raised. Even though I have been here my entire life and completed all of my schooling here, I love exploring the city and finding new spots for great food and coffee. I am big on music, and all things sports! I study medicine at McGill’s new campus in Outaouais. Although I am just starting my first year, I already feel such a sense of community, support and belonging here with the small campus and family-like environment in Gatineau. I love that I am still able to continue my education at McGill, while also being able to explore a new city. Having applied to McGill medicine more than once, I know how stressful the application process can be, but I am so grateful that I finally have the privilege to study here. Don’t give up, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions!

Student Ambassador Joelle

Haroon

Class of 2024

Languages: English, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi
Education: BSc. Anatomy and Cell Biology (McGill University, 2019); MSc. Experimental Medicine (McGill University, Jewish General Hospital/Lady Davis Institute, 2019-2021). FRQS Scholar (2020), Quebec Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research Fellowship (2020).

Growing up in Calgary, Alberta, I took full advantage of the Rocky Mountains and loved to camp, hike, kayak and snowboard. After a formative summer internship witnessing patients at a tertiary care medical centre in Calgary, I decided medicine was my calling and began my journey to medical school. I moved to Montreal in 2015 and completed my BSc. in Anatomy and Cell Biology and am currently completing my MSc. in Experimental Medicine from McGill University as well. To study at McGill Medicine was once a dream and now a reality since I was 16 when I first read about the rich history and legacy that the medical faculty holds, from William Osler to Wilder Penfield. It is a privilege to be studying medicine along with such a diverse cohort of individuals from varying experiences, languages and cultures and I am reminded of it daily. If I am not studying at any of the beautiful cafes in Montreal, you can catch me watching any movie by Christopher Nolan, binging rewatches of Stranger Things, The Office, or Suits or exploring Old Montreal. Please do not hesitate to reach out, I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Student Ambassador Haroon

Amanda

Class of 2024

Languages: English, French, Italian (Casual)
Education: DEC (Honours Program) Health Science (Marianopolis College, 2014); B.Eng. (Internship Program) Major in Electrical Engineering, Minor in Biomedical Engineering (McGill University, 2018); M.Eng. (Thesis) Biological & Biomedical Engineering (McGill University, 2021).

Born and raised in Montreal, McGill has become my second home ever since I attended my first piano lesson at the age of 8 at the McGill Conservatory of Music. The downtown campus is surrounded by many of the city’s multicultural restaurants, festivals, live music and sporting events, all of which I love to explore with my friends and family. My passion for medicine and engineering has grown stronger throughout my time at McGill, and it stems from my volunteer experiences at the Montreal Children’s Hospital and Shriners Hospital for Children. As a future physician, I look forward to making use of my diverse background to improve patient care. Please do not hesitate to contact me as I am honoured to share my experiences with you and answer any questions that you may have!

Student Ambassador Amanda

Arshia

Class of 2024

Languages: English, French, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi (beginner), Spanish (beginner)
Education: DEC Honours Health Sciences (Marianopolis College), Med-P Qualifying year (2019)

My name is Arshia, and I am so honoured to be a part of the student ambassadors of the 2024 cohort! I was born and raised in Montreal, attending College Saint-Louis high school and Marianopolis College before being admitted into the McGill Med-P program. One of my biggest passions is writing, specifically poetry, as I believe this form of literature allows for introspection and can create a lasting impact in an individual’s life. My views on poetry mirror my decision to pursue a career in medicine. Particularly, my interest in this field came from a specific encounter I witnessed at my pediatrician’s office. A 6-year-old girl came into the clinic for a routine check-up in tears. Yet, upon seeing the grinning doctor, nurses, and associated staff, she instantly became at ease and was even excited for her examination. Medicine goes beyond the doctor-patient interaction; it is the harmony of cooperation, leadership, and advocacy. As a future physician, I hope to not only help my patients with their illnesses, but also be a source of comfort rather than anxiety. Medicine is a both a challenging and noble profession, crammed with late night study sessions and a hefty coffee tab. However, it is also filled with incredible memories with amazing people from all over the world. I wish you all the best of luck in your application process, and do not hesitate to reach out for all questions!

Student Ambassador Arshia

Lauren

Class of 2024

Languages: English, French
Education: DEC Honours Science (John Abbott College, 2014), B.Sc. Honours Kinesiology (McGill University, 2017), M.Sc. Exercise Physiology (McGill University, 2019)

I’m Lauren and I’m so happy to be a student ambassador this year. I was born and raised in Montreal and as you can see in my info above, I have done all of my university education thus far at McGill! Becoming a physician has always been my end-goal, but I am very grateful for all the opportunities I had prior to starting medical school last year. I was accredited as a Kinesiologist with the Fédération des kinésiologues du Québec (FKQ) following my Kinesiology degrees, and I have 4 years of clinical research experience as well. The focus of my research during my B.Sc. Honours Thesis and M.Sc. was respiratory illnesses in the realm of exercise physiology, which allowed me to work with patients and healthcare professionals in the hospital setting. Following the completion of my Master’s degree, in the year before I started medicine, I worked as a clinical research coordinator in respiratory research at the Glen Site of the MUHC. I was thrilled when I was accepted into McGill’s MDCM Class of 2024, and I am so excited to use the experiences I had in my prior work and education to become the best physician I can be. Outside of school, I love music, dogs, kickboxing, and spending time with family and friends. I am looking forward to meeting you all and I’m happy to answer any questions you have. Good luck on this journey!!

Student Ambassador Lauren

Domenico 

Class of 2024

Language: English
Education: DEC Health Sciences (Marianopolis College, 2011), B.Sc Honours Cell and Molecular Biology, Minors in Multidisciplinary Studies in Science (Concordia University, 2015), Doctor of Pharmacy (University of Toronto, 2019)

My path to medicine is a little unconventional; I was born and raised in Montreal before moving to Toronto in 2015 to pursue a pharmacy degree. I’ve always enjoyed working with people from different walks of life and made it a priority to engage in many varied extracurriculars during both my undergraduate and pharmacy studies. Some of my favourite projects include serving as an executive for Toronto’s IMAGINE Clinic and investigating a radiotherapeutic drug aimed at treating HER2(+) breast cancer. When I’m not studying or volunteering, you can find me lifting weights at the gym, relaxing with friends, family and (trying to) meet new people. During my career as a pharmacist, I dealt with doctors who studied around the world and witnessed first hand the caliber at which McGill-trained physicians practice. The high academic standard, fantastic support system and commitment towards providing a diverse student body with countless opportunities along their medical school journey made choosing McGill Medicine an easy decision.

Student Ambassador Domenico

Maya

Class of 2024

Languages: English, French, Arabic
Education: Bachelor of Social Sciences with a major in Psychology (University of Ottawa, 2018)

Being raised in Montreal, you could say I’m very much a product of my roots. Coming from a city that prides itself in its diversity, and a food scene as delicious as it is multicultural, it’s no surprise that I have a passion for food and new cultures. Any break I get, I grasp the opportunity to travel all over the world. My absolute favourite thing is meeting new people from different cultures and making unique long-lasting memories.

It was throughout the course of my degree that I went from flirting with the idea of medicine through episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, to realizing my passion for it. As a coordinator with the anatomy lab at the University of Ottawa, I realized the depth and complexity of the human body and have been pursuing a career in medicine since.

My choice in medical schools came down to the options I felt reflected me best, at a personal level. In that sense, McGill Medical School was not only an obvious choice, but one that gives me a sense of pride. The University’s ongoing commitment to diversity, and its fundamentally humanistic approach to medicine reflect both my personal and professional priorities.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me, I was once in your shoes and would love to answer any questions you might have as well as providing you with insightful advice.

Shadi

Class of 2024

Languages: English, French, Arabic (Tunisian dialect), Spanish (novice)
Education: DEC Sciences (John Abbott College, 2016); B.Sc. (Honours) Neuroscience (McGill University, 2019); M.Sc. Neuroscience (University of Oxford, 2020).

I am Shadi and am honored to serve as student ambassador this year. I was born in Montreal and raised in both Montreal and Tunisia, my parents' home country. My interest in medicine began after spending some time with World War II veterans at the now-defunct Sainte-Anne Veterans' Hospital while in high school. I chose McGill to pursue my medical studies because of its world-renowned reputation in both medicine and research, its fantastic curriculum and because it's my alma mater. I'm a sports fanatic; rowing and cycling have been a focus of mine lately. My favorite movie of all time is 2001: A Space Odyssey. Tommy Wiseau's The Room is a close second. (kidding. although...). Feel free to reach out to me for any questions about the application process, the curriculum or the first year experience. Best of luck!

Student Ambassador Shadi

Laura

Class of 2024

Languages: English, Mandarin, French (casual)

Education: Ontario Secondary School Diploma (Bloor Collegiate Institute, 2016); B.Sc. (Honours) Neuroscience (McGill University, 2020). Research experience: neuropsychiatry research (Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 2017-2020), physics research (National Cheng Kung University, 2018), spinal cord injury research (Amgen Scholars Canada Program - University of Toronto, 2019), biochemistry research (Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, 2019-2020).

I was born in Tianjin, China and moved to Toronto when I was five years old, so I grew up in the various suburbs that surround downtown. My interest in medicine is strongly intertwined with my research interests--I first became interested in neuroscience research during my first year of university when I attended a neuropsychiatry course that introduced me to the notion that the operations of the brain is intimately linked to health and disease. From this interest, I pursued research that aided me in crystallizing my interest for medicine, as it is a profession that allows a medical practitioner to form a unique, oftentimes vulnerable connection with someone who may have been a stranger minutes before. McGill's Faculty of Medicine is an incredibly supportive and diverse environment that is truly dedicated to students' success. I am grateful for the variety of support resources and opportunities, including Osler groups and the Longitudinal Family Medicine Experience, which have already introduced me to kind, generous, and professional mentors that I am sure will have a lasting impact on my future career. The Faculty is magical in that students, staff, professors, and physicians alike collaborate to consistently improve the quality of student mentorship and patient care.In my free time, I love to play piano and swim, and I am also interested in interrogation forensics, suturing fruits, and cafe hopping around Montréal. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would just like to chat!

Student Ambassador Laura

Abby

Class of 2024

Language: English, French (Rudimentary)

Education: BSc (Hon) Life Sciences (Queen’s University, 2016); MSc Institute of Medical Sciences (University of Toronto and Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute at Sinai Health System, 2018)

I’m Abby! I am thrilled to be one of your student ambassadors this year. I am really looking forward to helping prospective McGill Medicine students navigate the admissions process this year. For me, applying to medicine was a long and, at sometimes, discouraging journey; so, I can sympathize with those who may also feel they are in a similar position. My message to you is to keep persevering and don’t lose hope! Your student ambassadors are here to support you. I am an out of province student, born in Richmond Hill, Ontario and raised in Stouffville, Ontario. A career in medicine has been an aspiration of mine ever since I graduated high school. I had so many positive experiences with my own family doctor and saw first-hand the huge impact that family doctors can have on their patient’s lives. These experiences solidified my decision to go to medical school and has inspired my choice to apply to family medicine when the time comes. Outside of my studies, I like to visit my friends and family back home, listen to music, watch Grey’s Anatomy, and cook! Yes, I was one of those people during quarantine who grew their own yeast starter and baked bread (it’s like a science experiment, ok?). I am wishing all the applicants this year the best of luck :) Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have about applying as an out of province student, about McGill’s curriculum, or anything, really!

 

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