Dear MD to Be

Episode 18: Making Real Change with Dr. Danyaal Raza

Tune into today’s podcast with Dr. Danyaal Raza, a Family Physician at the St. Michael’s Hospital Unity Health Network. Dr. Raza’s commitment to health equity has been longstanding as past Chair of Canadian Doctors for Medicare, founding physician lead of St. Michael’s Sumac Creek Health Centre in Toronto’s Regent Park, a member of the Decent Work & Health Network, Broadbent Institute Public Policy Fellow and most recently, the current Faculty Lead in Social Accountability at UofT. Tune in to hear Dr. Raza share his raw and candid journey into Family Medicine along with the exciting advocacy projects he has lined up.

Episode 17- In Search of Community & Representation with Gian Agtarap

Tune into today’s podcast with Gian Agtarap, a medical student at the University of Toronto. Gian is a member and leader within the Filipino community who has spearheaded the development of Filipino Association of Medical Students, a group of pre-med and medical students across Ontario based at the University of Toronto, that hopes to address inequity and underrepresentation in medicine as it applies to the Filipino community. Hear Gian share with us the journey into medicine and the challenges and successes around his advocacy work. The wisdom he has shared with our Dear MD to Be community is a gift and we invite you to listen and learn.

Episode 16- True Representation with Dr. Giroux

Tune into today’s podcast with Dr. Ryan Giroux, a Paediatrics resident at Sick Kids hospital and the president of the Professional Association of Residents of Ontario (PARO). As an Indigenous resident physician, Dr. Giroux shares with us his journey to medicine after growing up in a rural town in Alberta. Dr. Giroux also makes space to discuss the complexities of caring for Indigenous children especially since the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated systemic inequities. Tune into this episode to hear about Dr. Giroux’s expertise and thoughts about advocacy and safety for our Indigenous community members as well his sincere reflections for Indigenous health learners. The wisdom he has shared with our Dear MD to Be community is a gift and we invite you to listen and learn.

Episode 15: Towards Reframing Hardship with Dr. Julia Buthmann

Tune in to today’s podcast with Dr. Julia Buthmann, a family medicine resident in Ottawa who is going to pursue an oncology fellowship this upcoming fall. She shares with us some of the challenges she experienced as a newcomer to Canada at the age of 16 with no English fluency. She teaches us to reframe hardship as an opportunity to learn more about ourselves, and to use our experiences to deliver quality patient care. While Dr. Buthmann shares beautiful messages that are meaningful for everyone, her words will particularly resonate for those who have arrived at medicine from a non traditional or as she put it, a non linear path. Dr. Buthmann is authentic and vulnerable in this conversation and we are grateful for her reflections. The wisdom she shared with our Dear MD to Be community is a gift, and we invite you to listen and learn.

Episode 14: Being Present Amidst a Pandemic

Tune into today’s podcast with Dr. Tarek Abdelhalim, a general internist at Toronto Western Hospital, and an award winning mentor at the University of Toronto. He shares with us how delivering care during a pandemic has exacerbated some of the challenges that marginalized populations experience. Listen to find out how Dr. Abdelhalim  invites us as learners to reframe our outlook during this pandemic.

Episode 13: Towards Renewal with Dr. Allan Peterkin

Tune into today’s podcast with Dr. Allan Peterkin, a psychiatrist with a sheer love for health, arts and humanities. He gives us insight into how medicine, at its core, is about story-telling. He invites us to be authentic in medicine and discusses using intentioned reflection as a way to achieve renewal. We are so grateful for his wisdom. The experiences and lessons Dr. Peterkin shared with our Dear MD to Be community is a gift, and we invite you to listen and learn.

Episode 12: Towards Authenticity with Dr. Mojola Omole

Tune into today’s podcast with Dr. Mojola Omole, a general surgeon and surgical oncologist with the utmost compassion for her patients. She shares her global approach to medicine after time spent in Rwanda, and her perspectives on making medicine a safer space. This is a rather touching conversation where Dr. Omole opens up about finding her true self amidst medicine. We are so grateful for her authenticity, strength, and candor. The experiences and lessons Dr. Omole shared with our Dear MD to Be community is a gift, and we invite you to listen and learn.

Episode 11: It Takes a Village with Dr. Saadia Sediqzadah

 

Tune in to today’s podcast with Dr. Saadia Sediqzadah, a newly graduated Psychiatrist at the University of Toronto. As the proud daughter of Afghan refugees and a first generation medical student, she describes how her personal origins and these experiences helped her become a strong advocate for diversity and representation with utmost conviction. Listen in to hear her discuss her exciting plans for the future in fostering equity and diversity & why she won’t back down from that promise.

Episode 10: Advocating and Uplifting with Dr. Chika Oriuwa

Tune in to today’s podcast with Dr. Chika Oriuwa, an incoming Psychiatry resident at the University of Toronto. We discussed her incredibly journey as the only Black medical student in her medical school cohort and how this acted as the impetus for her subsequent advocacy. We also spoke about the Black Student Application Program, her experiences as a Black woman in medicine and her current advocacy projects. Listen in now to hear her empowering words of advice & support for current and aspiring medical students, highlighting that we truly are all in this together. 

Episode 9: A Pandemic with Dr. Arnav Agarwal

Tune into today's podcast with Dr. Arnav Agarwal, an Internal Medicine Resident at the University of Toronto. We discussed the COVID-19 pandemic and its undeniable worldwide impacts. Dr. Agarwal also gave us the scoop on what life on the wards looks like currently and detailed how medical students can contribute and what this pandemic may mean for our personal wellness and wellbeing as we all adjust to this new reality. Listen in now to hear his compelling words of advice and support, highlighting that we truly are all in this together.