From our students

I am a student in the combined MD-PhD program and the first in my family to complete an undergraduate, graduate, and soon an MD and PhD degree. I was born in the Philippines and immigrated to Canada when I was four years old and raised in a diverse neighbourhood in Scarborough. I went on to earn an undergraduate degree in global health and a master’s of science in cancer psychiatry research at U of T. 

For my PhD, I am interested in learning how to generate robust evidence related to the implementation of health interventions in low- and middle-income settings – settings that are too often unheard and deprioritized in research. I plan to leverage qualitative and quantitative methods to identify barriers and facilitators to successful implementation of health care interventions and evaluate their clinical and implementation effectiveness on a global scale. Your funding will contribute to my achieving this goal and my future as a physician-scientist. 

Once again, thank you for your generosity. Please rest in the knowledge that your funding has gone toward helping me reach my ultimate dream of a happier, healthier world. 

Bryan Gascon

I was thrilled to learn that I am the recipient of an MAA award, and I deeply appreciate your support.

I am a first-year student in the MD program, looking forward to completing my degree as part of the Class of 2026. I am interested in women’s health, and am also passionate about advocating for the health and well-being of marginalized and racialized populations.

Thank you for supporting Black students, such as myself, who are pursuing a career in medicine. I hope to someday give back and help students as you have helped me. 

Toluwanimi (Nimi) Durowaye

I am extremely grateful to have received an MAA award to support my studies at U of T.

I am a first-generation medical student from a small town in southwestern Ontario. I grew up in a lower income family and am forever grateful for my parents, who sacrificed so much to allow me to go to university and study kinesiology. As an undergrad, I decided to pursue medicine as a career, although going to medical school and living in Toronto is very expensive.

I am interested in family medicine although I am only in second year so am open to exploring other areas of medicine. I am passionate about health promotion and am part of the student-led IMAGINE clinic, which helps run workshops on health-related topics for underhoused individuals in downtown Toronto.

I hope one day to be able to help students achieve their goals just as you have helped me.

Daniel Lindsay

Helping tomorrow's physicians

Thank you to the Meds alumni who so generously support the MAA mission to help medical students at the University of Toronto. Your generosity continues to bring hope. Thank you for helping our medical students become tomorrow’s physicians.

MAA FUNDING
Academic Year 2021–2022

The MAA provided a total of $426,443 in support to medical students in the 2021–2022 academic year.