Faces of U of T Medicine: Anjali Kulkarni

Anjali Kulkarni wants to improve access to reproductive and sexual healthcare for patients across the country. The fourth year medical student, who will start residency training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology this July, has been working to eliminate the stigma associated with these topics by raising awareness. She spoke to us about her work with the Canadian Federation of Medical Students and Medical Students for Choice.

Name: Anjali Kulkarni
Program/year: Medicine, Fourth year
Role/position: National Officer of Reproductive and Sexual Health (NORSH) with the Canadian Federation of Medical Students from 2014-2015, and the previous co-president of Medical Students for Choice (MSFC) at University of Toronto

Tell us about your experience being involved with Medical Students for Choice.
I first became involved in my first year, as one of the first year reps, and then in my second year, the other first year rep (Jillian Bardsley) and I became co-presidents. In these two years, we organized multiple educational events for students. These have included documentary screenings, a tour of the Scott Clinic, and the yearly shadowing program, which gives pre-clerkship students the opportunity to shadow physicians in reproductive and sexual health-related clinics, including abortion clinics, infertility clinics, and sexual health clinics. In our year as co-presidents, we organized an interdisciplinary conference on abortion provision and activism. This event was well-attended by students from Medicine, Nursing, Social Work, Pharmacy, Law and other faculties at U of T.                                      

What do you find most exciting about your work?
I really enjoy working with a diverse group of people from a variety of backgrounds. We were working towards the common goal of promoting access to women’s health care, and working to eliminate the stigma that’s often associated with reproductive and sexual health. I was really excited by the turnout for several of our educational events, including the interprofessional conference. Seeing the numbers of people interested in these topics was greatly rewarding and gives me high hopes for the future of women’s health.

What do you hope to accomplish?
My goal is to improve access to reproductive and sexual health care for patients across the country. Obviously, this is something that can’t be accomplished by one person. I hope to play a part in this by helping de-stigmatize topics like contraception, abortion and LGBTQ health among my colleagues.

How has this experience influenced your long-term career plans?
My experiences as NORSH and with MSFC have introduced me to a diverse network of colleagues with a multitude of interests relating to reproductive and sexual health. I have learned just how vast this topic is – in this past year, I have seen education events organized for aging and sexuality, transgender healthcare, abortion care, etc. My involvement with these groups have further fuelled my interest in reproductive and sexual health, and has motivated me to continue to explore this when I start my residency training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology this July.

What's your favourite thing about the Faculty of Medicine?
I keep commenting on the diversity of the groups of people who I have worked with in these past four years, but this is truly my favourite aspect of the Faculty of Medicine. Everyone has their niche, or their main interest that they are working towards and promoting, and I have greatly enjoyed the opportunity to learn from everyone. Medicine is a very vast all-encompassing topic and I feel really lucky to have been part of this Faculty for the past four years.

Faces of U of T Medicine introduces you to some of the interesting men and women studying in the Faculty of Medicine. From advising political leaders to providing care to Toronto’s most vulnerable populations, our students are making an impact on communities at home and around the world. Do you have an interesting story to share? Send us an email at medicine.communications@utoronto.ca.