Purpose, curiosity and new beginnings: Class of 2T6 graduates reflect on medical school

As they prepare to begin residency training across a wide range of specialties, graduating students from the Temerty Faculty of Medicine MD Class of 2T6 reflect on what drew them to medicine, the moments that defined their training, and what they hope to carry forward into their careers as physicians.

Darshana Seeburruth

Up next: Dermatology, University of Toronto

I was born in Mauritius, and from a young age, I saw how limited access to health care could change the course of someone’s illness and impact their daily life. Those experiences stayed with me and motivated me to pursue a career where I could help reduce these inequities. What draws me to medicine is the opportunity to support patients during vulnerable moments and to be part of a system that can improve how care is delivered, both at the individual and community level.

I feel privileged to walk with patients through some of the most complex and challenging moments of their lives. Being able to offer them and their loved ones even a small measure of compassion and understanding during times of uncertainty is what I find most rewarding.

I’m excited to start my residency in dermatology at the University of Toronto. What drew me to this field is how visible skin conditions can impact someone’s life, not just physically, but emotionally, socially, and professionally. I’ve been fortunate to learn from mentors who showed me that dermatologists don’t just treat disease, they also have the opportunity to help restore dignity, confidence and quality of life. Seeing this in practice solidified my interest in the field and shaped how I hope to approach patient care.

If I could talk to my first-year self, I’d tell her that medical school will have its challenging moments, but having people around who uplift and support you can make all the difference. Those friendships and connections will not only help you through tough times but also create shared experiences, laughter and memories that stay with you long after medical school.

Advice for incoming medical students: Stay true to yourself and your interests. You were selected for your unique strengths, perspectives and experiences, and the diversity you bring is exactly what medicine needs. If you focus on what brings you joy and fulfillment, you’ll have a memorable first year, and the rest will naturally fall into place.

Chad Turner

Up next: Family Medicine, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, Barrie

My interest in health care started, in perhaps an atypical way, during elementary school. I chose to do a heritage fair project about my grandfather who had served on a hospital ship in WWII when he was only a teenager. This piqued an interest in learning about health care during wartime and about different careers in health care.

In combination with growing up in a rural part of Canada, I was drawn to helping people in low resourced or austere environments. I didn’t personally have any family or know anyone who was a health-care professional, so I spent a lot of time in high school reading about different entry points to study in the field. I initially considered becoming a medic in the military, but in high school I fell in love with the natural sciences and this kickstarted a longer education journey.

I thoroughly enjoyed my undergraduate degree and went on to complete a masters. Over this time, it became clear that becoming a physician would almost perfectly combine my love for the sciences with my desire to help others.

Medical school is full of formative moments and I kind of feel it is the culmination of experiences and relationships that changed me more than any one moment. Throughout medical school, I was surrounded by motivated and selfless people who wanted the best for everyone around them.

This really showed itself for me in third year during clerkship where you are finally fully immersed in clinical environments with your classmates, 5-plus days a week, for an entire year. Despite the challenges, classmates always took the time to teach each other, orient someone to a new hospital, share clinical templates, console each other after a challenging case, and much more. These rewarding relationships reinforced the importance of supporting others and how even the smallest gestures can ease stresses and add light to someone’s day.

I’m very happy to be staying with the University of Toronto and starting my family medicine residency training at the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie.

I had entered medical training knowing I was a generalist at heart. Each rotation during clerkship was stimulating and I found myself wanting to retain as much as possible from each specialty, hoping to become well-rounded and able to deliver comprehensive care. My time in family medicine clinics was particularly rewarding as I could see the positive impact family physicians had on their communities and patients.

My favourite aspect of medicine is getting to prevent and alleviate suffering using empathy and scientific knowledge accumulated over centuries. Having a team-based career that interfaces the human experience with evolving science and technology is both inspiring and meaningful.

If I could talk to my first-year self, I would tell myself to seek out more opportunities and maintain regular physical activity.

Advice for incoming medical students: The opportunities in medical school can feel both overwhelming in quantity and scarce. Take your time and pursue extracurricular projects and activities that you may actually enjoy. Take advantage of shadowing, recognize that lots of people find their place later into clerkship, and most importantly: enjoy the ride, spend time with friends and family, and contribute to a culture of support rather than competition.

Nimi Durowaye

Up next: Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology, University of Toronto

I was born in Nigeria, lived in Wales for a few years, and then moved to Canada with my family in 2009. As the oldest of three siblings, I naturally stepped into leadership roles early on, and with a mother who is a teacher, education was always a central value in my family.

I developed a strong interest in science early. During undergrad, I was drawn not only to the scientific aspects of health and disease, but also to opportunities that involved teaching and mentorship. I spent time supporting peers academically and engaging in roles where I could help break down complex concepts in ways that were accessible and meaningful.

At the same time, my volunteering in health-care settings, from paediatric hospital units to long-term care homes, gave me a clearer understanding of the patient experience. Those moments reinforced how much compassionate, attentive care can shape outcomes and build trust.

Together, these experiences made it clear that medicine offers a unique intersection of scientific inquiry, human connection, and education. It’s a field where I can continue to learn, contribute meaningfully to patient care, and support others through both teaching and mentorship.

One moment that shifted how I think about medicine happened during my obstetrics/gynaecology block during clerkship, while on the gynaecological oncology service. I met a young patient undergoing a radical trachelectomy surgery for treatment of cervical cancer and had the chance to go down to the pathology lab to observe a frozen section.

Watching the pathologist assess the margins in real time and communicate the results back to the surgical team, knowing that it would directly determine whether that patient could preserve her fertility, was incredible. It changed how I saw my role in medicine and solidified my interest in pathology, not just as a diagnostic field, but as one that has very real, sometimes life-altering consequences for patients.

My interest in pathology began unexpectedly. I first heard about it when I met a pathologist’s assistant the summer before starting medical school, who described it as medicine’s “hidden gem.”

During medical school, I was consistently drawn to histology and understanding disease at a cellular and molecular level. I enjoyed integrating clinical context, morphology, and patterns to arrive at a diagnosis.

Pathology aligns naturally with how I think and what I enjoy. I value the balance of focused, independent work with meaningful collaboration, and I’m especially excited to train at U of T given the diversity of cases, strong academic environment, and opportunity to learn from leaders in the field.

I’m most passionate about the process of figuring things out: working through a complex case, putting together different pieces of information and arriving at an accurate diagnosis that impacts what happens next for a patient. I’m also passionate about teaching and helping people build confidence in areas that initially feel unclear or intimidating.

If I could talk to my first-year self, I’d say enjoy the ride and trust that things will come together in their own time. Growth comes from stepping into new and challenging situations and being open to feedback from peers and mentors.

Advice for incoming medical students: Stay genuinely curious and focus on understanding rather than memorizing information. Keep an open mind because your interests may evolve in unexpected ways. Build strong relationships with peers and mentors, and make time for the things and people you love outside medicine.

Alex Dhaliwal

Up next: Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto

My excitement about science was my gateway into medicine. I was always the kid asking lots of questions. This led me to the integrated sciences program at McMaster University, where I obtained my Bachelor of Science and a triple minor in biochemistry, physics, and mathematics. It taught me about the importance of scientific communication and the necessity of considering diverse perspectives when trying to solve problems. It’s also where I learned about the career of a clinician-scientist, and I became fascinated by the prospect of working at the intersection of research and medicine.

To me, the fact that I could one day tell my patients, “We don't yet know how to best manage this problem, but we're working to find that answer,” while also playing a meaningful role in those exact research endeavours, sounded immensely fulfilling and exciting.

I was thrilled when I was accepted into the University of Toronto’s MD/PhD Program in 2017, and I spent my graduate years studying how focused ultrasound and nanomedicine could be leveraged to improve drug delivery to solid tumours. On account of my extended nine-year stint in medicine, I’ve spent the majority of my twenties in Toronto studying medicine and researching cancer. One of my greatest joys has been my service on the MD/PhD class council. Over the years, myself and others have worked to build more robust mentorship initiatives and expand the community-building facets of our curriculum. I’m heartened to see this program becoming more inclusive, supportive and open to discussion about the many ways research and medicine can be combined.

I’m incredibly grateful to say that I’ll be staying in Toronto for my residency in radiation oncology. I was initially drawn to the specialty as the most natural combination of my interests in physics, cancer and medical imaging. But I truly fell in love with the field after a studentship at BC Cancer and my electives in the specialty. It’s a beautiful blend of meaningful interactions with patients, frontier-pushing technology and team-based care.

While what drew me to medicine was the science, what excites me most now are the connections I form with people. Especially in oncology, I have the privilege to provide care at what might be one of the most vulnerable, uncertain moments of patients’ lives.

Clarity, dignity and empathy — these are what I want to provide to my patients, whether we are working to cure cancers or alleviate suffering at end of life.

If I could talk to my first-year self, I would remind myself that medicine will teach more than anatomy and disease. You’ll also learn about the systems and structures that shape health care. Find people who share your values and work toward change.

Advice for incoming medical students: Don’t forget yourself throughout your training. You have passions, interests, relationships, and causes outside medicine that define who you are. Enjoy the journey for what it is.

Radha Sharma

Up next: Internal Medicine, University of Toronto

My parents immigrated from India in the 1990s. Throughout my life, I saw them struggle to make ends meet while also juggling mental and physical health problems. I’ve always been the person in my family people came to during times of crisis, and I often became an advocate at a very young age. My father died shortly before I started medical school. He’d had diabetes and high blood pressure for years, but he avoided doctors, and honestly, we didn’t know enough to push him. Watching my family navigate the health-care system showed me how hard it is when language barriers, financial barriers, or limited health literacy get in the way of care.

After he passed, I started the JP Stroke Foundation to create the kind of health information my family never had — resources that make health information accessible to communities like mine. Improving health literacy and advocacy became a strong motivation for becoming a doctor. It’s not just about knowing the right diagnosis or treatment. It’s about understanding why people don’t access care in the first place and figuring out how to bridge those gaps.

Clerkship is where I saw myself transform. During one of my CTU rotations, I cared for a woman who spoke Tamil. We treated her infection, but the real work was everything else: making sure she understood her medications, coordinating services she needed at home and ensuring continuity of care. That experience taught me that being a good doctor isn’t just about medical knowledge. It’s about paying attention to the barriers that prevent people from getting better. It also connected to why I co-founded iLEAD, a mentorship program for students from underrepresented backgrounds. We need physicians with lived experiences and connections to the communities they serve.

I’m starting internal medicine residency at U of T this summer. I love that internal medicine combines complex problem-solving with thinking about the bigger picture. Why do patients keep coming back to hospital? How do we help keep them healthy long term? Internal medicine lets me continue the advocacy work I started while practicing excellent clinical medicine. I want to develop multilingual patient education resources, examine language barriers in chronic disease management and train in environments that take health equity seriously. I’m most passionate about health equity and addressing barriers to care, mentorship and building sustainable programs, and teaching.

If I could talk to my first-year self, I would remind myself that I belong here. I would tell myself to avoid comparisons to others and remember that the friendships and mentors matter just as much as the curriculum.

Advice for incoming medical students: Find your people early. Protect whatever keeps you grounded. If you come from a background underrepresented in medicine, know your experience is an asset. Ask for help before you’re drowning. Stay curious, stay open, and trust that you’ll figure out where you belong.

Olajumoke (Jummy) Oladipo

Up next: Paediatrics, University of Toronto

Growing up in a close-knit Nigerian family, I was raised with a strong sense of shared responsibility and care for others. From an early age, I knew I wanted to pursue a path rooted in community. While I was fortunate to have a stable upbringing, I was deeply shaped by the experiences of family, friends and community members navigating structural inequities. Seeing the impact of these barriers on their health guided my decision to pursue medicine and work towards addressing these disparities.

After my undergraduate degree, I completed a master’s in translational medicine, where I studied the neonatal gut microbiome. I became intrigued by the complexities of early development and found the greatest fulfillment in working with young patients and their families. I ultimately chose to pursue medicine, and specifically paediatrics, because it brings together my interests in community-building, advocacy and research.

The moments that changed me the most were the patient interactions. I fondly remember my core paediatrics rotation, attending deliveries on my birthday and quietly singing “Happy Birthday” to the babies while doing the newborn exam. Moments like these reaffirmed my passion for pediatrics. I am also extremely grateful for the friendships I have made along the way. Going through the ups and downs of medical school alongside such talented and supportive peers is something I will cherish forever. Other memorable moments include being involved in the Black Medical Students Association, studying with friends at McCaul, observing my first organ transplant, and discovering restaurants across Toronto.

I am excited to be starting my paediatrics residency.  Supporting children and their families during difficult moments is a privilege I do not take for granted. I look forward to developing the skills needed to care for children and make a meaningful impact through collaborative care and research.

If I could talk to my first-year self, I would tell her to celebrate the little wins along the way. The successes may seem small, but they are signs that you are moving closer to your goal of becoming a physician.

Advice for incoming medical students: Embrace the process of medical school. Meet new people, try new things, celebrate your wins, reflect on your mistakes, and make time for wellness. Also, do not forget the responsibility that comes with caring for patients. Remembering your “why medicine” will help keep you grounded when challenges arise.

Julie Midroni

Up next: Neurology, University of Toronto

I actually started out in astrophysics. I switched to biophysics during my bachelor’s degree because astrophysics felt too far removed from everyday life. The road from there was a bit convoluted. Physics degrees require learning how to code, and while trying to spend one summer productively, I ended up at the intersection of biology and technology.

An internship opportunity in artificial intelligence and medicine sparked my interest in health technology and made me consider how I could contribute to an important and rapidly evolving field. What I realized was that while coding and basic science are interesting, I like talking to people and I like feeling like what I’m doing has a direct impact.

Medicine felt like the perfect fit: a career where technical expertise could be combined with patient care, systems-level thinking, research, and quality improvement. The first time I had to disclose a devastating diagnosis to a patient and their family changed me. Interacting with patients and learning how to communicate in difficult situations takes time. Speaking to patients about life-changing diagnoses is incredibly humbling, and that experience remains one of the most memorable parts of clerkship.

Neurology caught my interest early because of its anatomy and physiology, but what made me fall in love with the specialty was how involved neurologists are in patient care. I saw expert neurologists piece together diagnoses through anatomy and physical exam, while also building strong clinician-patient relationships grounded in trust and compassion.

Two things make me most passionate about medicine. The first is the safe and ethical integration of artificial intelligence into medicine. The second is one-on-one clinical interaction itself. Speaking with patients is a privilege, and I genuinely love hearing patients’ stories and following them throughout their clinical course. Technology may have drawn me to medicine, but human connection is what made me stay.

If I could talk to my first-year self, I’d say: it will all work out. You will figure out what you want to do, and you will enjoy all the steps of that journey.

Advice for incoming medical students: Throw yourself into medical school and keep an open mind. Every experience can be both a privilege and an opportunity. Make time for yourself and your loved ones — protecting your enthusiasm and curiosity will make you a better clinician.

Jeremy Rau

Up next: Emergency Medicine, University of Toronto

My journey to medicine began while studying engineering at McGill University. I always enjoyed problem-solving and understanding how things work. It wasn’t until biophysics classes during my second and third years that I learned about the complexity of the human body. While I enjoyed engineering and research, I often wondered about pursuing a career that would allow me to have a direct, immediate and real-life impact on others. Medicine felt like the perfect opportunity to apply analytical skills in a way that could help patients.

During the summer before clerkship, I completed a global surgery elective at the Children’s Surgical Centre in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Each day, I met patients whose conditions had gone untreated for years. I watched teams operate with limited resources while continuing to provide exceptional care. The experience taught me what it means to be a physician: to give every patient your best effort, regardless of circumstance.

Medical school was a period of exploration. I enjoyed many specialties before rotating through emergency medicine. Emergency medicine brings together the best parts of every discipline with a mix of acuity, variety and problem-solving. I’m also interested in quality improvement and the opportunities emergency medicine provides to improve health-care systems.

I’m immensely grateful to the teachers and mentors in my life and feel it’s important to share those lessons with others. My favourite extracurricular experiences involved teaching and mentorship — from helping students facing systemic barriers gain admission to medicine to organizing mentorship and surgery workshops for high school students. As a resident, I’m excited to continue growing those interests.

If I could talk to my first-year self, I’d say it’s okay to take your time exploring specialties. It’s normal to change your mind as you discover more about medicine and yourself.

Advice for incoming medical students: Make the most of every opportunity. Training in Toronto provides access to countless specialties, mentorship opportunities and experiences. Continue the hobbies and interests that brought you to medicine, spend time with friends and enjoy each step of the journey.