Third-year student at northern med school receives Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Award
Receiving extra reassurance that she is on the right path, a third-year medical student at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) is the latest recipient of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame award.
“It was honestly just such an honour and so, so humbling to receive that email that said I had been considered because, you know, the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame, it’s a big deal,” said Danica Desjardins.
“It's an organization that recognizes so much important work in medicine. So to have my name appear along side other medical students who have won this award in the past and are also recipients of this award this year, as well, is really such an honour.”
The award is given out to second-year students who show perseverance, community leadership and other promising skills in the medical field.
'It's a struggle'
“I find that in medical school I’m not at the top of my class you know, like I’m doing fine academically, you know, I’m plugging away,” Desjardins said. “It’s a struggle. It’s a hard time, but I find that I really set myself apart in ways that have more to do with advocacy and more to do with talking about the social determinants of peoples' health, rather that being that student who can remember every single detail about any given medical condition. So kind of being recognized for those efforts is really motivating and really inspiring to continue.”
She said she didn’t know her name was being put forward and she was nominated by NOSM facility.
“As somebody who kind of got into medicine because I’m really passionate about diversity and inclusion, I’m really passionate about advocacy in medicine as well," Desjardins said.
"It’s really exciting for me to be recognized for some of those advocacy initiatives. For example, I’m currently working on a project at NOSM to include or 2SLGBTQ health curriculum in our medical school curriculum.”
Desjardin is currently in Hearst, completing a year of clerkship where medical students get to shadow physicians and interact with patients. She said that wherever her career ends up taking her, she hopes to continue to advocate for the PRIDE community and stay in northern Ontario.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.