Executive Elections

Executive Council Nominees

Thank you to all the nominees! Elections will take place at the Annual General Meeting on Sunday, May 12, 2024. All medical students are welcome to attend and help deliberate! A zoom link and password will be shared on the day of the event, and will be found below.

If you have any questions and concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to Maxim Matyashin, President-Elect and Electoral Officer at president_elect@omsa.ca

 

President-Elect Nominees

Zoe Tsai | University of Ottawa, 2026

Hello! My name is Zoe and I’m currently a second year at uOttawa, running to be your President-Elect! My past experience with OMSA includes being the VP Advocacy this year and working on the Day of Action Committee prior. Through these roles, I’ve gained an in-depth understanding of OMSA, managed a large portfolio and organized events (e.g., Day of Action), envisioned and implemented ideas, developed strong relationships and connections with many Ontario medical students, collaborated with council members, and more. These experiences have taught me many important skills and ultimately fueled my desire to run for President-Elect as I hope to bring my vision further at OMSA.

For this position, I hope to elevate OMSA by not only excelling in its current organizational commitments but also bringing the following visions:

1. Expanding and highlighting OMSA’s outreach to all Ontario medical students. All students be able to know and access the resources, opportunities, support, and presence OMSA offers. Utilizing orientation weeks and helping foster community among all Ontario medical students (e.g., OMSA Welcome to Med Event).

2. Empower OMSA as an action-oriented organization that utilizes its organizational power and advocacy to benefit Ontario medical students.

3. Fostering community and cohesion within OMSA, including increasing collaborations between portfolios and committees.

4. Restructuring the transition and hiring process to facilitate continuity of portfolios, longitudinal advocacy, and projects across the organization.

Please let me know if you have any questions at any time, and I hope to see you at AGM!

VP Advocacy Nominees

Ahmad Khan | Western University, 2026

My name is Ahmad and I’m a second year medical student at Western. I first joined OMSA last year through the NORM Committee where I had the opportunity to write a position paper on advancing Rural and Northern health. This year, I was Co-Chair for the Day of Action (DoA) where we advocated for greater mental health care access at Queens Park. My DoA experience inspired me to want to stay involved with OMSA-I was able to engage in work that was transformative and impactful and to be a part of a team that was truly dedicated and supportive. As a member of the Executive Board, I will continue to foster greater integration across the different committees within the Advocacy Portfolio. This is particularly important for the planning of the DoA, which represents a collective effort. Secondly, I will oversee the cultivation of stakeholder partnerships that are aligned with our identified advocacy priorities. These partnerships should be sustained and provide an opportunity for collaborative projects. Thirdly, the Portfolio will continue to forge links with the Provincial Government and actively follow up with MPPs after the DoA. Finally, the Portfolio should support students throughout the position paper writing process and help facilitate the enactment of their recommendations into concrete initiatives. Press releases and op-eds can also be published to address issues that require a more rapid response. Thank you for your consideration!

Gabrielle Trepanier | University of Toronto, 2027

Hello, bonjour! My name is Gabrielle (she/her), and I am running to be your next VP Advocacy!

To me, advocacy means refusing to be silent in the face of injustice – it is our most powerful tool for tearing down barriers. I have witnessed this firsthand through the OMSA Advocacy Partnerships committee and this year’s Day of Action, in addition to grassroots advocacy in menstrual equity. Ontario medical students are ignited by a passion for changemaking – I want to support your drive for health policy reform.

My platform focuses on harnessing students’ passion for advocacy. I aim to implement strategic initiatives that support long-term campaigns as well as apply short-term political pressure.

  1. Establish and strengthen relationships

    • Collaborate with external student organizations (e.g. Black Medical Students Association of Canada) to strengthen initiatives and integrate advocacy priorities
    • Facilitate in-person and virtual connections with Ontario medical students to ensure they feel OMSA’s support and their goals are prioritized
  2. Increase French-language advocacy
    • Ensure that medical students can engage in advocacy in both official languages
    • Represent the priorities of francophone patients across northern Ontario, our eastern border, and the GTA in our advocacy projects
  3. Streamline internal advocacy operations
    • Improve year-to-year structured transition plans to avoid knowledge losses and ensure continuity in advocacy projects
    • Push for a centralized communication platform for all committees to facilitate dialogue and camaraderie between teams

I commit to empowering students’ voices and bettering the health of Ontarians. Vote for me as your VP Advocacy!

Harrison Gao | University of Toronto, 2027

Hi! My name is Harrison Gao and I’m running for VP Advocacy! This year, I served on the OMSA Day of Action Committee to organize our conference and connect medical students with MPPs.

My experiences with advocacy exist on both the personal and systemic level. I've advocated for immigrant and disability healthcare as a family caregiver, and served as founder of a nonprofit fighting social isolation in 108 LTC homes (@sfmwellness). During COVID-19, I worked with Healthcare Excellence Canada, improving policy and recommendations.

My vision for OMSA Advocacy:

  1. Increase Collaboration across Advocacy Committees: Utilize shared goals. For example, partnering Longitudinal Government with Day of Action to increase MPP follow-up.
  2. Expand Policy/Position Paper Impact: Foster partnerships with student-run medical journals to increase dissemination.
  3. Amplify Student Voices: Work closely with VP Externals to enhance the Advocacy Priorities Survey and capture the diverse needs/concerns of your communities.

My goal is to represent your voices. Here are some advocacy priorities that I believe are important to many of us:

  1. Reforming Ontario Primary Care: ~45% of CARMS positions are for Family Medicine. In 2024, BC and Alberta announced new pay models for family physicians, unlike Ontario.
  2. Enhancing Rural Medicine: Increased funding for rural/Northern healthcare needs and retention incentives to address care gaps.
  3. Increasing EDID: Work with OMSA EDID to increase accountability and advocacy for a more inclusive healthcare system.

Thank you for reading my platform. I hope to create real, meaningful change together.

Harrison Gao (University of Toronto)

Isabelle Keng | McMaster University, 2026

Healthcare inequality has always been an issue that is close to my heart. I continuously strive to champion the voices of marginalized communities to bring a more empathetic, people-oriented approach to the healthcare field. In high school, I served as VP of my school’s Youth Health Club and surveyed student’s to better understand their mental health concerns. I collaborated with my school’s administration and regional social worker to create initiatives that addressed these concerns. I gained experience in how to liaise between an administrative body and the student community. In 2019, I interned at Your Voice in Health and Social Care in the U.K. I visited local healthcare practices to collect feedback on patient experiences and listened to frustrated patients voice their exhaustion with insufficient health services. These results were consolidated into a report and presented to the National Health Services. Later in 2022, through the How to Change the World February program, I worked in a multidisciplinary team to create a plan to help reconnect the community of Bologna, Italy. We consulted stakeholders to deepen our understanding of the community’s concerns and ensure they were addressed in our proposed solution. Should I be elected VP Advocacy, my goal is to use my past experiences to help medical students advocate for their community and have their voices heard. One way I plan to achieve this is by creating/facilitating more opportunities for medical students to collaborate with their communities to promote change.

Tushar Sood | University of Toronto, 2026

Hello everyone! My name is Tushar Sood (he/him) and I am a medical student at the University of Toronto. Advocacy has long been part of my life and was a key motivator for choosing to pursue medicine. I am committed to raising awareness about important issues and working to address them. As for relevant experience, I am the current Co-Chair of the Advocacy Partnerships Committee at OMSA, have attended both OMA Queen’s Park Day and the OMSA Day of Action (DoA) twice, participated in CFMS National DoA committees, sat on multiple advisory councils for the new TMU School of Medicine, and am the outgoing VP Global Health on our Medical Society where I secured student travel funding and led EDID-focused initiatives. I hope to apply my skills acquired through these diverse positions to further OMSA’s advocacy priorities. Some changes I hope to implement if elected VP Advocacy include:

  • Support the development of political and social advocacy student organizations at each medical school in Ontario
  • Build on the success of Day of Action by increasing program capacity and planning for more virtual meetings for MPPs in the days following DoA
  • Collaborating with Ontario medical schools to enact professional protections for students that express diverse political and social opinions
  • Support and promote longitudinal government and public-facing advocacy initiatives such as Op-Eds
  • Aiming for committee compositions to reflect the Ontario medical student population

Thank you so much for your consideration!

VP Education Nominees

Alina Sami | University of Toronto, 2027

Hello! My name is Alina and I am thrilled to run for the position of VP Education for OMSA! As an advocate for medical education, I am dedicated to representing the academic concerns of Ontario's medical students and working together to strengthen and improve our medical education system. I have been actively involved in academic advocacy initiatives throughout medical school, including serving as the Course Representative for medical students at UofT and working closely with faculty members and peers to improve the student experience. I have held several leadership positions, including serving as a representative on faculty-level councils, where I have successfully advocated for student needs and concerns. Moreover, my experience working with different OMSA portfolios, such as the Policy-Implementation team of OMSA’s Advocacy portfolio, has given me a well-rounded understanding of how to navigate and collaborate across various areas of the organization. My experiences have prepared me well to effectively represent the academic concerns of the Ontario medical student body, ensuring that our voices are heard at every level of decision-making.

Proposed Initiatives:

  1. Enhanced Support for CaRMS: I will work closely with CaRMS support teams to provide tailored guidance and resources for students navigating the residency application process.
  2. Expanded Research Opportunities: I will amplify the work of the Education committee by promoting more diverse research opportunities, including creating opportunities for Ontario medical students to conduct funded research across the country.
  3. Streamlining and Collaboration: I will foster collaborations with other OMSA portfolios to create comprehensive support systems for students, including wellness, career planning, and community engagement.

I will work to streamline the organization and footprint of the Education portfolio, optimizing resources for maximum impact. I am committed to listening to your needs and advocating for meaningful change. I would be honored to have your support in this election. Thank you!

VP Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Decolonization (EDID)

Alina Sami | University of Toronto, 2027

Hello! I am Alina, and I would be thrilled to be your ally as the OMSA VP EDID. My goal is to create a strong, unified voice for medical students in Ontario and advocate for policies that benefit all. My experiences as a member of the OMSA Policy Implementation Team, and as the Editor-in-Chief of a peer-reviewed, open access journal (USURJ) have prepared me well for this role. In my current role in OMSA’s Policy Implementation team, I collaborate with policymakers, organizations, and peers to advance initiatives from OMSA policy papers and build strategic partnerships, which will serve me well in managing collaborations across the OMSA portfolios and external organizations as VP EDID. In my role as Editor-in-Chief of a peer-reviewed, undergraduate journal, I not only provided leadership and decision-making, but also learned about and responded to issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion. My initiatives included successfully launching a special issue to feature scholarly works that have been historically excluded from traditional academic practices, such as Indigenous ways of knowing, as well as creating a permanent place in the journal for such underrepresented voices. Similarly, I will continue to work towards amplifying the voices of Ontario medical students and promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in advocacy initiatives. I am committed to representing your perspectives and working collaboratively to achieve our shared goals. I would be honored to have your support for the role of VP EDID. Thank you!

Dourra Assani | University of Ottawa, 2025

My name is Dourra Assani and I am happy to submit my nomination for the position of Vice-President of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization (EDID) on the OMSA Executive Board. This past year, I was involved in the EDID portfolio as the Chair of the External EDID committee. My work consisted in the organization of the Reimagining Medical Education Conference (RMEC) among other projects.

I have been involved in EDID since my first year of medical school by volunteering for the curriculum audit team at the University of Ottawa and contributing to the creation of an innovative peer support program.

As VP EDI my main goals are the following:

  1. Creation of the OMSA's EDID for Medical Learners Series: A series of online events organized in partnership with EDID-minded organization that aim to increase medical student's cultural sensitivity.
  2. Increase OMSA's partnership with EDID minded organizations such as the BMSAC, IMSAC, MMAC and CQMSA. My main objective is to create a platform where all representative from these organizations can communicate with OMSA and the EDI representative at each school. This will allow collaboration and good event promotion.
  3. Ensure good representation of the different Ontario Medical School across the EDIs committee to ensure that medical students across Ontario have a voice representing their interests in the EDID portfolio. This includes a specific goal of increasing Northern Ontario Student's engagement with OMSA by creating events on the topic of rural health challenges and creating opportunities for rural and indigenous health advocacy.

Savanah Tillberg | Northern Ontario School of Medicine University, 2026

My name is Savanah (she/her/elle), I am a student at NOSMU, and I am thrilled to be sharing my election platform for the role of VP of EDID.

Prior to attending medical school, I spent several years working in Developmental Services supporting individuals with developmental disabilities in Northern Ontario. Much of my character has been shaped as a result of my experience in this field, which also inspired a passion for advocating alongside marginalized groups for increased access to resources, opportunities, and inclusivity. Before my journey to medicine, I also obtained an honors bachelor degree in Political Science where I focused much of my scholarship in Critical Disability Theory. Currently, I am the elected VP EDI Jr. for NOMSU’s MedSoc and a member of the OMSA EDID External Committee; these positions have allowed me to become familiar with the requirements of an EDID-focused role and the overall operations and organization of the OMSA.

If elected to this position, my goals are threefold:

  1. To continue to promote inclusivity and celebrate diversity in our medical community through events, workshops, and shared resources.
  2. To encourage equitable access to resources for medical students that promote mental wellness, respect, and safety.
  3. To enhance partnerships with allied groups such as the BMSAC, IMSAC, Canadian Association for Physicians with Disabilities (CAPD), and other organizations that aim to uplift various medical student populations.

If elected, I look forward to collaborating with you all to implement meaningful changes. Thank you for your trust, consideration, and support.

VP Finance Nominees

Andy Liu | University of Toronto, 2027

Hello, I'm Andy! While working on the finance committee last year, I helped to achieve significant progress in catalyzing OMSA's growth. But we are not done. My experiences have sparked new ideas to help OMSA deliver more. If elected as the next VP Finance, I want to work with you to use finance as a tool to better support every medical student's journey.

My vision is four words: Earn Smart, Spend Sharp. As a current committee member, I helped OMSA earn smart by securing new sponsorships from Toronto Notes and CPSO. Additionally, I played a key role in creating OMSA’s first sponsorship package, a graphical pamphlet designed to strengthen our current sponsor relationships and attract new ones. If elected, I'll continue to prioritize sponsor relationships to ensure OMSA earns smart. One of my key initiatives will be establishing a "Sponsorship Database". The database will be a centralized hub for all sponsorship-related information, and it will streamline our sponsorship process for years to come.

My second priority is to spend sharp. Spending sharp means two things: active investment and more student initiatives. With the current surplus of funds, I aim to invest more to safeguard OMSA's long-term financial healh. Additionally, I recognize that OMSA's core mission is to serve you, the medical student. I will establish new grants to empower your ideas. As your VP Finance, I will actively listen to grant ideas from all members and collaborate to bring them to reality.

Thank you, and let's get to work!

Harkaran Dial | McMaster University, 2026

Prior to medicine, I worked in federal politics where I quickly learnt the importance of budget allocation. No policy, no matter how aspirational, could make a change without rigorously detailing of how many resources were to be allocated for it, and how each of those resources would be used. I saw firsthand how detailed, comprehensive budgets could change lives in my community with affordable housing and creating jobs, as well as how quickly a mismanaged or poorly detailed roadmap could lead to a dead end for a project. These lessons served me well when I later worked as a lab manager, where my team and I managed to acquire over $2.3M in public grant funding through our detailed, results-driven project and budget planning. These experiences have taught me that the budget and plan is the foundation upon which all policies and projects rest upon, and I hope to facilitate strong foundation building within the OMSA so that all portfolios can achieve their detailed goals. My work experience also taught me how essential funding can be to enable students and researchers to collaborate, innovate, and have a fulfilling learning experience. I aim to build on the 2023 financial literacy series to educate our members on how to achieve financial freedom throughout and after medical school, acquire more sponsors to support our students and initiatives, and grow the amount awarded each year to reinvest as much as possible in medical students across Ontario.

Jingyi He | University of Toronto, 2027

Being in med puts a dent in all of our bank accounts! Who else is living on a $350k line of credit at 7% interest? Its hard needing to balance our debt mountain and busy schedules, let’s straighten this out.

My platform is simple:

1. Launch Virtual Financial Literacy Courses and make them readily available on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. I aim to make these content digestible, fun, and on-demand so we can develop financial literacy together!

2. Visibility and Awareness: Who else didn’t know of all the OMSA grants until they went on the OMSA website? I will make sure to Instagram and Facebook Post every funding opportunity, while linking them to a central calendar with deadlines, requirements, and info so you will never have to worry about missing out!

3. Diversify Income Streams: I’m going to make sure OMSA has more money to give to students! This can be done through working with corporate sponsorships, forging stronger external partnerships, hosting fundraising events, and exploring investment opportunities.

4. Enhanced Financial Transparency: Implement quarterly financial infographics on the OMSA website, supporting maximal spending for each budget line, and providing quarterly suggestions for optimizing financial operations, all aligned with OMSA's strategic plan.

My Qualifications:

Before med school I was in nursing and served as Vice President of the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA). As VP, I had to strategically straighten our $700k+ bank account, manage the delivery of $22k national scholarships and grants, and persuade numerous organizations to give us more money and perks … I’d love to continue doing this for my med school fam! Let’s make med school easier on our wallets.

Tony Hu | Queen's University, 2026

Hi Ontario Medical Students,

My name is Tony Hu, and I am a second year medical student at Queen's University. I use he/him or they/them pronouns. This year, I am running to be your Vice President Finance.

As Vice President Finance, I propose a values-led budget process that is aligned with the goals of Ontario’s medical students. Key questions include: how do we best serve the needs of all Ontario medical students? What do we want to accomplish this year? How will we accomplish our goals? What is our funding philosophy?

An important second goal of mine is to increase transparency in the organization’s finances. This means making the budget publicly available online along with quarterly financial statements. This also means being transparent about the guiding principles that inform budgetary priorities.

Grants make up the largest proportion of OMSA’s expenditures. I will make publicly available information about the extent to which these grants are serving the needs of our members. For example, how much money is actually being spent on each grant? How many people are applying for each grant? These data will enable a dynamic budget that appropriately responds to the needs of Ontario's medical students.

I am here to serve you. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about my platform or the work of OMSA, please reach out.

VP Operations Nominees

James Wang | University of Ottawa, 2027

Hello all!

My name is James Wang, a first-year medical student at uOttawa - I am very excited to be running for Vice President of Operations!

To me, Operations serves the vital role of creating cohesion between the valuable efforts of committees across OMSA’s diverse portfolio, while also ensuring that these efforts are preserved longitudinally year after year. In service of this vision, I aim to make the following goals a reality:

Collaborative Organizational Structures- In order to facilitate greater synergy between OMSA’s committees, I will work towards identifying and eliminating potential information silos inadvertently produced by present structures and practices. Working with the President & President-Elect, I aim to transform these opportunities for miscommunication into opportunities for greater inter-committee teamwork.

Equitable Hiring Practices - In keeping with OMSA’s EDID priorities, I aim to critically examine and iteratively improve upon current hiring practices. I believe that the emphasis of diversity and inclusion at the hiring stage is crucial to ensuring that OMSA continues to reflect and serve the needs of all medical students.

Longitudinal Committee Goals - One of the inherent challenges to committees with changing membership year after year is the planning and execution of long-term goals. To address this, I aim to work towards a system of committee operation that makes multi-year plans possible, while providing the transitional structures required to make such plans practically feasible.

Thank you very much for your consideration - I look forward to answering your questions!

Kshitija Mundle | McMaster University, 2026

Hi everyone! My name is Kshitija, and I am running to be your OMSA VP Operations! My plans revolve around enhancing the OMSA LS/AGM, the Governance Committee, and the co-chair/committee hiring process. 

  1. As the current OMSA LS/AGM planning committee co-chair, I hope to improve next year's conference by:

    • Implementing a mechanism to receive feedback from delegates, the internal team, and collaborating OMSA committees for better future execution.
    • Striving for equal representation from all medical schools for broader leadership development and inter-school networking.
    • Organizing a residents' panel to learn from leaders in the next stage of our professional journey.
    • Ensuring that speakers/workshop leaders are from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
  2. Having worked in public health policy and systems improvement in governmental organizations, such as Statistics Canada, I will streamline the Governance Committee's processes by:
    • Seeking continuous feedback on existing OMSA policies from students, OMSA committees, and the OMA.
    • Increasing transparency about changes to OMSA's policies by regular communication on social media/website. 
    • Organizing a training workshop on policy development and governance principles for committee members.
  3.  I hope to improve the co-chair/committee hiring process by:
    • Reviewing current co-chair/committee applications and position descriptions with committee members to determine any updates for next year.
    • Collaborating with VP Externals and the PR committee to increase awareness of committee hiring, including application content and timelines.
    • Increasing student engagement during OMSA's co-chair/committee orientation by including more incentives and professional development activities.
    • Assisting committees/co-chairs in creating a robust year-long plan and meeting regularly to identify areas of support.

Thank you!

Vidhi Bhatt | University of Toronto, 2027

Hello, Ontario Medical Students,

My name is Vidhi Bhatt, and I am a first-year medical student at UofT. I am running to be your next VP of Operations for OMSA.

This year, I had the opportunity to contribute to OMSA through my roles on the LS/AGM Planning Committee as well as the Advocacy Partnerships Committee. Through these roles, I gained a holistic view of the association and the various actions and events OMSA portfolios facilitate throughout the year. I am an individual who loves creative challenges while being organized and strategizing ways to improve efficiency for all parties. I believe my previous experiences in administrative roles and having worked under the Operations Portfolio at OMSA have adequately prepared me to be successful in this position.

As your next VP Operations, I specifically hope to:

  1. Foster a collaborative and inclusive environment intra-council (cross-portfolios).
  2. Implement feedback mechanisms to gather input from members and stakeholders on a regular basis and facilitating discussions related to organizational initiatives and structuring, to drive continuous improvement.
  3. Maintain comprehensive documentation of all OMSA affairs to promote accountability and transparency and ensure the strategic plans are adhered to.

My hope is that through these avenues and several others, together we can envision an efficient year, elevate the Ontario medical student experience, and excel as an organization.

Thank you for your consideration!

VP Public Relations Nominees

Aditi Venkatraman | University of Toronto, 2026

My desire to run for the position of public relations is rooted in my extensive experience in communication roles and desire to be involved with OMSA and contribute to the larger medical school community. Throughout my undergraduate and medical school experience, I have held numerous communications positions which have helped me hone skills essential to this role. As the current communications director for my class council, I summarize opportunities to create targeted newsletters, maintain initiatives such as the class calendar, and communicate with faculty and students about opportunities. Facilitating communication on a weekly basis across these different platforms and groups has taught me valuable skills on organization, information consolidation, and dissemination of information. I also bring experience with other forms of marketing and promotion to this role through my experience in media operations for McMaster Model United Nations, and marketing and promotions for fourth year undergraduate class council and McMaster Marching Band. In these roles, I created social media and video materials for distribution. I am also familiar with OMSA communications in my role as a member of the marketing and engagement committee this year. Though my role on the committee is small, I have had a chance to learn and observe the communication practices and request, which combined with my previous experience can help inform my approach to this role. In addition to the extensive experience.

Jana Khanafer | Western University, 2027

Hello! I am Jana Khanafer, a first-year medical student at Western University and co-chair of OMSA’s Bilingualism Committee. As a candidate for VP of Public Relations, I am passionate about leveraging our collective strength to foster greater connectedness and shared opportunities across all six medical schools in Ontario.

Building on the incredible initiatives of our outgoing VP, Taha, I aim to amplify our digital presence. A key initiative I plan to introduce is “Humans of OMSA”, a social media project inspired by “Humans of New York”, which touched the lives of many around the world. The OMSA project can bring to light the inspiring stories and challenges of members, faculty, and alumni of the association. In the world of medicine, we often view one’s achievements without grasping the diverse journeys that led to them. This project aims to bridge that gap to humanize the medical field and foster a deeper sense of community.

In addition to this initiative, my goal is to foster a stronger inter-school network that will increase the visibility of bilingual opportunities and ensure our members have ample occasions to engage, learn, and grow, regardless of their location. I plan to augment our reach on social media to promote opportunities open to students across Ontario, with a commitment to cultivating an inclusive and equitable environment.

By enhancing our digital outreach and strengthening our inter-school connections, my mission is to create a more unified, engaged, and dynamic OMSA that inspires every medical student and celebrates our rich diversity.

VP Student Affairs Nominees

Armaan Dhanoa | University of Toronto, 2027

As a candidate for Vice President of Student Affairs for the Ontario Medical Students Association, I bring a diverse and strong background of experience aimed at creating an inclusive environment for Ontario medical students, prioritizing their well-being, diversity, and professional growth. My experience as a mentor in various capacities, including with the University of Calgary and Calgary Tutoring Centre, have honed my ability to support and guide peers effectively. Furthermore, my leadership roles within the University of Calgary Red Cross Club and as Junior Social Coordinator at the University of Toronto Family Medicine Interest Group demonstrate my commitment to promoting community engagement and wellness.

There are several changes I aim to implement if elected. Firstly, I will enhance the OMSA mentorship program, ensuring it provides valuable guidance and support to medical students across Ontario. Next, I plan to introduce new wellness initiatives tailored to address the unique challenges faced by medical students. Furthermore, I am dedicated to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in medical education through my initiatives and advocacy efforts.

Moreover, I will continue enhancing the annual retreat aimed at promoting student connection and well-being, as I hope to create a space for collaboration and reflection. Finally, I will strongly advocate for mental health research initiatives and resources, ensuring access to evidence-based support aimed at fostering a supportive environment for mental health and advocacy.

Thus, through my experiences and proposed initiatives, I am committed to enhancing student well-being and fostering a supportive and flourishing medical education community in Ontario.

Claire Poulin | Northern Ontario School of Medicine University, 2026

As a medical student within the OMSA, I have the privilege to share my candidacy for the Student Affairs portfolio. I have a passion for mental and physical wellness stemming from personal, lived experience. My research is at the forefront of medical student wellness, where I have investigated the use of self-compassion strategies to reduce burnout, depression, and anxiety amongst Ontario medical students - and found positive results! Furthermore, I hope to advance Indigenous Ways of Knowing within Student Affairs at the OMSA, reaching the provincial level. I am lucky to work alongside Dr. Manitowabi at NOSM University in studying historical and contemporary uses of Ceremonial Tobacco and Traditional Medicine.

Additionally, I will share that I have had a personal journey through accessibility and physical disability through a biking accident on my way to medical school at the beginning of my second year. I understand that Ontario medical students require a diverse set of considerations to succeed, and I am here for that, for YOU! I hear you, I see you, and as VP Student Affairs I am committed to create positive events and resources for our medical student community such as overseeing the annual Mentorship Program and Wellness Retreat.

I am committed to leading Ontario medical students by advocating for creative and evidence-based wellness strategies. Through my personal journey, I recognize and acknowledge the power of the medical student voice, and I will use mine to address systemic barriers that exist in the medical community.

Erfan Ghani Kakhki | McMaster University, 2026

It is no secret that medical school can be tremendously challenging, at times lonely, and, without intervention, can lead to burnout and other adverse mental health impacts. As such, it is imperative that medical students in Ontario have a team of diligent peers advocating for us and implementing effective wellness initiatives. With my years of experience involved in event planning and mental health initiatives, I could lead such a team successfully.

In fact, if I am elected, my primary goal as the Vice President of Student Affairs would be to promote student wellness. By collaborating with and providing support to the wellness committees across Ontario’s medical schools, we can improve the quality and quantity of wellness initiatives in a manner that is locally suitable to medical students at their respective schools. Moreover, my team and I would pay close attention to the feedback that students have provided in previous years in order to foster continual improvement of initiatives and events, such as the annual OMSA Med Retreat. Finally, I would ensure that wellness initiatives are equitable and accessible for every medical student through rigorous checks and balances and collaboration with the EDID committee at the OMSA.

By being an effective leader in Student Affairs and prioritizing wellness, I aim to ensure that every Ontario medical student receives the support they need to thrive throughout their academic journey.

Maliha Imami | University of Toronto, 2026

You can’t spell ‘wellness’ without ‘we’ and as VP of Student Affairs, I will guarantee that inclusion and collaboration are the cornerstones of all initiatives and programs we develop.

In prior leadership roles, I have delivered on this promise. I was the President for my graduate student union and during my tenure, I ensured all events were financially accessible to our constituents and sought extensive feedback in the planning process to maximize mirth. My team and I incorporated a pay-what-you-wish structure and prioritized free events so that no student felt excluded. Similarly, wellness should be accessible to all medical students and OMSA wellness events, such as the retreat, should be redesigned to foster greater inclusion.

I will also pilot more student-supported initiatives. As Portfolio representative, it was clear that program improvements are best achieved by incorporating the voices of learners directly. A generic prescription from the CFMS 2020 Wellness Curriculum Framework cannot provide substantive benefits if we do not engage with student opinions and adapt based on their evolving needs. I will conduct a needs assessment to understand the current state of learner wellness, persistent inequities, mental health resources and tangible ways that each can be improved.

Student wellbeing must be robust in the face of heavy workloads and rigorous demands. It should not be an afterthought for our faculties, but rather an active and cherished component of our lives and learning. We need to make initiatives accessible and student-directed to amplify engagement and create happier learners and resilient physicians.

Tina Wu | University of Ottawa, 2027

Hi! My name is Tina and I am an MD2027 at UOttawa. I have been involved in the OMSA Policy Implementation team for the past year, where I focused on transforming position paper suggestions into tangible results. I was also a delegate at Day of Action this year, advocating for increasing mental healthcare access. I am passionate about promoting student wellness, mentorship, and accessibility.

As VP Student Affairs, I would continue the amazing work the committee is currently involved in, while bringing about these changes:

  1. Increasing accessibility of student wellness retreats.

    • Demand was 2 times higher than supply for the wellness retreat this year.
    • Expand to include a spring cottage retreat prioritizing individuals who did not get the opportunity to go on the ski retreat.
    • Drive down the cost from $175 to minimize barriers.
  2. Creating a committee dedicated to crisis response for students during the most stressful periods (CARMS, start of medical school, start of clerkship).
    • Increase the number of supports available for these transition points specifically.
    • Spread early awareness that CARMS support is available for those who are unmatched.
  3. Standardizing and mandating sexual violence training across all Ontario medical schools.
    • This is an incredibly important, non-glamorous, and overlooked pillar of student wellness.
    • Specifically, we need training on how to respond to disclosures of sexual assault, and how to respond to perpetrators of sexual violence.

Please feel free to contact me with questions or suggestions, I am excited to meet you all!