SFU Health Sciences degree prepares alumnus for medical school

Coming out of high school, Jennifer Payandeh knew she was interested in a career in medicine, but she wanted to learn about more than just the traditional sciences. The Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) at Simon Fraser University (SFU) appealed to her because it promoted a multidisciplinary approach to understanding health, which has prepared her well for her current studies in medical school.

"I was interested in the molecular mechanisms behind disease, but ended up being exposed to so much more than that," says Payandeh, who graduated in June 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in the Life Sciences stream. "Every class I took not only highlighted the biological basis of disease, but also the social determinants of health, and how disease affects both the population and the individual."

While this idea has been reinforced during her current studies at the School of Medicine at Queen’s University, it is something she feels she has a deeper understanding of thanks to the courses she took during undergrad. The strong science background she received in FHS also sparked her interest in clinical research which she undertook during her undergraduate years, and continues to take part in today as a medical student.

Looking back at her time at SFU, one of Payandeh’s favourite classes was HSCI 319: Applied Health Ethics, where she was introduced to the ethical frameworks and principles to help guide solutions to complicated and controversial questions that arise in healthcare. This course inspired her to further get involved with understanding health ethics, and she took part in (and was eventually president of) SFU's Health Ethics Club, a student group that strives to engage and promote critical thinking and dialogue around complex health issues.

"Having this background has assisted me in better understanding some of the complicated problems that I currently learn about in medical school, and will inevitably help in my future career as a physician," says Payandeh.

The extraordinary mentorship she received during her time at SFU is also something that has shaped her university experience and that she looks back on fondly. She credits the Faculty of Health Sciences with building a strong sense of community, with faculty, staff and other students willing to take on a guiding and supportive role.

"During my first year, I had a mentor through the FHS Peer Mentorship program, who was fantastic at assisting me through my first year while I adjusted to university."

As a result, she started being a mentor herself in her third year, then eventually took the lead as co-director of the mentorship program. Payandeh has been amazed to see the program grow over the years.

"I love hearing about students’ positive experiences and it really speaks to the strength of the FHS community."

Her advice for current undergraduate students?

"Get involved! I learned how much I like teaching and mentoring through doing extra-curricular activities such as FHS Peer Mentorship and Let's Talk Science at SFU, and it’s something that I continue and likely will continue to do," says Payandeh.

"If something in one of your classes interests you, get out there and see if you can pursue it as a research project. It's not only a great way to gain a deeper understanding on a subject, it might even shape your future career."