2018 Science Graduate Jeremy Levett aims for Medicine and Research

When a new student-run First Aid Team was created to provide first-aid assistance to students and staff across campus, it brought to life an initiative conceived by Health Sciences student Jeremy Levett.

"Vanier is a big campus with a lot of students. I thought a First Aid Team would support the school nurse, who is extremely busy, and offer students and staff an additional resource for all kinds of emergency situations. It's also a great way for students to give something back to the community," says Jeremy.

Making his idea happen took time and energy. In spite of his heavy load of courses and extra curricular activities, Jeremy and his selection committee reviewed 100 applications before choosing 40 students for the team. He also arranged for special First-Aid training by Saint John's Ambulance, the Canadian Red Cross, Sauvetage Quebec or the Heart and Stroke Foundation; drew up a schedule and duty roster for team members at the drop-in consultation room, and coordinated with the Security Department for all emergency First-Aid situations.

In spite of the time devoted to starting the First Aid Team, Jeremy's real passion has always been for the scientific research projects he worked on since high school. After reaching out to university professors to pursue a research idea, Jeremy was given the opportunity to participate in work at the Goodman Cancer Research Centre run by Dr. Nahum Sonenberg of McGill University. He then continued working there throughout his cegep studies.

Jeremy's passion for research did not go without recognition while he was at Vanier. In 2017, he won the Provincial Sanofi BioGenius Award of $2000 and the chance to present one of his projects at the National Research Council in Ottawa. In 2018, he also won a $750 prize at the BioGenius Symposium that took place at Université de Montréal.

Why study at Vanier?

Jeremy was very pleased with his studies at Vanier that he originally chose simply because it was so close to home and convenient. "Once I got to Vanier I realized it was an incredibly high caliber school! The faculty members are so kind, compassionate and dedicated. They support both academic and extra curricular activities, and have validated and encouraged me to explore aspects of myself."

"I always wanted to become a doctor so I knew that I would apply to science. At Vanier, I was able to integrate a project on embryonic stem cells and gene expression with my Research Methods class and make a presentation at the 4^th Annual Science Symposium. I also worked on a separate McGill project on epilepsy where I analyzed data at home."

"In cegep, I took advantage of every opportunity I could to be involved in, including being the Vice-President and sitting on the Board of the student cooperative café and bookstore. That taught me about business and the interpersonal skills needed to tackle challenges and projects as a team."

"I'm always looking for things to do so I was a peer tutor in the Tutoring and Academic Success Centre and worked on the Vanier Chess Initiative to use chess to help motivate at risk students through weekly workshops. We even set up a tournament where Canadian Chess Champion Grandmaster Bator Sambuev came to play all challengers simultaneously at Vanier."

"What I have enjoyed most at Vanier is the faculty. The teachers are incredible. They are inspired and motivated by students and in turn, they inspire and motivate others. They are so incredibly supportive of student projects and offer valuable guidance."

"I dream of being a cardiac surgeon whereby I could heavily incorporate translational research into my medical practice; that is the bench to bedside approach. It means taking utmost advantage of the innovative research being done in our labs and applying it directly to bettering treatments and patient care."

My advice to new students

"Go with your instincts. Be aware of the opportunities around you and take advantage of every one that comes your way. Adapt and jump on experiences. Be passionate and follow through on everything you do. It's all so much more enjoyable when you give it all you've got."

And what does this master of extra curricular activities both on and off campus do when he is not volunteering with special needs children, the elderly, fellow students, or in a research lab, he listens to music!

Jeremy is currently studying Medicine at McGill.