Nasri Balit is a first year medical student at McGill University. Prior to medical school, he did a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Physiology at McGill and worked for 2 years as a research assistant in a Parkinson’s disease lab. Nasri was drawn to the DaP program after reading about how medicine was taught in the past, and learning how intertwined philosophy and the arts were in old medical curriculums. As someone prone to talking about the meaning of life with strangers at parties, joining this group seemed like a no-brainer to him. By reading about and discussing topics like fulfillment, enlightenment and suffering in the DaP program, he hopes to develop his own views on these important, complex topics. Through this, he aims to be better equipped to manage the emotional turbulence of working in a hospital environment, where he may be confronted with these topics on a daily basis.
Amanda Essebag is a fourth-year medical student at McGill University. She’s excited to be a part of the Doctor as a Person Fellowship Program to reflect on key topics in medical humanities before starting the next chapter in her career. She looks forward to connecting with peers and learning valuable lessons to integrate both into her daily life and future practice. Alongside medicine, she’s passionate about film, travel, and great food.
Drawn to the Doctor as Person program by his recognition of the significance of stories and their ability to reveal important truths, Peter Malik values connecting with and learning from individuals from varied backgrounds and perspectives. He is passionate about using patient narratives to engage individuals meaningfully in their care. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time in nature, practicing mindfulness meditation, and volunteering at a local bike workshop.
Daniel Phillips is a second year medical student at McGill University. He previously completed a Bachelors of Science in honours neuroscience. He decided to become a fellow in the Doctor as Person fellowship because he believes learning about the human condition is just as critical as learning the fundamentals of medicine when it comes to caring for patients. In his free time, Daniel likes to boulder, run, and hike.
Sofia Lizza is a second-year medical student at McGill. She completed her undergraduate and graduate studies in French and the social sciences of health from New York University and the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris, France and worked as an English language teaching assistant, medical scribe, and as a clinical research coordinator in hepatology prior to medical school. As a medical student and future physician, she is interested in working with migrant populations and pursuing research on narrative competence in medicine.
Naomie Gamondele is of Hungarian and Congolese descent and immigrated to Tiohtià:ke from France ten years ago. Before starting her medical degree in 2023 at McGill University, she worked for seven years as a nurse, including recent work in Nunavik. She is passionate about holistic approach to patient care, focusing on the emotional, social, and cultural aspects of healthcare. Her goal is to bridge the gap between medicine as a science and the art of providing compassionate, human-centered care.
Angelina Low is currently a fourth-year medical student at McGill University. She joined the Doctor as Person program to explore the meaning of humanism in medicine and to reflect on her experiences over the past four years through meaningful discussions with her peers, before embarking on the next stage of her career. Outside of medicine, Angelina enjoys playing the ukulele, discovering new music, and attending concerts.
Kedar K. V. Mate is an M.D., C.M. trainee at McGill University, Canada, and a Senior Research Fellow at Exeter University, UK. He is a health outcomes researcher with a Ph.D. from McGill University and has completed two post-doctoral fellowships at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, USA, and McGill University. Previously, he served as the Director of Outcomes Research at the Cleveland Clinic.
Alex Cai is a third-year medical student at McGill University and a Tokyo 2021 Olympian in the sport of fencing. Prior to Medicine, Alex grew up in Brampton/Toronto and completed a BSc. in Honours Anatomy and Cell Biology at McGill. He has a strong interest in humanism and how it manifests in Medicine; specifically on how people can create environments which nurture vulnerability, relationships, and connection. In his professional and personal lives, Alex hopes to better understand humanism and ultimately, become someone who is better at honouring the humanity of others.
Oliver Terry is a geriatric medical student, who has pursued many interests over the years in a variety of different fields. He has found the process of medical education akin to floating down a vast river connecting past to future and is intensely curious about the various other connections between the medical profession and other domains of human development
Aissam Souidi is a medical student passionate about exploring the human side of medicine. With a background in chemical engineering and biomedical sciences, he combines a love for science with a commitment to innovation and inclusive, personalized care. His diverse experiences in patient care and community engagement fuel his belief that personal growth and empathy are vital to healing. Aissam is also a polyglot and outdoor enthusiast who finds joy in hiking, songwriting, and connecting across cultures. Through the fellowship, he looks forward to deepening his understanding of what it means to be both a doctor and a person.
Tracy Liu is a 3rd year McGill medical student who previously completed a BSc. in Food Chemistry. As she transitioned into medicine, she is now dedicated to creating a medical community that emphasizes mutual growth, understanding, mentorship and empowerment. Outside of medicine, she adores music, dance, and desserts.
Doctor as Person 