Young Alumni: Cindy Ochieng ('11) pursues a unique path to medical school
2012-05-24 16:06:31
Cindy Ochieng has always had an interest in the medical field. She came to Mount Allison set on studying biology and preparing for a career in health care. Her experiences at the University would inspire a different route to her dream.
In her first year she discovered a keen interest in anthropology and pursued a minor in the discipline. In the summer following her third year, Ochieng spent six weeks in Nairobi, Kenya as a medical volunteer, working with health professionals and community members in the hospitals. This experience showed her how intertwined social context is with biology, solidifying her plan to pursue both biology and anthropology.
"Encouraged by coursework and my professors in the anthropology department, I decided medical anthropology was the perfect choice for me," she says.
Upon her return from Kenya she developed a medical anthropology independent study course with her professor and hasn't looked back. She is now completing her Master's in medical anthropology with a collaboration in women's health at the University of Toronto on full scholarship. She is specifically looking at the tensions that exist between the Canadian health care system and new Canadian immigrants, focusing on the experiences of Somali women immigrants in Toronto.
And now, her dream is coming true. Ochieng has been accepted to Dalhousie Medical School following the completion of her Master's in August.
"Medical school offers an opportunity to become part of a profession that is everything I could hope for — one that is challenging, purposeful and meaningful," she says.
Ochieng credits her time at Mount Allison for developing her into the person she is today.
"Mount Allison has a culture that develops and encourages leadership," says Ochieng. "It is a place where students of diverse backgrounds are able to engage and collaborate."
She kept busy during her time on campus. She played tenor saxophone in symphonic and pep bands, was a student buddy in Amigos (formerly Best Buddies), a co-facilitator in Leadership Mount Allison, a Harper Hall academic mentor, a biology research assistant, B.O.D.I.E.S. co-coordinator, an academic affairs and Ascars committee member, a member of MOSAIC, an Orientation guide, Shinerama committee member, Relay for Life leader, e-mail ambassador, and a teaching assistant in physics and biology. Upon graduation she was awarded a Gold A Award for her contribution to the University community.
But she says it was developing her own radio show on the campus and community radio station, CHMA, that was really her defining moment at Mount Allison. Her love of music motivated her to get involved, but she feared being alone on air. She began by signing up as a substitute radio programmer and eventually continued with her own weekly show.
"Navigating through this completely new experience characterized and continues to characterize my attitude about learning and trying new things," she says. "The world has much to offer and every interest is worthwhile, even if you're not sure how it may relate to other things you do, especially when you are fortunate enough to have access to these opportunities."
Ochieng says her academic career has also taught her that the possibilities for her future are limitless.
"My experiences have made me appreciative of how much there is to learn, how much there is to see, and how meaningful a single interaction with a person can be," she says.