Recent UTM graduate finds fulfillment in her unique blend of academic studies.
To anyone else, the combination of Biology for the Health Sciences and French Studies may seem a bit unconventional. Yet for Chelsea Okyere (HBSc 2024), blending her biology and chemistry classes with phonetics and morphology lessons only made her undergraduate journey more exciting and comprehensive.
“As much as I enjoy the sciences and growing as someone who plans to work in the sciences, the contrast of studying something related to the arts has strengthened my ability to work in the sciences,” says Okyere.
“I get to look at the world with a whole different perspective.”
From an early age, Okyere was captivated by the intricacies of anatomy and physiology. A particular interest in surgery laid a clear path toward the Health Sciences, which she pursued well into high school and eventually throughout her undergraduate studies.
“I found it really cool how doctors can help people with certain illnesses that most people couldn’t understand and perform surgeries most people can’t understand,” recalls Okyere.
“Their problem-solving skills and ability to work under pressure – it was all really fascinating.”
However, Okyere’s academic pursuits didn’t end with her enthusiasm for science. Initially participating in the French Immersion program, Okyere developed a deep fondness for the language and discovered that studying French not only complemented her scientific interests but also enriched her understanding of them. One example that Okyere offers is how French, a Latin-based language, provides valuable insights into scientific terminology, enhancing her comprehension of the subject.
In her final year of her program, Okyere participated in linguistic research with Professor Emmanuel Nikiema. Specifically, Okyere investigated Haitian Creole and studied the phenomena of the language and how it developed compared to other African languages. She recognizes the importance and weight of this work.
“African linguistics is a very overlooked topic because Africa is a very lingually diverse continent,” says Okyere.
“Our languages don’t always have the time to shine, especially in the West.”
As a Canadian citizen of Ghanian descent, this research enhanced Okyere’s linguistic knowledge, as well as honoring her heritage and the rich linguistic diversity of Africa.
Okyere’s future career plans were crystallized during a job-shadowing program she participated in in her third year. As part of the program, she observed an orthopedic surgeon, a profession she aspires to pursue. Witnessing the profound impact the surgeon had on patients was inspirational and affirmed her passion for the health sciences.
“I thought, ‘this is exactly what I want to do,’” says Okyere.
“I want to be that person who helps someone with something that they’ve lost hope on, or have been struggling with for years, and provide them a better quality of life.”
On top of her coursework, Okyere spent the last two years of her undergraduate degree as a Library Assistant at the UTM Career Centre. As part of the BIO400 internship course, she also worked as a Research Assistant at the Hospital for Sick Children where she assisted the Health Equity Data Initiative by conducting government-mandated surveys with patients and patients’ families.
“This internship allowed me to build on my passion for health equity, which is a value I aim to take into my future practice as a physician.” says Okyere.
Okyere acknowledges the importance of diversity and representation in the medical field: a more inclusive healthcare team can better support patients of marginalized backgrounds, and her French studies and bilingual capabilities will further enhance her model of care.
“I think we need to encourage more Black students to go into medicine,” says Okyere.
“As a Black female doctor, I can offer a perspective that is currently lacking in the medical field and work to counteract these biases.”
Okyere currently works as a Medical Office Assistant at HeartHealth Medical Centre, where she works closely alongside a family physician. Her advice to fellow students in health sciences is to maintain balance and prioritize well-being.
“The path to medicine is not the same as other schools, and that is totally fine,” says Okyere.
“But pace yourself and take breathers when you need them.”