UTM grad pursues passions for science and health care in the classroom, community and beyond.
For Everton Smith, continuing higher education upon graduating from UTM was an easy decision.
“I just love learning,” he says.
Following the completion of his undergraduate studies in the Biology Specialist program at UTM, Smith returned to the University of Toronto to complete a Masters of Health Science in Medical Physiology. Continuing on his educational journey, he is now preparing to start medical school in the fall, coming back to where it all began, at UofT’s Mississauga Academy of Medicine.
Throughout his undergraduate experience, Smith sought to engage with the sciences beyond the classroom. He said mentoring first-year life sciences students as part of the Erindale Biology Society mentorship program was an enriching experience where he could give back to the learning community that fostered his early passions for biology and chemistry.
“I was able to help these students, share course recommendations and study tips, give advice on programs of study and different opportunities at UTM,” he says. “I had a few things I wanted to share and I was glad I got to do that.”
Extending his education further, Smith joined the Multi-Organ Transplant Student Research Training Program (MOTSRTP) offered by the University Health Network (UHN) in his third year. There, Smith engaged in clinical research in kidney transplantation, which reaffirmed his determination to attend medical school.
“It was the first time I was able to see that my knowledge was beneficial when applying it to clinical care,” Smith says. “I was able to meet like-minded people and get exposure to what a possible career could look like for me in the future, and also learn about the field of organ transplant which is something I didn’t know anything about before.”
To complement the skills gained from MOTSRTP, Smith volunteered at Brampton Civic Hospital. He says having the opportunity to support healthcare workers, and help patients navigate areas such as the Intensive Care Units and Emergency Departments, provided a fresh perspective on the health`care industry.
“Providing culturally competent care is so important,” says Smith. “There’s a lack of representation of Black people in many of these medical fields, it can be overwhelming at times. It’s easy to feel out of place, but it’s actually inspired me more to get to that position and help [others] in a similar position as me and get them opportunities.”
While pursuing his intellectual passion for healthcare and the sciences at U of T, Smith also found a physical outlet by joining the tri-campus hockey team in his fourth year.
“I got to meet people from school, form friendships, have that camaraderie with the team which was great,” he said. “I also got to take a break from school sometimes and have that time to relax and do something I enjoyed.”
He continued to play on the tri-campus hockey team while in the master’s program, while also holding a work study position as a research assistant with Project ECHO at UHN under Dr. Andrea Furlan. He is now completing the internship component of his program as a Thrombosis Program Analyst at St. Michael’s Hospital that will provide him with an opportunity to learn about issues in human health and physiology.
Smith says he is excited to attend medical school soon and advises other students to step out of their comfort zone and try new things. “You never know what’s going to come out of the experience,” he says.