Meet Hannah St. Denis-Katz, 2nd year Medicine student
- EFN Staff | February 28, 2014
Each year, an increasing number of Aboriginal students enrole in the University of Saskatchewan's College of Medicine, in part due to initiatives taken to recruit and retain them. Eagle Feather News recently profiled four of those students.
Name: Hannah St. Denis-Katz, 2nd year
Hometown: grew up in Saskatoon; her mother is from Beardy's & Okemasis
Hobbies/interests: I love participating in physical activity. I try to make it to the gym every morning, 6:35am spin and sculpt class is my favorite, gets my day going. During the summer months I run long-distance and hope to run a marathon in the future. Another hobbie of mine is art. I've been painting since I was six, and continue to paint, mostly acrylic on canvas, particular landscape.
Why Medicine: I get asked this question all the time, and I'm not sure I have a great answer. I don't have any family members in medicine, but when I was 10, my mother was reading me an article about shortage of doctors in Saskatoon Health Region and suggested I help by becoming a doctor. From then on I was set on becoming a doctor.
Role models: When I was younger I use to hate getting asked this question because I always felt like I had to come up with some clever answer for who my role model was. Now, it's an easy question for me because I grew up with the most incredible role model, my mother. My mother is the most strong headed, ambitious, successful, woman I know. She started from literally nothing, and beat the odds, getting her PhD in Natives Studies, she continues to amaze me with the things she has done and is doing.
Any obstacles to getting into Medicine: Everyone faces obstacles getting into medicine! Whether it is academics, social life, family, or a number of other factors, for me I had the best support system but the challenge for me was keeping a balance in my life. After high school, I moved to Montreal to do my undergraduate in their biomedical science program at McGill University. These two years were the hardest two years of my life, and unfortunately, academics took over some of my life, which forced some of my hobbies to take a back seat. So, my biggest obstacle was staying balanced. Luckily, I have now developed skills to better manage my academic demands and while maintaining my physical, social and extracurricular activities.
Type of Medicine she hopes to practice and where: Ever since I watched my first surgery in the OR at Royal University Hospital I have been interested in this area of medicine. Before, I got into medicine I always thought I would go into pediatrics because I love working with children, and I hadnt really thought about surgery. Now, two years into medicine I would like to pursue surgery, in particular I like the area of pediatric plastic surgery. There is a new cleft lip and palate program in Saskatoon, which involves a multi-disciplinary team, working with this program would be a dream for me. This being said I feel I still have yet to experience may areas of medicine, so I need to keep an open mind to other areas.
Advice for young Aboriginal kids who dream of becoming a doctor: Go for it! Don't let anyone tell you it is not achievable! Use the resources and support available to you!
Advice for Aboriginal students applying to Medicine: Stay balanced. Balance is key.