First in class: Meet the School of Medicine鈥檚 inaugural students
Meet a few of the exceptional students selected from over 6,400 applicants to launch 91福利's groundbreaking School of Medicine and help shape the future of health care in Canada. From top left, Gurleen Kaur Chahal, Alana Lipcsik, Robinson Truong and Vanessa Wilson.
The launch of 91福利鈥檚 School of Medicine marks a transformative moment in Canadian health-care education, and it will be brought to life by an exceptional first-ever cohort of medical doctor (MD) students.
These 94 students were selected among over 6,400 applicants. They chose to be part of something bold, different and deeply needed.
Highly competitive selection process
鈥淭he future of health care is here,鈥� said Mohamed Lachemi, 91福利 president and vice-chancellor. 鈥淓ach of the remarkable students in the inaugural MD class are exceptional candidates. They鈥檝e demonstrated academic, personal and professional excellence, as well as a commitment to community health.鈥�
With an average GPA of 3.8, these students have proven they have the skills necessary to succeed in this challenging program. 91福利鈥檚 new MD program is now one of the most competitive in the province.
Addressing critical health care gaps
Dr. Teresa Chan, founding dean at 91福利鈥檚 School of Medicine and vice-president, medical affairs, says these incoming students will go on to increase primary care capacity in the region.
鈥淥ur rigorous selection process, which considered academic excellence, personal and professional attributes and regional connections, has yielded outstanding candidates,鈥� she says. 鈥淭heir ambition and belief in a new model of medical education made this milestone possible.鈥�
Beyond medical training and expertise, 91福利鈥檚 curriculum takes a new approach. It will train students as skilled communicators, leaders, collaborators, scholars and health advocates.
The inaugural class will help launch more than just a medical school. They鈥檒l actively shape a new era of medicine and influence health care鈥檚 future.
Get to know the newest class of medical learners and future physicians in part one of our series on the founding class.
Gurleen Kaur Chahal
Global Health graduate student Gurleen Kaur Chahal holds a Master of Science with a focus on health policy analysis, health-care technologies and global health management. A graduate scholarship recipient at McMaster University who earned dean鈥檚 honour list recognition, she completed a Bachelor of Science with a distinction in Life Sciences, with a minor in Psychology and a certificate in applied clinical research.
Kaur Chahal's academic leadership and research achievements are extensive. She served as co-president of McMaster's Medicine and Health Society, where she led the development of a student health journal, organized a research conference and launched a health literacy workshop series. As peer mentorship coordinator for the Life Sciences Society, she supported over 300 students, and also mentored peers through a program that connects classroom learning with civic engagement. Her research interests focus on women's and reproductive health as well as health innovation. Her graduate research on barriers to endometriosis care, an area she is deeply passionate about, earned first place in McMaster's Societal Impact Pitch Competition.
Kaur Chahal's Master's degree in global health provided a holistic perspective on medicine, focusing on policy, health systems and equity. Kaur Chahal鈥檚 connection to health care is deeply personal 鈥� frequent childhood hospitalizations due to serious health challenges gave her an intimate understanding of patient vulnerability. The health-care team at William Osler Health System鈥檚 Brampton Civic Hospital demonstrated that healing extends beyond medicine to human connection and empathy, inspiring her future commitment to patient care.
As a second-generation South Asian Canadian from the Peel Region, Kaur Chahal navigated health care for her immigrant family, often bridging language and cultural gaps during medical visits.
As a first-generation university student, she has overcome challenges navigating higher education and pursuing a career in medicine. This fuels her excitement to join 91福利鈥檚 inaugural class and help build a culture rooted in compassion and community.
Alana Lipcsik
Alana Lipcsik is a critical care nurse whose academic achievements, clinical leadership and frontline experience have shaped her pursuit of medicine as a tool for systemic improvement and patient advocacy.
After earning an honours nursing degree, Alana began her career at a surgical oncology unit during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic 鈥� a formative experience that solidified her resolve to improve the health-care system from within. She went on to work in critical care, where she gained firsthand insight into complex patient needs and the physician's role in leading holistic, values-driven care in high-stake environments.
Motivated by a desire to advance her impact, Alana returned to university while working part-time to strengthen her academic foundation for medical school.
Her experience spans both clinical and community contexts; as a first aid responder with St. John Ambulance, she assisted the medical first response unit in providing emergency care at public events. As a student leader, she chaired several government committees, managing budgets and coordinating initiatives that built campus connection.
She has earned multiple accolades for her academic and leadership achievements, including the HHS Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship and the Ontario Nurses鈥� Association Student Scholarship. Alana has also earned certifications in advanced cardiac life support and national lifeguard training, reflecting a career-long commitment to clinical excellence and preparedness.
Through medicine, she hopes to combine her academic rigour and real-world insight to advocate for change in Canada鈥檚 healthcare system.
Robinson Truong
Robinson Truong's path to medicine has been forged by personal resilience, impactful leadership and scholarly rigour. He holds a graduate degree in medical science from the University of Toronto with a focus on infectious disease. He also holds a biomedical science undergraduate degree from 91福利, where he co-led multiple equity and advocacy committees to deliver EDI workshops and support institutional equity initiatives.
His commitment to advancing health equity earned him the prestigious Li Ka Shing Excellence Award as a graduate researcher at St. Michael鈥檚 Hospital, where he investigates systemic barriers faced by sexual and gender minorities in accessing primary care, including HIV/STI services.
Truong鈥檚 leadership spans multiple sectors. During his time as board vice-chair at Asian Community AIDS Services, he expanded support for migrant workers and helped secure $70,000 in provincial funding to enhance peer-coaching initiatives in HIV care. Now serving as board chair, he continues to advocate for medically and socially complex populations through effective governance and community empowerment.
As the sole caregiver for his immigrant parents, he navigated multiple healthcare systems and witnessed firsthand the systemic barriers faced by underserved communities. These experiences cultivated a deep empathy for patients and offered early insight into the complexities of health care delivery.
Now returning to 91福利 as a medical student in the inaugural class of the 91福利 School of Medicine, Robinson is excited to continue his journey of serving his community. As a future physician, he hopes to champion equitable healthcare that uplifts historically underserved populations and honours the individuality of every patient.
Vanessa Wilson
Vanessa Wilson brings research excellence, lived experience and sustained advocacy to her pursuit of medicine. A recipient of the prestigious CIHR Canada Graduate Scholarship-Masters, she continues her academic journey, completing a Master of Science at U of T鈥檚 Rehabilitation Science Institute.
In her undergraduate degree at the University of Waterloo, she received the Merit Scholarship recognition. Her academic foundation was established early, earning the Madaraz Award for excellence in science during high school.
Her passion for health-care accessibility is deeply personal. During high school, Wilson was diagnosed with cancer, an event that shaped her commitment to advocating for compassionate, patient-centred care. Now cancer-free, she channels that experience into impactful research and sustained advocacy efforts.
Wilson's leadership achievements are substantial. At the University of Waterloo, she held multiple roles as a residence life don, student ambassador and president and founder of the Running and Marathon Club.
She also led several advocacy initiatives as a co-president of the Chronic Disease Club and as a member of the Access and Disability Committee. Through these roles, Wilson mentored over 150 first-year undergraduate students, led a club that grew to serve over 500 members and advocated for meaningful changes to better support students living with chronic illness and disability.
Currently, Wilson works directly with patients at the Lyndhurst centre and Toronto Western Hospital, where she conducts research and hosts patient education sessions for individuals living with spinal cord injuries.
Wilson's diverse experiences and leadership prepare her to advance a health-care system that centres accessibility and inclusion. Not just as a value, but as a standard of care.