Undergraduate student turns pandemic challenge into leadership success
Programs: Undergraduate, Agile education, Inclusive community
Lilian Zhai had a challenging start to her undergraduate Arts and Science degree. Joining her first lecture at the University of Toronto in September 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was not in-person with her peers and had no access to the campus, having to transition into her academic program fully online. Lilian didn’t see this negatively – she saw a challenge to make it meaningful and used it to hone her skills in leadership.
The leadership skills she developed during her time in the Specialist Program in Pathobiology in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology have recently been recognized by The Research and Health Science Education (RHSE) Undergraduate Student Leadership Award. It has been a strong end to the program for Lilian who graduated earlier this month. She also proved that the pandemic did not affect her ability for academic success as she was awarded the LMP fourth-year Allan Gornall Award at this month’s Annual Celebration of Excellence – given to the graduating student with the highest cumulative grade point in the program.
As a first-year Arts and Science student, she was initially overwhelmed by the choices she had for programs. Meeting senior Pathobiology students acting as mentors not only inspired her to apply for the program, but also to become a mentor herself in third and fourth year. “They were always kind, understanding, and offered unwavering guidance and support. I observed an excellent sense of community in LMP - a community where we motivate one another to better ourselves. This experience strongly influenced my decision to enroll in the program”.
These were values Lilian strongly associated with. When starting her courses online, she immediately noticed how challenging online learning and the absence of support networks could be for some. She led recognized study groups to foster collaborative learning among her peers, facilitating more than 40 study sessions. “It was all about explaining concepts, asking questions, and promoting discussion between group members whilst establishing a welcoming and encouraging atmosphere,” she explained.
Throughout her program, Lilian fostered an interest in helping others grow and learn. Alongside her efforts within the program, she also looked to the broader community.
Lilian got involved in HealthxVisuals – a group dedicated to communicating science-based and accurate health information to the public during the pandemic through infographics and podcasts. “I couldn’t help but admire the leader of our group who had the insight to establish such a creative organization at a crucial time of need. Her leadership based on innovation and social need continues to inspire me to this day”.
She volunteered at Baycrest Hospital in the Memory Care Facility, offering companionship and activities for elderly with dementia, and at Women’s College Hospital as a patient support in the ultrasound department. Her most defining work was through HOSA – a student organization that brings educational and healthcare-related opportunities to students to nourish aspirations in medicine. She became Co-President in 2022 “determined to lead with innovation, values, compassion, and respect for individuality”. These core concepts enabled her and the team to nearly double the membership and engage an annual audience of over 1,000 people. Her desire for equitable access to education fueled efforts to increase sponsorship, resulting in raising funds for two scholarships to the HOSA competitions – which the students won internationally.
“Little did I realize that social distancing did not hinder me from drawing inspiration from both my team members and the remarkable leadership of others. A true leader is supportive, innovative, and empathetic, yet the essence of leadership lies in the impact one has on the lives of others. My experiences in leadership will continue to inform my commitment to making a meaningful difference in the world.”
Lilian has learned and achieved much in her time in LMP and is now about to embark on the next stage of her academic journey as she joins the MD program at U of T.
