Students recognized for leadership and volunteering

Jubair Aziz, Fourth-year PharmD 

 Jubair Aziz, a fourth-year PharmD student, has been volunteering in the broader campus community since he was undergraduate student at U of T. He has held various leadership roles, including president, in the U of T Bangladeshi Students’ Association, Orphan Sponsorship Program and Muslim Students’ Association (MSA).

“My initial goal was to grow my skills and develop personally and professionally,” says Aziz. “As time went by, I saw that my contributions were making the campus a better place where students’ needs were being met and they were having a good time. All of that inspired me to keep on volunteering.”

Under Aziz’s leadership, the Orphan Sponsorship Program raised $83,000 in one year that supported 173 orphans around the world. While president of the MSA, Aziz led a team that managed challenging issues including religious accommodation and Islamophobia on campus, and organized a successful event exploring the history of Black Muslims in the Americas.

Aziz says that he has been drawn to groups that represent diversity and inclusion, and it is rewarding to see the impact of his work. “It’s really nice to be recognized for our efforts and contributions, and it encourages us to keep going and even go beyond what we’ve accomplished so far,” he says.

Tiffany Cho, PharmSci PhD Student

Tiffany Cho, a Pharmaceutical Sciences PhD student supervised by Jack Uetrecht, has held various roles on the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Student Association, and most recently has served as the graduate student board member of the U of T’s Local Animal Care Committee and the LDFP’s Joint Health and Safety Committee.

But Cho has also volunteered with groups outside of the Faculty, which she says has helped her enrich her perspective of the world. “By volunteering outside the Faculty, we can learn what other students are doing on campus and with their education,” she says. “We can help others and meet new people from different walks of life to enrich our own experiences and perspectives.”

Cho is most proud of her work with Best Buddies, an organization that pairs students with people who have intellectual or developmental disabilities to foster friendships. Cho has been volunteering with Best Buddies since she was an undergraduate student at McMaster University, and she says that her “buddy,” a young woman with Down syndrome, has become like family.

“This award validates that what I’ve done in the community has had some influence,” she says. “I’ve always wanted to help others and it means a lot to receive this award and be recognized by my university and the community.”

Gigi Lai, Fourth-year PharmD

Gigi Lai has held numerous leadership roles in the Undergraduate Pharmacy Society (UPS) and PharmaPride club, as well as volunteer roles with other committees and events. Through her roles as the former Vice-President of UPS and as the current President of the Year 4 Class Council, she has managed challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, advocated for student mental health, and worked to build a sense of community within the Faculty.

“I am honoured to have my work and contributions recognized and to be amongst so many peers and colleagues I look up to,” she says. “Knowing that I was able to make an impact on the university and on the lives of fellow students is deeply rewarding, and I am extremely grateful to those who have believed in me and supported my many endeavours.”

Elaine Nguyen, Fourth-year PharmD

Elaine Nguyen has served on several LDFP committees, including co-chair of the U of T Pharmacist Awareness Month Committee and U of T representative on the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Students and Interns (CAPSI). She is a strong advocate for pharmacy students, particularly around mental health and wellness.

“One of the biggest highlights of volunteering was having the opportunity to challenge myself to learn and grow in a multitude of capacities, especially as a pharmacy and student advocate,” she says. “Ultimately, my volunteer experiences gave me some of my best memories in pharmacy school, and in turn, I hope that my work was able to give other students some of their best memories as well.” 

By: Eileen Hoftyzer