Renee Baily, Class of 2T5 Valedictorian, on her time in the MD program, the importance of mentors & discovering your passion

As Renee Bailey prepares to begin an Otolaryngology - Head Neck Surgery residency at the University of Ottawa, there is much to reflect upon about her time in the MD Program at Temerty Medicine. In this Q&A, Renee shares what inspired her towards a career in medicine, the importance of mentorship and finding your community, and what she believes makes the Class of 2T5 unique.  

What inspired you to pursue medical school?

On a personal level, my parents are a huge inspiration to me. As a daughter of Jamaican immigrants, I have benefitted from the resilience and strength of my parents who navigated many challenges to make their way to Canada and build a life for us. My mother also trained as a nurse and seeing her passion for and commitment to education instilled the same in me.

As for my educational pathway, I first developed an interest in science and understanding the human body in high school, which led me to complete an undergraduate degree in biomedical sciences at Toronto Metropolitan University. I went on to complete a master’s degree in global health at McMaster University. Throughout this time, I was also involved in supporting Black and other racialized youth in underserved communities through tutoring and mentorship. Experiences such as this exposed me to the ways access to other resources, including healthcare, can be limited for certain communities. This ignited a passion for health equity and solidified my desire to pursue medicine as a career pathway.

Medicine is not just about primary care, physicians are advocates, resource connectors, and community builders too – that was exciting to me.

What impact did having mentors make on your journey through medical school?

Being able to see yourself in your mentors is so important. In high school, when I first started considering a career as physician, it didn’t feel like a possibility to me because I lacked someone whom I could identify with in the field. I didn’t know any Black doctors in my community, and I had never been treated by a Black doctor. When I began to see Black doctors, especially Black female doctors, it began to feel like a real career option for me.

Outside of seeing yourself in mentors as a form of inspiration, they can also help you explore a passion and guide you deeper into your interests. I started to develop an interest in surgery after deeply enjoying anatomy dissections in first year. But this interest in surgery, and in ENT specifically, was heightened after developing a mentorship relationship with an ENT surgeon who led one of my clinical skills sessions in first year. He made the speciality so intriguing to me. I asked about the opportunity to shadow him thereafter. What I thought would be a one-day experience to see if I might be interested in surgery became three months of mentorship. The opportunity to shadow and explore the field, participate in research and expand my network really sparked my passion for ENT.

How did you find community in medical school?

In some ways, it felt like I had a built-in community from our small group learning sessions that are a part of the program. Our case-based learning and clinical skills groups provided the opportunity to interact with and get to know classmates, some of whom have become lifelong friends to me. It helps to know we’re all going on the same journey and can relate to one another through the ups and downs of medical school.

I also made friends and built community through the Black Medical Students Association (BMSA). The BMSA provided a space to meet people who shared a similar background or experience to me and there were always plenty of opportunities to get involved.

There is no shortage of ways to meet people! I participated in extracurriculars, joined study groups and even got to know classmates just because they lived nearby and we would grab coffee together on the way home.

What, in your experience, makes the class of 2T5 unique?

I think the class of 2T5 is unique in our passion for advocacy and our recognition that health is not just physical. Our class is engaged with what is happening in the world around us. We’re dealing with climate change, wars, political tensions, economic instability, food insecurity and we apply these contexts to healthcare. The world is not the same as it was and doctors can’t remain the same. We are prepared to look at health wholistically and consider how these different contexts can impact wellbeing and treatment outcomes.

What advice would you give to new MD students?

First, that you are here for a reason. There will be challenging moments or times when your internal voice might discourage you or tell you that you don’t belong – don’t listen to that voice. Remember, it’s your passion that brought you here and you are capable. Lean on your community for encouragement and support. Seek out mentors you identify with and ask for help when you need it.

Second, keep an open mind through your medical school journey. You are going to have so many opportunities to explore different specialties and topics, don’t put yourself into a box. Follow your interests and you will find your space, that place where you will make the biggest impact with the most joy.

How does it feel to be the valedictorian for the class of 2T5?

I’m so incredibly honoured and grateful that my cohort saw me as a person suitable to represent them. It’s been a wonderful experience and will be a memory I carry with me always. In many ways it feels like a full circle moment as I was able to share a spoken word piece, as I did in our stethoscope ceremony in 2022, reflecting on our journey so far and where we started.

As the second Black woman valedictorian in Temerty Medicine history, I hope others may see themselves in me the same way I did in Dr. Chika Oriuwa, our first Black woman valedictorian. I hope I can be an example to others who may feel underrepresented in medicine that they belong here too, you’re capable and we need your perspective and experience in the field.