For recent graduate Gary Wilson, the connections he’s made at the University of Toronto Scarborough are what made his undergraduate studies the most memorable.
“The diverse and amicable community here provides the perfect opportunity for people to build experiences, connections and themselves – all of which go towards furthering the community that we are all a part of,” says Wilson who graduated with a double major in human biology and neuroscience along with a minor in psychology.
‘Community’ isn’t a word that Wilson throws around loosely. Since beginning his studies at U of T Scarborough in 2012 Wilson dedicated much of his time to campus clubs and organizations. “I was fortunate to be able to contribute to the culture of the U of T Scarborough campus,” he says.
Wilson, who has a passion for leadership and mentorship of black youth, in particular, was involved in the IMANI Academic Mentorship Program and campus club, Jamaican Canadian Students’ Affiliation. For several years he also volunteered at orientation. He took on an additional leadership role when he founded the Future Black Physician at UTSC (FBP) in 2015, a club that’s mission is to help racialized students aspiring to medicine.
READ MORE ABOUT FUTURE BLACK PHYSICIANS AT UTSC
“I founded FBP with a lot of help and support from Ike Okafor and the U of T's Faculty of Medicine,” says Wilson. “At that time, the club was affiliated with and supported by the U of T Scarborough Department of Student Life as well as the Faculty of Medicine's Community of Support Program.”
After some success, Wilson took time to focus primarily on his academics before he was approached by Dominic Stephenson, a then second-year student and recent immigrant to Canada, with a “fresh vision for the club,” he says.
Together Stephenson and Wilson worked to refocus the club, getting an executive team in place and fine-tuning its mission. Today, FBP, led by Stephenson hosts networking events, preparation for applying to medical school such as practice MCATs, and Q & A’s with current black medical school students and physicians. Earlier this year, FBP won the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union’s award for Best New Club 2016-2017 based on the group’s hard work, programming and impact.
Wilson continues to be involved in the community around him saying “the work is far from finished.”
“However, I am proud of the work we’ve been able to do and the people we’ve been able to help,” he says.
