CSB students networked with alumni during a recent Backpack to Briefcase speed mentorship reception. Students were offered a casual, complementary dinner and were given the opportunity to connect with successful CSB alumni to discuss their career trajectories and how to navigate life after graduation.

The Modern Job Market

Along with specific career advice, students were reminded of a few common themes present in the modern job market.

  • Careers are often non-linear, and obtaining transferrable skills along with an open mindset is invaluable for landing your dream job.
  • Networking plays a big role in job acquisition. Attending events and connecting with professionals, both in-person and through online sources such as LinkedIn, will increase the likelihood of future opportunities.
  • Developing a personal network and making meaningful connections with colleagues and professionals will help applicants get that vitally important foot in the door. Prioritize quality over quantity.
  • Candidates need to be resilient since failure on some level is inevitable. Success is dependent on your ability to persevere through adversity and challenges.
  • Do your homework. Before reaching out to a recruiter or attending a job interview, ensure that you have researched the company, understand their values, and can explain how your skillset can bring value to the company.

Our Phenomenal Alumni Guests

Part of career planning is seeing the path others have taken, and we were grateful to our alumni for sharing the skills and experience they have gained.

Muna Abdulla is a health informatics leader, human factors researcher, and digital health strategist with Trillium Health Partners. Muna has a Master’s of Health Informatics degree from U of T and has spent over eight years bridging clinical, technical, and operational domains to design and implement digital health solutions that improve patient care, optimize workflows, and enhance system efficiency.

Ahash Jeevakanthan is an epidemiologist with the Public Health Agency of Canada, contributing to national immunization surveillance and public health initiatives to support evidence-based decision-making. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in HMB/EEB and a Master’s in Public Health in Epidemiology.

Natasha Girdharry holds both a Bachelor’s degree in HMB, and a Master’s degree in Medical Sciences. She currently works as a Medical Editor at Klick Health, ensuring editorial and scientific accuracy and FDA compliance for pharmaceutical promotional materials in the United States. Natasha is passionate about advancing accurate medical education and ensuring equitable access to reliable healthcare information.

Arnold Ruste is a clinical manager and pharmacist at MedsEXPERT Clinic + Pharmacy who specializes in HIV treatment and prevention. He also practices as a pharmacist at Shoppers Drug Mart, providing expanded scope services, including immunizations and minor ailment prescribing. Arnold holds a Bachelor’s degree in HMB and a PharmD from the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and was a recipient of the U of T Student Leadership award in 2023.

Lauren Della Mora is an epidemiologist with over ten years of experience in healthcare. She currently holds the position of Manager of Oncology Nursing at Ontario Health, where she leads a multidisciplinary team that is transforming cancer care. She is pushing towards a more person-centered approach, and works to combine evidence and stake-holder perspectives to help patients better manage their symptoms and improve the experiences of both patients and healthcare providers.

Sabrina Hyde is a Senior Policy Advisor at the Ontario Public Services Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, where she works on enhancing privacy protection for children and youth who have interacted with the child welfare system. With a Bachelor’s degree in Immunology/CSB, and a Master’s degrees in both Molecular Genetics and Public Policy, Sabrina has also been able to support Ontario health policy as a member of the Ontario Health Oversight Branch and Treasury Board.

Francesca Cadhit is a bestselling author, educator, and speaker dedicated to helping students develop the skills they need to thrive in school and beyond. To further her mission of educating and empowering students, Francesca founded the academic coaching service Top Class Edge Learning, hosts the Smart Growth Rocket Podcast, and has delivered inspiring talks around Toronto and the world.

Max Shcherbina holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree from the CSB department and currently works as a Research Scientist. His main focus is on the integration of data analysis and programming to automate research into cancer biology.

Inside the Department Perspectives

We also had two phenomenal PhD Candidates share their perspective on continuing in academia; Meggie Cao and Hayley Shin. Meggie is a PhD candidate in the CSB department who focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate epithelial cell polarity and adhesion. She also investigates how disruptions in these processes can lead to abnormal tissue growth, contributing to cancer. Hayley is a PhD candidate in the Medical Biophysics department where she uses clonal tracking to investigate metastasis initiation in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients.

We are incredibly grateful to all of our alumni for taking the time to connect with students and share insights into their unique career paths.