Grad Camille Gener Reflects on Four Years of Study, Service and Growth
Global health grad Camille Gener reflects on four years of growth, balancing studies, work and service while embracing a holistic view of health and community impact. (All photos supplied.)
After four years of working toward a double major in global health and public health with a minor in immunology, Vic's Camille Gener describes her approaching graduation as “surreal.”
“So much happened during my undergrad, I can’t describe it any other way,” she says.
“I worked very hard and met and worked with so many people. I worked part-time, too, and it was a challenge to balance work and academics. So it’s very rewarding to see the fruits of my academic labour.”
Beyond her studies, Gener points to her personal growth over the course of her degree, from first year through to graduation. She also highlights the importance of helping others, both within the Victoria College community and through her volunteer work, describing the experience as a rewarding chapter in her life.
U of T A&S News spoke to Gener before her graduation.
How did you decide to study global and public health?
I knew even before attending university that I was interested in healthcare, but I didn't know what type or what aspect of healthcare I wanted to contribute to. Then, in high school, COVID hit, and we all saw what happened during the pandemic — for example, how healthcare systems were overburdened. Everything that was going on with global and public health made me look at healthcare through a different lens.
I’m interested in the bigger picture: how policies and social, cultural and economic factors affect whole communities. I look at healthcare through an interdisciplinary or holistic lens and I want to work with stakeholders, talk to people and figure out solutions.
Were you able to do any work like that during your undergrad?
Yes, I was one of 10 students who went on an International Course Module (ICM) trip to Greece for my global health research design course. There are tens of thousands of refugees, migrants and asylum seekers there — many in refugee camps.
The ICM was part of Professor Helen Dimaras’s multiyear research project designed to assess the critical health needs of displaced people in the region. We were laying the groundwork for the long-term project by looking at participant recruitment, informed consent and by talking to NGOs and researchers from local universities.
I found it very rewarding because we looked at the research project from different angles — from the stakeholders to the communities affected. As a result, we had to consider the different healthcare factors from various perspectives to ensure that the project is relevant and meaningful for those affected.
Can you talk about your involvement with Girls sySTEM?
The Girls sySTEM mentorship program is an organization for girls in grades seven to 12. Its goal is to improve women’s representation in STEM.
They pair girls with professional STEM mentors, people who are doing their PhDs or are working in various STEM fields. I was a mentee during COVID, back when I didn’t know what I wanted to do in the field, and my three mentors were very inspiring and very helpful.
After that, I became their Unity+ lead, a position focused on diversity, equity and inclusion.
In that role, I started a DiverSTEM conference last year and changed the format this year in response to mentees’ feedback — for example, to have more workshops. We had a keynote speaker and a panel focusing on participants’ experiences as women in STEM. We had a science communication workshop, a robotics workshop, and an engineering workshop where participants constructed bridges out of sticks and glue and tested them to see how much weight they could carry. It was a very rewarding experience.
How was your experience at Victoria College?
I loved Victoria College. I was in residence for three years and met a lot of inspiring people there. It’s a great environment for connecting with people. I felt very supported by the registrar, academic advisors and others. Everyone was there for you if you had a question.
Plus, I was an orientation leader this past year, which was very fulfilling. I met incoming students and helped them move in. I helped them see the opportunities to make friends and have fun rather than just staying in and studying all the time. I hope I helped them find new people and opportunities — that's how to make your university experience fun.
What advice would you give to a student just starting their undergrad?
I would say, take the time to explore all the opportunities and resources available to you on campus — including all the advisors and mentors who are here to help you. Take the time to find clubs or associations that match your interests. Or, just talk to people in different programs or who share your interests.
Also, learn to be patient. There will be times when you’re feeling overwhelmed with everything you have to do. Just remember, you can’t achieve everything all at once, so take things one step at a time. Even when it comes to making friends, it takes time. It takes time to discover what’s out there and time to navigate your university experience.
Finally, I would say: appreciate the little things. As a student, you have courses, research, work; but I also fondly remember the times with friends, studying, then going out to eat, having a good time together. University can be a challenge, but if you appreciate those times, it will make your experience all the more fulfilling, rewarding and fun.
This article is courtesy of U of T Arts and Science News.