A voice for students

For Daniela Kwiatkowski, Schulich Medicine Class of 2016 and President of the Hippocratic Council, involvement is a way of life.

Between student government, academics and organizing social clubs, the second-year student is always on the go. She says engagement is a way of giving back to the Schulich Medicine & Dentistry community.

In her role as Hippocratic President, Kwiatkowski acts as both a student representative and a point of reference for other executives, mediating between a variety of groups and voices. Her work includes advising faculty and staff on student perspectives. "It's pretty motivating to know the hard work I put in really means something to students," she said.

Her decision to attend Schulich Medicine is rooted in personal history.

Born and raised in London, Kwiatkowski has family connections to the campus and received orthodontic work from the dentistry department as a child. The School represents these past ties and offers the aspiring doctor new opportunities for study.

"Schulich Medicine blends a respect for tradition and innovation and I wanted to be a part of that," Kwiatkowski said. "I never imagined doing medicine anywhere else."

Aside from her academic and council duties, Kwiatkowski also adds her voice to the Schulich Singers. The group of musically minded students meets weekly, an artistic outlet that Kwiatkowski says is essential to her well-being.

With such a vibrant and diverse group of students, Kwiatkowski speaks highly of relationships within the medical program. "We work together well and all of us want to see the others succeed," she said. "It's not a one man band by any means."

Kwiatkowski's medical studies remain broad, with interests in psychiatry and obstetrics, but she knows her future is in Southwestern Ontario working directly with local patients. For the time being, she stays busy advocating for students.

"I want to emphasize how dedicated students are and how much time and effort they put into not only their personal studies, but also the broader life of the School."