Winners – Graduate Student Wellness Grant

Maneesha Rajora is a 2^nd year MD student and in the MD/Ph.D. program. Pre-COVID19, she did dance choreography. Jenny Lou is a 6^th year PhD in Medical Biophysics. She is a bubble tea and gelato enthusiast. Rehnuma Islam is a 4^th year PhD in IMS and she has a coin collection.

The Graduate Peer Support Network has three foundational components: thematic workshops, peer mentorship and student advocacy. It will be a vehicle for student mentors to help their peers in navigating through their academic journey. “This program aims to build a widely accessible community for all students, providing educational seminars coupled with peer mentorship by equipping students with tools and support for overcoming mental health challenges. The program is volunteer-based and peer-driven, allowing students to quickly receive support in their time of need. We believe GPS-N can improve graduate training experiences by filling a currently unmet need and creating a lasting impact on student mental health and personal wellness.”

What is the inspiration behind this proposal?
The group was motivated by their personal experiences, seeing barriers to navigating mental health and wellness resources during graduate training, and a pervasive academic culture that is not equally supportive to all that still stigmatizes mental health. They are all grateful for having supportive lab environments but know this is not the case for all students. These experiences led the group to develop a three-pronged approach to their proposal. According to Maneesha, “The GLSE grant served as a catalyst to bring together all these different ideas!”

Beyond the goal(s) of this project, what would you like to see happen to improve the graduate student experience?
Maneesha, Jenny, and Rehnuma, all had different things to say about what they would like to change. Some of these include:

• Changing the culture of how people engage in graduate school such as normalizing failure, creating more supportive environments, and normalizing asking for help and setting boundaries.
• More advocacy for mental health and having a space where students can talk about challenges openly, without fear of repercussions or judgment.
• Having a safer environment in which students can open up about a range of personal concerns from financial challenges to relationship difficulties, and feel empowered to explore diverse career paths after grad school.

What advice would you give to future graduate students?
“There is a way in which you have to study for university and just be aware of the culture in which you study” – Rehnuma
“Recognize that graduate studies does not occur in a vacuum. Life is happening outside of grad school, so explore your interests inside and outside of the lab!” – Jenny
“Be honest with yourself and acknowledge what is a good fit for you as an individual, whether it be the type of research, lab environment, or supervisor relationship that will allow you to thrive. Each graduate student journey is unique with its own challenges, and what works for one individual is not necessarily what sets up the next for success. We all need help and support so don’t be afraid to reach out!” – Maneesha

Grace Jacobs is a 5th Year PhD student in IMS. She loves travelling and has been to over 25 countries (pre-COVID19, of course). Dustin Ammendolia is a 5th Year PhD student in Molecular Genetics. He has a dog but secretly loves cats more. Lazar Jovanovic is 5th Year Ph.D. Student in Biomedical Engineering. He likes playing and watching basketball, and I enjoy reading books and watching movies. This team has two mascots: Maple and Maya.

This group is exploring the implementation of GradWell, a mobile app that will follow a graduate student’s timeline and give them resources and tips along the way. “Our app will serve to raise awareness of common issues in graduate school (beginning with supervisor-student relationships) and equip students with the skills and resources to become resilient to stress associated with them. These resources include links to relevant wellness efforts through the University of Toronto and supporting evidence from other institutions. Additionally, students can personalize a check-list guide of milestones they can work towards throughout their degree timeline.

Along with this app, they are creating a podcast (GradWell Podcast) for graduate students that will highlight available mental health resources, as well as create a sense of community among students sharing personal stories and experiences from other peers. “We will create a podcast that provides workshop-style skill building with wellness professionals from university-run programs that share available resources, as well as personal stories and experiences from graduate students and principal investigators. For each topic, beginning with student-supervisor relationships, we will create a dedicated series to engage and inform students and faculty.”

What is your inspiration behind this proposal?
Grace, Dustin, and Lazar met through Dr. Nana Lee’s Innovative PhD Leaders Program and over the years they have attended different workshops and learned a lot from one another. Dr. Lee inspired them to explore the creation of an app and podcast through this funding opportunity.

What will you personally contribute to the project?
When creating this project, Grace, Dustin, and Lazar recognized that each of them had a unique talent to contribute. Grace has a background in creating podcasts, Lazar has a leading role in the development of the app due to his engineering background, while Dustin provides insight on the importance of communication in a lab environment to assist with this iniative as well.

What advice would you give to the next cohort of students?
Remind yourselves that you are going on this journey for you.” – Grace
“Regardless of how your results turns out, take every day as a learning opportunity.” – Dustin
“There is enough time in a day, in a month, in a year, so there is enough time to take a break.” – Lazar

Shenhab Zaig is a 2^nd year MSc Student in IMS working on opioid overdose and prevention, as well as the Chair of the St. Michael’s Research Association. She loves pasta!

Christine Schemitsch is a 5^th year PhD in IMS and Vice Chair of St. Michael’s Research Association. She loves the Marvel movies and is re-watching all of them at the moment!

Ayliin Visram is a 2^nd year MSc student in Physiology. She is also the Co-Vice Chair for St. Michael’s Research Association and loves to swim!

This great initiative focuses on helping student mental health through events and workshops. “Mental Health Month will address the well-documented mental health concerns of graduate students. This initiative will enhance student well-being by providing them with opportunities to engage in two types of events. The first will be events tailored to raise awareness and provide learning opportunities on mental health concerns. The second will focus on providing students with tools to improve both their physical and mental well-being. We hope these events give graduate students the opportunity to socially bond with other students in a safe and fun environment and connect students with the resources to better understand and take care of their mental health.”

What is the inspriation behind this proposal?
The idea behind Mental Health Month has actually been a yearly event for the St. Michael’s Research Association. Since the St. Michael’s Research Association is not a UofT student group, it is ineligible for funding through the university. This grant was a perfect opportunity to expand on their efforts for Mental Health Month, with hopes to use this grant for the next 3 years.

What will you personally contribute to the project?
Shehab, Ayliin, and Christine all agreed they would like to bring an equity lens to this project. They want to show the diversity in the scientific community to draw a more inclusive environment. They want all students across UofT, from these different departments, to access these events which is something they were not able to do previously. Moreover, with more students, they want to make sure they implement EDI (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) within their events to ensure a welcoming atmosphere for everyone.

What advice would you give to the next cohort of students?
“It’s okay to ask for help” – Shenhab
“Don’t be afraid to get involved with student associations” – Christine
“Find great mentors because, there are people who have been in your position” – Ayliin

Allee Thompson is a 2^nd PhD student at the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute who represented this team. She was recently on a Zoom call with Amy Schumer and Cazzie David! This project is a big endeavour so members (student and faculty) of this project are listed below:

• Amanda Cassin: 1^st Year MHSc student in Speech-Language Pathology. Fun fact: I have traveled to 19 different countries.
• Kiren Kaloty: 2^nd Year MScPT student. Fun fact: I have my black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
• Meera Premnazeer: 2^nd Year MScOT student. Fun fact: I have a green-cheek yellow-sided conure for a pet and hope to have a hyacinth macaw in the future.
• Marcus Yu: 2^nd Year MScOT student. Fun fact: Last summer, I hiked over 400kms from Kingston to Ottawa in two weeks.
• Amy Nesbitt: 1^st Year PhD student at the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute. Fun fact: I went down one of the world’s longest zip-lines (Costa Rica).

Past Student Leaders:

• Annmarie Villanueva: Recent graduate (MScOT ’20)
• Karishma Patel: Recent graduate (MScOT ’20)

Work Study Students:

• Luiza Pirvu: 1^st Year MScOT student
• Sofia Mirzazada: 1^st Year MScOT student

Faculty Supervisors:

• Professor Emily Nalder, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
• Professor Bonnie Kirsh, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
• Professor Naomi Davids-Brumer, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
• Professor Jill Stier, Graduate Coordinator, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
• Professor Kara Patterson, Department of Physical Therapy
• Professor Jaimie Coleman, Graduate Coordinator and Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education in the Department of Physical Therapy
• Professor Susan Wagner, Coordinator of Clinical Education, Department of Speech-Language Pathology

This amazing initiative was inspired by an arts-based approach to wellness. This group aims to create “a supportive environment for self-expression, empowering students through arts-based, self-care strategies, and fostering meaningful connections through peer support. These goals will be addressed by hosting weekly group-based creative workshops led by a combination of professional artists, arts-based mental health professionals, and students. The workshops will span a range of creative modalities, including visual arts, dance, music, and creative writing.”

This project not only promotes mental wellness, it’s done in a way that is creative and fun. It is definitely a way for students to express themselves in a manner that is empowering and which creates connections among students.

What is the inspiration behind this proposal?
The inspiration derived from the arts-based learning experience offered in the Occupational Therapy program led by Isabel Fryszberg, and through collaborating with the other departments in the Rehabilitation Sector, such as Physical Therapy. This will be a great resource to add because there are not a lot of arts-based mental health initiatives offered at UofT.

Beyond the goal(s) of this project, what would you like to see happen to improve the graduate student experience?
When it comes to improving the graduate student experience, Allee has noticed improvements across UofT’s (virtual) campus since last year. She is finding conversations about mental health are happening more often and in, what feels like, an even more compassionate manner, during the pandemic. She noted the UofT mental health website is helpful, especially in terms of navigating services. Beyond these notable improvements, she mentioned how excited she is to see all of the Graduate Student Wellness Grant projects come to fruition; these projects have great potential to offer unique and valuable services for students, by students. She said funding opportunities, such as the Graduate Student Wellness Grant, are hugely important to improving mental health at UofT and encourages other students to become involved in such projects to share their talents and expertise!

What advice would you give to future graduate students?
“Talk to other students about mental health – a lot of students want to talk about it and can relate closely to how you’re feeling. You’re not alone. There are many groups on campus which are working to promote and support student mental health – join these groups. If there isn’t a student mental health committee in your department, consider starting one – it’s a great way to start the conversation, feel less alone, and fight against the stigma surrounding mental health.” – Allee

“Ask for help. Most people will lend a helping hand or refer you to someone who can. Take initiative. There are plenty of available resources. Hold yourself accountable and take the initiative to find what you need. Lastly, be open minded. Figuring out what works and doesn’t work for you is a part of the journey to self-discovery.” – Amanda

Michelle Harwood is a 3^rd Year PhD student in Molecular Genetics. Fun Fact: Michelle used to study polar bears to monitor the impacts of climate change. Premy Shanthamoorthy is also a 3^rd Year PhD student in Molecular Genetics. Fun Fact: One major de-stressor is thrifting, which helps Premy run her fashion blog!

The Crushing Imposter Phenomenon and Relieving Stress from Physical Distancing Project is a great initiative aimed to help students “minimize patterns of Imposter Phenomenon, through a set of seminars and workshops.” They will host seminars to help graduate students succeed amidst the pandemic and illustrate tools to de-stress and to help them work better from home, while highlighting the diverse representation and experiences of impostor syndrome within the student community and health sciences community.

What is the inspiration behind this proposal?
When they started their first year, Michelle and Premy wanted to start a Woman in Science seminar, and the ideas just grew from there! The Graduate Student Wellness Grant provided a great opportunity to merge the concept of diverse representation with the idea of imposter syndrome!

What will you personally contribute to the project?
First, one of Michelle’s mentors in first year taught her so much; this same person was one of the speakers at an event funded through this grant. Premy feels very strongly about highlighting the graduate student experience.

Beyond the goal(s) of this project, what would you like to see happen to improve the graduate student experience?
Michelle and Premy both agree that the mental health among graduate students is actually very complex. There are significant system changes that need to be put in place and that is why these initiatives are an amazing opportunity. Each group contributes in their own unique way to help their peers succeed in their academic journey, and all the groups combined actually help to maintain student mental health. Furthermore, Premy noted that changing the environment in which we talk about mental health is very important, especially with your mentors and PI’s.

What advice would you give to future graduate students?
“Don’t be scared to pursue things outside of your set research projects” – Michelle
“Be gentle with yourself” – Premy

Rachel Dadouch is a 4^th year PhD student in IMS. Fun fact: She loves the hot weather – if it isn’t 30 degrees, it’s too cold!

Laura Best is a 5^th year PhD student in IMS. Fun fact: Outdoors is where she is the happiest - it doesn't matter whether she is hiking Mt. Fuji, teaching yoga in a park in Toronto, on the trails with her dog or camping beside a glacier lake in the Yukon, the fresh air is rejuvenating.

Sandy Lee is a 4^th year PhD student in IMS. Fun fact: She can recite every single song from the musical Wicked!

Swapna Mylabathula is a 6^th year MD/PhD student in IMS. Fun fact: She loves learning how to cook and bake new dishes! She trying to ‘travel’ the world by learning as many new dishes from different cuisines as I can!

Aleksandra (Sasha) Marakhovskaia is a 5^th year PhD student in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. Fun fact: She is a movie buff!

Martino Gabra is a 7^th year PhD student in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. Fun fact: He’s been cooking the national dishes of the world during quarantine.

What is the inspiration behind this proposal?
This group would like to create an open environment where mental health and wellness can be openly discussed and addressed. Their initiative aims to encourage everyone to engage in things that will benefit their mental health and wellbeing. Based on their own experience as graduate students, this group aims to create a platform that will inspire younger students to seek help for their mental health.

Beyond the goal(s) of this project, what would you like to see happen to improving the graduate student experience?
Creating an environment that facilitates meaningful discussion is the first step. The next step is to translate these ideas into actionable items. The group is hoping to create a stronger sense of community, in which students and supervisors can learn from each other to create and maintain healthier learning environments.

What advice would you give to the next cohort of students?
“Try not to suffer in silence” – Rachel
“Do not be afraid of asking questions and making mistakes” – Sandy
“Try to be open minded, try to see that other students might need support, it would be great to advocate for those who are in need and with that we will improve the overall environment” – Aleksandra
“Get involved in the things around you!” – Swapna
“Find ways to connect yourself with other grad students” – Laura
“Use the resources you already pay for!” - Martino