This past summer, in partnership with Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) and the Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, Sunnybrook’s Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program welcomed the inaugural student cohort of The Next Neuroscientist, a program that provides TCHC tenants in grades 11 and 12 with a hands-on research experience in neuroscience labs.

“The medical field is very competitive and accessible training programs can help young students get a head start,” explains Dr. Karim Mithani, Neurosurgery Resident at Sunnybrook and Founder of The Next Neuroscientist program. “The Next Neuroscientist provides talented students with valuable experience at a critical point in their academic journeys.”

The Next Neuroscientist helps give participants the academic and professional skills necessary to pursue careers in science and health care, through immersive lab placements, mentorship and skill-building activities. This year’s students, Ahmed, Caleb, Nabayt and Nathan, have had the opportunity to work on focused research projects, while collaborating closely with our interprofessional research and clinical teams in cutting-edge labs.

“I’ve always had an interest in science and biology, and The Next Neuroscientist program has been a great opportunity to push myself forward in this field and learn how research is conducted,” says Ahmed.

“Science is never-ending, there’s always something to learn,” adds Nabayt. “I think that’s one of the best parts of The Next Neuroscientist program; In research you get to be a part of new discoveries that can influence life-changing treatments.”

“Working in a research lab has been one of the coolest experiences,” adds Nathan. “I know that I want to pursue a career in medicine and this program has shown me the different work or pathways I can explore in the field.”

Programs like The Next Neuroscientist, can have a significant impact on the diversity and success of medical students by breaking common barriers to access. Our health-system is meant to care for everyone, and its workplace should reflect the diversity of Ontario and Canada’s population.

“Youth living in Toronto Community Housing and interested in STEM careers are some of the brightest students in the city,” explains Arsema Berhane, Director of Programs and Partnerships at TCHC. “But what many of them lack are strong mentors, industry connections, and practical guidance that would help them along their journey. We believe The Next Neuroscientist bridges this gap.”

The Next Neuroscientist was inspired by The Next Surgeon, a sister-program with Unity Health Toronto, TCHC, Office of Access and Outreach – Temerty Faculty of Medicine and UpSurge launched in 2022, which is also aimed at providing high schoolers with hands-on experience in a medical environment and diversifying the health-care system. It is the hope that these programs can expand to more organizations and provide more youth with valuable experience to help kickstart their futures in health care.

“Innovation at Sunnybrook and in health care in general is made possible by the work of many clinical and research roles coming together,” says Dr. Nir Lipsman, Chief of the Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program. “Programs like The Next Neuroscientist, enable students who are interested in medicine and science to gain valuable exposure to medical innovation in a way that inspires them to pursue their goals.”