GENEROSITY ISSUE NO. 2
CLASS GIVING
2018
A boost to student mental wellness, fuelled by MD Class of ’92 AUTHOR
PHOTO BY
EDITED BY
L AURA VEGA
MELISSA FABRIZIO
SASHA ROEDER MAH
ALUMNI CAME TOGETHER TO PROMOTE STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH BY ESTABLISHING AN AWARD FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS
THE IDEA WAS born in 2017, when the MD Class of 1992
were preparing to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their graduation. A very close group, the graduates felt strongly the absence of those who wouldn’t be at the reunion, especially a classmate who took his own life shortly after they graduated. To honour his memory, Dilini Vethanayagam, ’92 MD, associate professor in the Department of Medicine,
Dilini Vethanayagam, ’92 MD, associate
spearheaded a project to collect donations from her
professor of medicine
graduating class and create an award for new U of A medical students who become involved with
mental health services available, but people currently look for
mental-health initiatives.
them only when they are struggling a lot. People now think of taking time out of their day to exercise; it is important that
“There are wonderful mental health services available, but people currently look for them only when they are struggling a lot.”
people remember that being well is working out physically a few times a week, and also taking care of each other mentally a few times a week or every day.” Equally important, adds Jonathan Choy, ’92 MD, clinical professor of cardiology and associate dean of clinical faculty, is breaking the stigma that surrounds mental health issues for
The class raised enough funds to set up an endowment for
health professionals and learners.
an award—to be presented for the first time during the 2018-2019 academic year—for eligible first- and second-year
“If you told people you have cancer or heart disease and
medical students.
you’re going to get treatment, people wouldn’t think about it twice,” said (Jonathan) Choy. “But if you’re a physician
The new award is a step in the right direction for this
and said, ‘I’m suffering from depression, anxiety or paranoia’
pressing area of patient care, says Alberto Choy, ’92 MD,
people would question if you can do your job. This view on
U of A Department of Psychiatry. “There are wonderful
mental health has to change.”
UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
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