MD students Lawrence Haiducu and Shazeen Suleman have been named Wesbrook Scholars, one of UBC’s most prestigious designations. It is awarded to senior students with outstanding academics, leadership, and involvement in student and community activities.
Lawrence Haiducu, a second-year medical student, has led education and community engagement projects for socio-economically disadvantaged areas in Romania and Latin America, including the development of teaching resources, novel teaching approaches, and entrepreneurship opportunities. Locally, he has been involved with agencies such as Outreach and Support, the Special Olympics, and development of a platform for medical student health. He has also initiated a province-wide sun safety and skin cancer education campaign directed toward high school students.
Haiducu has received several awards for academic excellence and community leadership, including first place in the Canadian Millennium Scholarship foundation and the B.C. Premier’s Excellence Award.
Shazeen Suleman, a fourth-year medical student, was the VP Outreach for the UBC Arts in Medicine Society and co-chair of Medicina, the first student-run conference on the integration of the arts in medicine. She is the co-founder and President of MusicBox Children’s Charity, an organization that brings music education to vulnerable children in Canada, promoting the development of holistically healthy children. MusicBox currently operates five programs in Vancouver, Toronto and Edmonton and has had over 900 participants to date.
Suleman is the provincial coordinator for the Youth Advisory Group for the Canadian Commission for UNESCO. She also leads an e-mentorship program for the Canadian Ismaili Muslim community.