Mariam Mahboob
Hello! My name is Mariam; you might’ve already met me in the c2026 discord as “Comrade Tiramisu” (I really love tiramisu & making friends)! I’m incredibly passionate about advocacy & mental health, and in my free time, I enjoy reading sci-fi & fantasy novels, going on hikes, baking muffins, and writing poetry! Over the past few years, I have been involved in numerous student leadership positions, including a campus-based equity committee (where I successfully led and passed a motion to remove gender-based barriers in student governance), to the UofT immunology students’ association (where I advocated for reduced micro-assessments in immunology courses during the pandemic to alleviate student stress). Through these experiences, I enjoyed fostering meaningful connections with students and being an avenue for change and support to my peers. Likewise, I hope to do the same in the MMSC and hopefully contribute to making your med journeys as wonderful and welcoming as possible!
For my platform, I will focus on three things: (a) improving student mental health at Waterloo, (b) improving access to information/resources in Waterloo, and (c) fostering consistent communication amongst the student body. For (A), the Waterloo c2026 cohort is already a very tight-knit and welcoming community. As we experience inevitable challenges along our med journey, I want to ensure we still feel comfortable & safe! To do so, I would advocate for more community events (i.e. free lunches, events exploring KW, and wellness sessions on campus). For (B), I hope to compile a resource guide for Waterloo that includes information on admin resources, our general hospitals, & campus/KW/UWaterloo facilities. Finally for consistent communication (C), I will host town halls and share feedback forms with my classmates for their perspectives on the med program. The goal will be to relay these concerns back to admin for tangible, positive change!
I recognize that medicine and the individual bodies that comprise this system (from staff physicians to medical students like us) do not exist separately from the wider socioeconomic and political contexts of Canadian society; our lived experiences engaging with these systems impact our journey in medicine in different ways and can present barriers for those who are marginalized. Thus, to advocate for marginalized communities and to ensure EDI is integrated in my role as VP Internal Waterloo, I hope to: (a) attend/host workshops on EDI in Waterloo (b) create an anonymous form for students to highlight any concerns re: EDI in Waterloo (including any issues they’d like to address re: my interactions), (C) work closely with VP Indigenous Health & VP EDI on equity-initiatives and (D) remember to consistently check my own biases/privilege to ensure there is open, welcoming dialogue with students, faculty, & staff.
For my platform, I will focus on three things: (a) improving student mental health at Waterloo, (b) improving access to information/resources in Waterloo, and (c) fostering consistent communication amongst the student body. For (A), the Waterloo c2026 cohort is already a very tight-knit and welcoming community. As we experience inevitable challenges along our med journey, I want to ensure we still feel comfortable & safe! To do so, I would advocate for more community events (i.e. free lunches, events exploring KW, and wellness sessions on campus). For (B), I hope to compile a resource guide for Waterloo that includes information on admin resources, our general hospitals, & campus/KW/UWaterloo facilities. Finally for consistent communication (C), I will host town halls and share feedback forms with my classmates for their perspectives on the med program. The goal will be to relay these concerns back to admin for tangible, positive change!
I recognize that medicine and the individual bodies that comprise this system (from staff physicians to medical students like us) do not exist separately from the wider socioeconomic and political contexts of Canadian society; our lived experiences engaging with these systems impact our journey in medicine in different ways and can present barriers for those who are marginalized. Thus, to advocate for marginalized communities and to ensure EDI is integrated in my role as VP Internal Waterloo, I hope to: (a) attend/host workshops on EDI in Waterloo (b) create an anonymous form for students to highlight any concerns re: EDI in Waterloo (including any issues they’d like to address re: my interactions), (C) work closely with VP Indigenous Health & VP EDI on equity-initiatives and (D) remember to consistently check my own biases/privilege to ensure there is open, welcoming dialogue with students, faculty, & staff.
Alexander Xiang
Hey all, I’m Alex! My fellow WRC members already know me, but as a quick refresher: I grew up in Toronto, and completed my undergrad at McMaster in 2023. I am a hockey fanatic, enjoy running, and am the BEST card player in the entire WRC cohort. My platform as VP of internal affairs at WRC is based on two objectives: making sure everyone at WRC feels comfortable and included, and providing each student with the resources to pursue their future career in medicine. I’ve held previous leadership positions in BHSc student council, as a TA, and as president of a nonprofit literacy organization which will help me work collaboratively, convey your concerns, and organize campus-wide events. Additionally, my familiarity with McMaster will help me liaise with other campuses and advocate your ideas to all of McMaster medicine. I hope you consider trusting me with your vote!
I have several initiatives I plan on implementing over the next three years. In pre-clerkship, a WRC shared drive for notes and resources will help everyone keep up with LGSs. Synced calendar, Facebook, and Discord announcements for Waterloo-specific research and mentorship experiences would also help people find research and keep up-to-date with new opportunities. Finally, a specialty-specific mentorship program to connect students with upper-years and residents, along with interviews from current attendings would help you navigate your future career path. Outside of academics, an anonymous suggestion form for anyone wanting to raise a concern or idea would encourage transparency with the administration. Finally, continuing the fun events that have made this campus a home for me is a priority. A Waterloo-wide assassins game, board game nights, and secret Santa are all events I have in mind for the coming months. Hope this piques your interest!
I believe that the suggestions listed in my platform act as a starting point to address the issue of EDI! For instance, the anonymous suggestion form I mentioned earlier was partly due to the recognition of different forms of systematic oppression that exist within institutional structures to this day. Hopefully, by instituting these policies it would encourage productive dialogue and introduce brave spaces for people to voice their opinions, which can be through an individual such as myself or not. Additionally, the anonymous form would allow people to bring up incidents around campus that potentially made them feel unsafe, such as microaggressions. Hopefully by being aware of these incidents, we as a cohort can engage with WRC administration to ensure that the prevalence of these incidents are minimized.
I have several initiatives I plan on implementing over the next three years. In pre-clerkship, a WRC shared drive for notes and resources will help everyone keep up with LGSs. Synced calendar, Facebook, and Discord announcements for Waterloo-specific research and mentorship experiences would also help people find research and keep up-to-date with new opportunities. Finally, a specialty-specific mentorship program to connect students with upper-years and residents, along with interviews from current attendings would help you navigate your future career path. Outside of academics, an anonymous suggestion form for anyone wanting to raise a concern or idea would encourage transparency with the administration. Finally, continuing the fun events that have made this campus a home for me is a priority. A Waterloo-wide assassins game, board game nights, and secret Santa are all events I have in mind for the coming months. Hope this piques your interest!
I believe that the suggestions listed in my platform act as a starting point to address the issue of EDI! For instance, the anonymous suggestion form I mentioned earlier was partly due to the recognition of different forms of systematic oppression that exist within institutional structures to this day. Hopefully, by instituting these policies it would encourage productive dialogue and introduce brave spaces for people to voice their opinions, which can be through an individual such as myself or not. Additionally, the anonymous form would allow people to bring up incidents around campus that potentially made them feel unsafe, such as microaggressions. Hopefully by being aware of these incidents, we as a cohort can engage with WRC administration to ensure that the prevalence of these incidents are minimized.