For the second summer in a row, Organizational Development & Leadership at Sunnybrook has mentored students from the Black community through York University’s Work-Integrated Learning for Black Students in Health program.
The Work-Integrated Learning program is an initiative from York University’s Faculty of Health that started with advocacy from two York University Black student-led groups: the Black Students in Psychology Association and the Black Students Mentorship program. The mission of the program is to provide Black students with real-world experiences in their field of interest and to develop knowledge and skills to support their academic and professional journeys.
Two students who participated in the summer 2024 program shared their experiences:
Jonathan Wright
Kinesiology & Health Science
Placement: Odette Cancer Centre, Clinical Research Program
“During my time at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, I have had the privilege of meeting and learning from exceptional mentors and professionals who have guided me through my first experience in a hospital setting. This opportunity has not only allowed me to develop critical research skills, but has also enhanced my soft skills, including communication, initiative and time management.
The comprehensive training I received prepared me for the tasks during my placement, developing my understanding of clinical research ethics and procedures. Engaging with the various departments at Sunnybrook has further broadened my perspective on the health care system, helping me narrow the specific area within the field that I am passionate about pursuing.
I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a summer student in ALS and the Odette Cancer Centre Clinical Research Program. This experience has been invaluable in shaping my academic and professional aspirations, and I look forward to applying the knowledge and skills I have gained in my future endeavours.”
Celina Allen
Psychology with an interest in Child/Team Psychology
Placement: Organizational Development & Leadership
“As a psychology student completing a placement in the Organizational Development & Leadership department at Sunnybrook, I gained valuable insights into the dynamics of teamwork and communication.
During my placement, I participated in workshops and team-building activities where I observed the impact of different personality types such as those identified by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator of group dynamics. Understanding these dynamics has broadened my perspective on how teams function, and I can see clear parallels in working with children and families where similar principles of communication and cooperation apply. Additionally, being involved in these processes has enhanced my understanding of research methods, teamwork and leadership. These skills are transferable to my future career, where understanding group dynamics and effectively communicating with both children and their caregivers will be essential.
This placement has reinforced my commitment to child psychology by showing me how foundational teamwork and leadership are to any effective psychological practice. It has provided me with practical insights that I will carry forward into my studies and future work with children.”
YorkU Faculty of Health Advisors and Sunnybrook Applaud Partnership
The students’ faculty member advisors and Sunnybrook management were pleased with the benefits the partnership brought to the students and to Sunnybrook.
Kinesiology & Health Science Assistant Professor Michael Kalu, who served as Jonathan’s faculty advisor, said that participating in the Work-Integrated Learning programas a faculty advisor “was truly rewarding for me, as I watched Jonathan grow in critical reflection of ‘what works better’ and ‘what would require improvement’ during his practicum. it was an enriching experience to see how Jonathan connected the theories learned in class to his placement at Sunnybrook. Through our conversations, it became evident that Jonathan's practicum experience has given him a solid foundation for making career decisions. The placement naturally allowed him to interact with a variety of healthcare professionals, which has been instrumental in shaping his career path.”
“We are very fortunate to be able to partner with institutions like Sunnybrook in offering high-quality applied learning experiences for our Black students in psychology,” says Psychology Associate Professor Karen Fergus, who served as Celina’s faculty advisor. “Such placements afford our Black students an invaluable opportunity to apply their theoretical learning in psychology within real-world healthcare contexts - and are one step towards building capacity for Black and other under-represented groups within the healthcare system.”
“Our partnership in mentoring Black Students in Health through York University’s Work Integrated Learning program, is a partnership our organization looks forward to each year,” says Shaunteque Harris, Manager, Organizational Development & Leadership at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. “The symbiotic relationship that frequently develops between students and their mentors, is a collaborative process that offers reciprocal benefits and sometimes goes beyond the placement. Students placed at Sunnybrook gain on-the-job experience that can help to determine career fit, refine learning and career goals, develop specific competencies and skills, and build a network of post-graduate contacts. Our organization benefits from students who bring new and innovative ideas, fresh perspectives, and enthusiasm to the interprofessional teams they are placed with. Placement programs such as these can lay the foundation for continued collaboration between educational institutions and organizations, benefiting the healthcare industry as a whole.”
Original story courtesy of Sunnynet, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.