Celebrating excellence: Waterloo co-op student researchers from Sunnybrook at inaugural conference
Faculty of Health co-op student, Sarah Bayrakdarian, shines among talented peers at Breast Cancer Survivorship and Supportive Care International Conference.
It was an exciting atmosphere as Dr. Edward Chow, senior scientist at Sunnybrook Health Science Centre - Odette Cancer Centre (Sunnybrook), and a group of his co-op students from the University of Waterloo gathered to attend the highly anticipated conference. The conference focuses on clinical advancements related to all aspects of breast cancer survivorship and supportive care through a comprehensive, evidence-based framework. It included an array of research presentations and provided a platform for Waterloo co-op students to showcase their hard work and passion for discovery.
A team of innovative researchers
Representing the University of Waterloo, the students presented posters with their innovative research that demonstrated their intellectual rigour and exemplary presentation skills. The bright minds at the conference and celebratory dinner included Waterloo alumni and current co-op students:
- Ananya Dhillon, Honours Health Sciences co-op student at Cumulus Rivlin
- Ava Hilkowitz, Honours Health Sciences co-op student, clinical research assistant at Sunnybrook
- Christina Yang, Honours Health Sciences co-op student, clinical research assistant at Sunnybrook
- Samantha Kennedy (BSc ’24), former clinical research assistant co-op student at Sunnybrook
- Sarah Bayrakdarian, Honours Public Health co-op student, clinical research assistant at Sunnybrook
- Shivani Verma, Honours Health Sciences co-op student, clinical research assistant at Sunnybrook
- Tara Behroozian (BSc ’23), former clinical research assistant co-op student at Sunnybrook
We have supported one another through restless nights, challenging data and the constant effort to advocate for the patient voice throughout our research. Watching my peers and myself present side by side showed me that the future of medicine will rest in the hands of those who are curious, collaborative, disciplined and not afraid to take cancer head-on.
Sarah Bayrakdarian, Faculty of Health co-op student
Sarah Bayrakdarian: a star among peers
Sarah Bayrakdarian won the Best Poster Award at the conference, recognizing her clear, thorough research and effective communication.
Bayrakdarian’s winning poster presentation is titled “Long-term patient-reported outcomes in a randomized controlled trial of Mepitel Film versus standard of care for the prevention of acute breast radiation dermatitis.”
Her research built upon findings from a previous study by longitudinally following patients for two years post-radiation to assess long-term patient-reported outcomes.
Using standardized questionnaires, the study assessed patients’ experiences, symptoms and quality-of-life measures to better understand the sustained impact of these interventions beyond the acute treatment phase.
Bayrakdarian’s achievement adds to the growing list of Waterloo co-op students who have excelled at local, national and international conferences for their research work at Sunnybrook. Her success is both a personal accomplishment and a testament to the calibre of students who participate in Waterloo's co-op program.
My co-op experience at the Odette Cancer Centre profoundly shaped who I am as a researcher and future clinician. Under the mentorship of Dr. Chow, I came to understand advocacy as more than just treating disease; it’s about maintaining the quality of life during treatment and standing with patients throughout their survivorship.
Words of gratitude and pride
Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE) staff representatives attended to support the students and employers, including Judene Pretti, interim associate provost, Karen Vandenberg, senior industry relations manager and Sandor Koso, retired account manager.
Pretti expressed her admiration for the students and the event.
“I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the students present their work, and was so impressed by their presentation skills, their depth of knowledge and their ability to answer questions. Well done to the whole team on a successful conference!”
L-R: Sandor Koso, Karen Vandenberg, Sarah Bayrakdarian, Judene Pretti
The power of the co-op experience
Christina Yang, a Waterloo Honours Health Sciences student currently in her second co-op work term at Sunnybrook, reflected in a note to CEE staff: “We truly are grateful for everything the Waterloo co-op program has done for us and the experiences that it has provided!”
The conference underscored the value of experiential learning and mentorship, as students and staff came together to celebrate both individual achievements and their collective journey of growth and discovery.
Dr. Chow and his co-op students left the event with renewed enthusiasm, eager to build on their success and contribute further to their fields.
Congratulations again to Sarah Bayrakdarian and all of Dr. Chow’s current and former co-op students!