Sunnybrook’s global vision shapes future health-care leaders
By: Micaela Kelly (she/her)
Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre (Sunnybrook) is shaping the leaders of the future with a global mindset. With the support of hands-on mentorship, co-op students are leading cutting-edge research at Sunnybrook.
Dr. Edward Chow, radiation oncologist at Sunnybrook, has spent over 20 years mentoring University of Waterloo co-op students. His approach is unique:
- Hire students in their first co-op terms.
- Train students consistently throughout all their co-op terms.
- Expose students to local, national, and international research.
Our students don’t just assist, they lead. They present at national and international conferences, publish in high-impact journals and win awards typically reserved for MDs and PhDs. And they do this as undergraduates.
Dr. Chow’s dedication to extending student learning beyond borders earned Sunnybrook the 2025 Employer Impact Award for Impact in International Excellence, presented by Co-operative and Experiential Education at the University of Waterloo.
Company snapshot
Industry: Health care and research
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Years of operation: 77
Years as a co-op employer: 20+
Total Waterloo co-op work terms: 100+ exclusively with Dr. Chow
Key co-op student roles: Research assistant, clinical assistant, genetic counsellor assistant
The approach
Sunnybrook builds its model on long-term investment. Dr Chow hires first-work term students with the intention that they will return for multiple terms.
Christina Yang, Waterloo Health Sciences co-op student gives a presentation on behalf of Sunnybrook
During each successive work term, students gain increasing responsibility and exposure to international research networks. For example, students collaborate with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC).
“We train them from the beginning,” Dr. Chow says. “By their second or third term, they’re presenting at conferences in Europe and globally, winning early investigator awards and publishing first-author papers.”
This mentorship extends beyond research. Dr. Chow and the team at Sunnybrook support students with medical school and graduate school application as well as preparing for the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) preparation. Co-op students who previously worked at Sunnybrook, and are now in medical school, provide peer mentorship to current co-op students to help them reach their goals.
The impact of co-op students
Sarah Bayrakdarian (she/her), a Public Health student, is one of many co-op students who have found their calling through Sunnybrook’s international research environment.
“I presented two abstracts at a global conference in Seattle,” Bayrakdarian says. “It was surreal. I was speaking about patient care innovations to an international audience. That experience changed everything for me.”
Bayrakdarian's journey began with a rejection from Sunnybrook in her first co-op term. A follow-up call from Dr. Chow changed her path. “He remembered me. He said I left a lasting impression. That call changed my life.”
Now in her third term, Bayrakdarian is preparing to publish her first manuscript and apply to medical school. “Sunnybrook taught me humility, trust and the power of listening, especially across cultures. That’s something I’ll carry with me forever.”
Christina Yang (she/her), a Health Sciences student, is another co-op student who has found great opportunities through her time at Sunnybrook. She has also presented in the MASCC conference in Seattle and won the EORTC Early Investigator Award.
This fall, Yang will head to Copenhagen for an international research conference. Reflecting on the value of Dr Chow’s mentorship, Yang notes that “the opportunity to learn and make a difference in medicine has been invaluable to me. It’s shaped my career path and beyond.”
“Dr. Chow’s mentorship has shaped the careers of countless Waterloo students,” says Julie Hartley, account manager, CEE. “By mentoring students across multiple terms and connecting them to international research, he’s helped shape confident, globally minded health-care professionals. We deeply value the role he’s played in preparing students to lead on a global stage.”
Two female staff members in discussion at Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre
Sarah Bayrakdarian, Public Health co-op student, Health Faculty
The takeaway?
Sunnybrook proves that global leadership can start at home. It takes nurturing international insights and giving students the support and trust they need to go beyond their expectations.