PANIZ SALEHI
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Hi! I’m Paniz and I study Life Sciences at the University of Toronto. Beside science and my love for nature, I enjoy dramatic arts, poetry, writing and listening to entrepreneurial podcasts. Grey’s Anatomy is my escape, and Noah Kahan brings me back to Earth. I am genuinely honoured to lead such an enthusiastic team and proud of every individual who is here to take their journey to higher education in Sci/Med outside the classrooms and into action. You are already steps ahead. What I want for this community is to allow exploration, change and even failure. Take everything as an opportunity to learn, grow, express and become more self-aware. It’s through trials that we get precision — science-lab rules!
SHELY KAGAN
Chief Operating Officer
My name is Shely Kagan and I am a 16 year old attending grade 11 at Alexander Mackenzie High School. I am currently enrolled in the IB diploma program. Something cool about me is that I love debating and playing sports! I also love watching anime and organizing! I joined Sci-Med because I want to be able to give opportunities to youth who don't have them! I strive to raise awareness for resources students were unaware of! My goal for the community is to increase awareness and interest in the medical and science fields.
MIHIR KAMARA
Director of External Affairs
I'm going into my first year at McMaster University. Something cool about me is that I get bored binge watching TV shows but can scroll through Instagram for HOURS! Throughout high school, I fantasized about becoming a doctor because of my general interest in biology. However, I was not exposed to the profession enough to obtain a holistic perspective of what the field entails and understand which aspects interested me the most. I joined SciMed in Action to help mitigate this problem for my community by educating aspiring medical researchers and cotors about the types of niche work conducted in healthcare. Through our efforts, I hope students will be able to pinpoint which path in medicine appeals to them the most to pursue in the future.
ANALPA VISHWANATH
Event Coordinator
Hi my name is Analpa Vishwanath! I’m a grade 12 student at William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute. I’m super interested in philosophy, and of course, anything and everything science! I’m so excited to be part of the SciMed team and help fellow science enthusiasts find opportunities to build on their passions. One of the many reasons I joined SciMed is their drive to create an active community within the fields of science and medicine. These two worlds are incredibly vast, which is why creating a community and building connections is so important to our success. I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together this year!
ANJALI SINGH
Director of Finance
Hi, I’m Anjali and I attend Harold Brathwaite. My dream is to travel, especially touring Santorini, Greece! I also have a knack for landscape photography, hoping to create portfolios for places I’ve yet to explore. I believe the greatest way to make a difference is to be one with your community. As an older sister, I have been told to be compassionate and often find myself helping others however possible. SciMed in Action is a chance to foster future leaders in science/medicine fields and my vision is to work with this amazing team to inspire the scientists of tomorrow.
PALWASHAH ALI
Legal Affairs Coordinator
Hi Everyone! My name is Palwashah Ali and I’m a grade 12 student at Alexander Mackenzie High School! I joined SciMed this year as the Legal Affairs Coordinator because I want to use the overlap between Science, Medicine, and Non-Profits to create meaningful opportunities for youth in our communities! I’m also super excited to work towards SciMed’s values and visions alongside our amazing team. A fun fact about me is that I’ve been a pescatarian for almost 6 years! I love to chat about absolutely anything so feel free to reach out @palwashah :))
ABHINYAÂ GULASINGAM
Recruitment Coordinator
I go to the University of Ottawa. Something cool about me is that I have a twin sister. I joined SciMed because in my journey through high school and into university I came to realize that despite the presence of numerous opportunities in terms of getting involved in the stem fields, there’s not enough awareness or too much competition when it comes to truly getting involved. My goal for the SciMed community is to help make it the hub to which youth/young adults reach out to when it comes time for them to look into their fields of interest in stem.
JIL SONI
Social Media Coordinator
Hi my name is Jil Soni! I am a Grade 12 student at Central Peel Secondary School as a part of the AP Program. A fun fact about me is that I love to bullet journal and spread positivity. I have a passion for healthcare and wish to spread the knowledge of science and medicine to the youth in our community. My goal for the community is to create a positive environment where everyone is able to learn from each other and become the best versions of themselves.
DHWANI BHAVSAR
Website Designer
Hi, my name’s Dhwani. I’m currently a Grade 10 AP student at John Fraser Secondary School. I joined this organization as I'm passionate about science and medicine, and aspire to be a future medical professional. I hope to learn, create, and share knowledge on these topics with other like minded individuals, creating a community of science and medicine enthusiasts, or anyone else interested in the field. In my freetime, I enjoy reading, playing the flute, playing sports such as volleyball, tennis, as well as swimming, and volunteering at my local library and clinic.
ANNIE MAO
Graphic Designer
Hey! My name is Annie and I go to St.Robert Catholic High School. In my free time, I am a big fan of urban dance, art and home workouts. By the way, I am super afraid of insects:/
I joined SciMed because I am passionate about exploring science and medicine and would like to gain more relevant knowledge. More importantly, I strive to provide youths in the community with equal and sufficient opportunities to learn, connect and reflect in this field.
ZOEY XIE
Graphic Designer
I go to Oakville Trafalgar High School. I was a fencer and love polar bears. I joined SciMed to learn more about science and medicine and see if it was a good fit for me. I want to help more people just like me discover if this field is right for them as well.
CATHERINE SHIM
Graphic Designer
Hi! My name is Catherine and I am a grade 12 student at Applewood Heights Secondary School in the French Immersion program. I love winter sports such as snowboarding and figure skating. In my free time, I also enjoy baking various goods and reading YA novels. I joined SciMed because I noticed the lack of exposure in the sciences for youths specifically, and I wish to be able to share opportunities, where people can learn without limitations. I want to share my passions and help others to find and explore their passions as well. My goal is to help create a positive community, full of engaging and nurturing experiences.
ANANNYA ISLAM
Researcher
Hi, my name is Anannya Islam and I am a grade 11 student at Lisgar Collegiate Institute. I am a huge history buff and I love reading or painting in my spare time while I listen to The Smiths or Peach Pit. My reason for joining SciMed is because I want to collaborate with like-minded, passionate students to not only strengthen my knowledge in the field but also encourage others to chase their endeavours in the field in an informative manner.
JONATHAN AFOWARK
Researcher
Hi! I’m Jonathan and I’m an avid STEM researcher, with my projects being presented at the international level. I’ve loved science fairs since I was in elementary school, and I’ve competed in numerous events, with my projects ranging from skin cancer research, to designing a new form of wireless vital sign monitoring. Research like this has taken me to places like Ottawa and Abu Dhabi! I’ve worked as a research assistant at the University of Alberta in the Laboratory of Orthopedic Tissue Engineering, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation, shadowing under Dr. Adetola Adesida. Writing’s also my passion, and I’ve co-authored an opinion editorial addressing poor educational outcomes among Black youth in both the Edmonton Journal and Calgary Herald. In my free time, I shadow surgeons at Lenox Hill Neurosurgery, and of course, research at SciMed!
MEET OUR TEAM
We believe:
​Learning science or medicine is learning about life. It shouldn't be limited to the classrooms.
The future of science and medicine needs leaders, those who are willing to take action and initiative, beyond what is expected from them
As science/medicine enthusiasts, we need liable resources, infinite opportunities to improve our skills and knowledge, and to contribute to the field and a community in which we can thrive around people who have the same interests and learn from each other.