Samir Parmar
Biography
What program were you in the degree you obtained?
I graduated from UTSC in 2017 with an Honours Bachelor of Arts with High Distinction and completed a double major in Co-op Health Policy and English.
How did you align your interests with the courses available?
Entering university, I was enrolled in the Management program. I decided to leverage electives such as 鈥淔oundations in Health Studies鈥 to further explore my options. I was intrigued by the course description and recognized that at the time Health Studies was growing and becoming more prominent in society. At the end of my first year, I knew that the Co-op Health Policy program would provide me with the best opportunity to further pursue my personal interests of advocacy and public health. While the Co-op program allowed me to gain practical hands-on experience, I utilized the offered courses in Health Studies to strengthen my understanding of complex health policy and management issues. I was also able to connect these courses to my English major. Enrolling in courses such as 鈥淚ntroduction to Health Humanities鈥 allowed me to showcase health related issues via creative writing. Ultimately, the courses offered by the Department of Health and Society allowed me to develop and strengthen a practical skillset applicable in the real world and led to my career in Health Law.
What sparked your interest in the profession you are currently in?
My foundation and interest for a career in Health Law began in the classrooms and hallways of UTSC. As an undergraduate student I began recognizing the inequalities and lack of access community members had to certain health related services. The Co-op program enabled me to network and work alongside health professionals to advocate and conduct research on a variety of health and social issues in and around the GTA. Through these experiences, I grew to appreciate the need to better understand the legal impact of health policies, government decisions and how the intersectionality of factors such as race, socio-economic status and ethnicity created barriers to those accessing healthcare. I began to realize that a career in law would allow me to be a voice for those affected by the system and policies that were in place. I continue to use my education and skills developed during my time in the Co-op Health Policy program to this day to try and make a difference in my community.
How was the transition after obtaining your degree?
Though I had also been accepted into a Masters of Public Health program, I decided to forgo this to pursue my degree in Law. I say this to highlight the opportunities and versatility my degree offered as it kept many professional and academic doors open for me. I was able to take my degree and foundational experiences from UTSC and obtain an Articling position with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre鈥檚 Legal Department. As an articling student, I was fortunate enough to work closely with a variety of internal and external stakeholders ranging from renowned researchers and physicians, policy makers and national/international institutions. Having previously worked with and volunteered with researchers at various healthcare institutions, my degree in Health Policy provided me with the requisite knowledge of both quantitative and qualitative research. This skillset, along with my in-depth knowledge of health policy and public health enabled me to succeed not only in law school but also as a lawyer entering the profession.
Any advice for current students?
I encourage students entering university or thinking of what to do after graduation to not be afraid of exploring what many believe to be an unconventional path or degree. While it may seem that you are at a disadvantage when looking for employment or pursing a post-graduation degree, such degrees will allow you to differentiate yourself from others. I would also like to tell students to not be discouraged by the lows of being a student. In a world driven by success stories on social media, we often find ourselves diminishing our accomplishments and to an extent, our worth. Do not let social media take away from your accomplishments and your journey. I strongly believe that hard work and dedication can take you a long way. Believe in yourself and what you bring to the table. These pieces of advice have really brought my journey full circle. I was once a student sitting in those exact seats and taking the same classes as they currently are. I hope that my advice will inspire and encourage students to see the value of a degree in Health Studies and the potential of how far it can take you.