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| Daniel Boudreau: "Nothing really prepares you for some of the things you see." (Abriel photo) |
Medical graduate Daniel Boudreau received more than just a solid academic foundation at Dalhousie for his career in medicine. During his time here, the native of Arichat, N.S. has also had life-changing experiences that have altered his world view.
He travelled to Tanzania for the East Africa Study Tour, which familiarized him with the medical and school systems there that gave him exposure to community groups like the Kimara Peer Educators, who deal with HIV-related issues.
He also worked at an HIV clinic in East London, South Africa in 2004 as part of a group aimed at creating a permanent relationship between the Ikhwezi Lokusa Wellness Centre and Dalhousie Medical School. He brought donated medications to Africa, to date raising $5,000 for the clinic and the Kimara Peer Eduators.
ÒIt was pretty sobering,” he says of his international experiences. ÒNothing really prepares you for some of the things you see, or the stories you hear. Your whole world paradigm shifts,” he says. Being able to assist impoverished areas and gain an understanding of their medical systems was invaluable to Daniel.
For his international work, he received the Dr. Ron Stewart Award, given to an undergraduate student demonstrating leadership in international health. He plans to specialize in family and emergency medicine and would like to continue with international work relating to health care.