by Allan Gonzales
Going as far back to being a junior year co-op student at Shoppers Drug Mart, Camille Huo knew that healthcare was the right career path for her.
“Since I was in high school, I knew that I wanted to pursue something in healthcare because I’ve always really liked helping people, taking care of people, making sure that their wellness is really prioritized.”
After graduating Pierre Elliot Trudeau High School in 2017, Huo started her post-secondary journey at the University of Waterloo, completing a Bachelor Honours of Science and then studying, Doctor of Pharmacy shortly after. Huo spent much of her time in the Pharmacy program around the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was challenging at times, and we’d have to be super cautious with our masking protocols.”
“There are actually so many perspectives in the world and so many different ways that people connect and find joy in life. It’s about recognizing the world is bigger than just the world that I’m living by myself.”
During her co-op at the Michael Garron Hospital when she was heavily involved in the vaccine rollout. Hou expresses that it was fulfilling to play a major role in the beginning of COVID as she was involved in providing vaccines to folks who were in need. “It was really exciting to be out in the field working already” she says. “It was a challenge being put out into the field so early on, but we had really great mentorship along the way.”
All her hard work paid off when she was awarded Co-op Student of the year. “Winning that award really helped show not just my achievements, but I think the pharmacy profession in general” she explains.
The experience set her up for the real world and showed the importance of pharmacists in healthcare.
Being able to apply the things that we learned in first year so early on in the pharmacy school journey, was really fulfilling.”
When reflecting on her high school experience, Huo expresses that it has made her to the person she is today. The leadership skills she learned from various extracurricular activities has helped develop her work ethic and she continues to apply it in her career as a pharmacist at the Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Center.
“All these life skills about communication, time management, working with others and problem solving, they’re all things that I continue to carry throughout now working at Sunnybrook.”
In terms of the scholarship, it has aided her financially when transitioning to university and covering the financial cost of her first year in undergrad.
“Having that burden lessened, at least it helped me to focus on my academics, my social life, my extracurriculars, and learning how to take care of myself living away from home.”
The Pierre Elliott Trudeau graduate advises her grade twelve self that if you continue to work hard and believing in yourself, you’ll eventually meet your goals in life.
She looks back fondly at the last five years as she was able to try a variety of new experiences throughout pharmacy school. “I look back on all those experiences and all of my time in pharmacy school with feelings of, you know, it was very stressful going through those four years” she says. “I think coming out on the other end, I can see how it is worth it in the end. ” From continuing to be a leader, to prioritizing needs before others, her hard work and passion are factors that make her A True Frontline Worker.