>>News from the Student Subcommittee: Strategic Plan Launched!

This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity to help determine the direction of the McMaster Health Forum Student Subcommittee for next three years. I was part of the group that, over the course of four months, developed the subcommittee’s strategic plan- Stimulating Minds, Nurturing Leaders, Facilitating Action. Myself and the other members of the strategic planning committee, Harrison Niznick, Shelly Chopra, Sherna Tamboly, Yasmine Mohammed and Justin Neves, are immensely proud of this ambitious and realistic plan. You can access the document here.

So what can you expect from the student subcommittee in the next three years? Our four main goals are to: engage students in discussion of and education about pressing health challenges; nurture leaders of tomorrow by creating opportunities for professional growth; explore the subcommittee’s role and potential to facilitate action on pressing health challenges; and strive for organizational excellence. These goals will help us achieve our mission, to empower students and the McMaster community by creating opportunities for professional growth, and fostering learning, interdisciplinary discussion and collective action to address pressing health challenges.

This year the student subcommittee will be engaging other McMaster student clubs and organizations through an Advisory Council, which will meet twice a semester to help direct the student subcommittee and discuss possibilities for collaboration. For the core student subcommittee, 2 co-chairs oversee 14 talented and dedicated students who have been chosen to run a great number of events for this upcoming academic year. Check out the Student Subcommittee’s page on the Forum website to meet the entire team!

I am incredibly excited to work with these 14 bright and innovative students, along with my fellow co-chair Sherna Tamboly, and could not be more thrilled with the events we have in store. Stay tuned for two upcoming events around the theme of mental health: ‘Stress and Student Life: How much is too much?’, the first of three student discussions for our Cafe Scientifique series will be held on November 6 from 6 – 8:30 p.m., and a panel discussion on suicide prevention in Ontario, will be held on November 8, time to be determined.

Hope to see you there!

-Emily