Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
Program: MD/PhD
Year in Program: 4
What inspired you to pursue your program?
As a future clinician-scientist, I’m driven by the urgent need to bridge cutting-edge AI innovation with real-world oncology care. During my early research experiences, I saw how deeply patients are affected by uncertainty in treatment response – especially in aggressive cancers like bladder cancer. I pursued the MD/PhD program to develop tools that can decode complex tissue biology and deliver clearer, more personalized treatment paths.
Why did you choose UBC?
UBC offers the ideal environment for translational oncology research – uniting leading clinicians, AI scientists, and global datasets. The Vancouver Prostate Centre and BC Cancer provide unparalleled access to multi-modal patient samples and mentors who value both clinical impact and innovation. UBC’s MD/PhD program also supports interdisciplinary exploration, giving me the freedom to blend digital pathology, spatial biology and patient-centered design in my work.
Tell me about your research.
I use artificial intelligence to study bladder cancer tissue under the microscope. My goal is to help doctors predict which treatments will work best for each patient. In one project, I analyze immune cell patterns using fluorescent imaging to understand how they relate to treatment response. In another, I train AI to find hidden features in routine pathology slides that predict chemotherapy outcomes. I’m also building models to classify different subtypes of bladder cancer, since each behaves differently.Together, these tools could guide more personalized and effective treatment decisions for people facing this disease.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
I’m most excited to publish and share the predictive models I’ve been developing with the broader research community – and especially with patients. Much of my work is rooted in the idea that people facing cancer deserve clearer answers and more personalized treatment guidance. Engaging with patient advocates to communicate our findings, gather feedback, and ensure our tools reflect real needs is something I truly value.