From Cape Breton to Medical School and Back: Meet Amanda Nicholson
Amanda Nicholson鈥檚 journey to medicine started at just eight years old after a visit to the Cape Breton Regional Emergency Department. A childhood injury requiring stitches sparked a fascination with healthcare and a desire to one day become a doctor. Today, she鈥檚 well on her way as a medical student at Dalhousie University with plans to return home to Cape Breton to practice medicine.
Amanda chose to stay close to home for her undergraduate education, enrolling in the Bachelor of Science Honours program in Biology at Cape Breton University. 鈥淚 knew CBU could provide a great learning environment for me,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd it did.鈥�
Among her most valuable experiences was completing an honours research project, which gave her hands-on experience conducting independent research and led to a presentation at the Science Atlantic conference. Foundational courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology and psychology, paired with the guidance of supportive faculty like Dr. Ken Oakes, Dr. Shine Zhang and Dr. Andrew Reynolds, helped prepare Amanda for the rigours of medical school and the MCAT exam.
Throughout her time in medical school, Amanda has remained deeply committed to supporting CBU鈥檚 aspiring healthcare students. As a mentor with the CBU Pre-Med Society, she plays a key role in helping current pre-med students navigate the complex journey to medical school.
鈥淢entorship is so important,鈥� says Amanda. 鈥淭here weren鈥檛 a lot of resources for pre-med students in rural communities when I was applying. I wanted to be the person I wish I鈥檇 had, someone to answer questions, share experiences and reassure students that it鈥檚 okay to take a non-linear path.鈥�
Amanda meets regularly with CBU students to offer practical guidance on every stage of the application process, from planning coursework and writing personal statements, to MCAT preparation, mock Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) and medical school essay reviews. She helps lead Q&A sessions, provides one-on-one mentorship when possible and collaborates with other alumni to ensure students from rural and under-resourced backgrounds have the support they need to succeed.
Amanda鈥檚 commitment to mentorship has helped shape a new culture of support for pre-med pathways at CBU, allowing more students to see a path from rural communities to a future in medicine. Amanda is passionate about rural healthcare and is enthusiastic about the opportunities the new Cape Breton Medical Campus will bring to the region. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to see how this will help rural communities,鈥� she says. 鈥淪tudents from rural areas bring valuable insight, and training closer to home will help build stronger, more connected healthcare systems.鈥�
Amanda encourages CBU students to keep pushing toward their goals, even if the journey isn鈥檛 a straight line. 鈥淒on鈥檛 give up if you don鈥檛 get in to medical school the first time,鈥� she says. 鈥淔ocus on the things you enjoy and that help you grow, like volunteer work, research and 福利免费在线看 engagement, and let those things shape your next application.鈥�
To learn more about CBU鈥檚 Pre-Med Pathways, visit cbu.ca/pre-med.