Meet the 2022-2023 ArtBeat team! Click on any of the photos below for a brief bio to learn more.

Hi everyone! My name is Matt and I’m a second-year medical student at the University of Toronto. I am excited to help co-lead ArtBeat this year, in particular to expand the role of critical humanities in medical education stemming from my undergraduate focus on literature and philosophy. I am also an avid book reader and music enthusiast, and can’t wait to meet fellow nerds!
Hi, I’m Sam! I’m a second year medical student and one of the co-leads for ArtBeat. My background is in the historical and sociological study of religion, but I’m excited to continue to learn from the breadth of subject and method that the medical humanities has to offer.
Hi! My name is Hadeel (she/ her) and I’m the 2T6 lead for the Book Club and Student & Faculty Interviews. I look forward to providing the medical community with an artistic outlet, primarily through story-telling and literary expression. I am passionate about showcasing the inspiring role models in our community and helping learners and colleagues connect.
Hi! I’m Ivan, a first-year medical student, and I’m excited to be one of the co-leads of the Medical Ethics & Philosophy portfolio! Ever since my first Bioethics lecture during my undergraduate studies, I’ve been interested in the difficult questions faced by medicine and the insights offered by the philosophical perspective. I look forward to using this perspective and others to infuse the arts and humanities into our medical education.
Hi everyone! My name is Maryfrances. I’m in second year and really looking forward to participating in ArtBeat again. Medicine and the humanities are really about the same thing in the end—people, and our connections with each other.
Hi! I’m Yina, a 2T5 who is grateful to be co-leading ArtBeat this year with Matt, Sam, and our portfolio leads. Some of the things I love are poetry, reading and writing stories, painting, playing ukulele and piano, and being in nature. I’m excited to work with folks to meaningfully integrate the arts within our medical school community, particularly with a focus on critical health humanities and social justice.
Hi, I’m Dorrin! I am a 2T5 medical student who is so happy to be co-leading Art Club and Synesthesia this year. I have a life-long passion for visual arts (drawing, painting, paper cutting) and have more recently delved into learning about art therapy and narrative medicine. I’m really excited to work with my peers to integrate visual arts into our daily lives as medical students, as a way to unwind, tell our stories, and connect with others.
Hi everyone! My name is Nilushi (you can also call me Nishi). I’m a first-year medical student at the University of Toronto and my undergrad was in the Nutritional Sciences. I am a co-lead of two ArtBeat sub-committees this year (i.e., the Art Club and Photography Club). Some of the things I enjoy include abstract painting, crafting, nature photography, and indoor gardening. I’m excited to meet all of you!
Hi everyone! My name is Catherine, and I’m a first year U of T medical student based at MAM! When I’m not hitting the library or a local café to study, you can find me binging a K-drama or working on an art project. I’m so excited to be joining ArtBeat this year and sharing my love for the art and humanities with our wider U of T community.
Hi, I’m Jinny! I’m a second-year medical student and one of the co-leads for ArtBeat. I have strong interests in the visual arts, including acrylic painting and charcoal drawing, and grew up dancing with my sisters in our free time. I’m excited to learn, share and promote the arts through ArtBeat this year!
My name is Brittany! I absolutely adore philosophy and ethics and I am excited to bring thought-provoking discussions to ArtBeat this year and help expand the scope of humanities in medicine.
Hey there! My name is Leighton and I’m a first-year medical student at the University of Toronto. I am a passionate mental health advocate and 2SLGBTQIA+ activist, and am heavily invested in social justice and EDID (equity, diversity, inclusivity, and decolonization) work. I like to describe myself as someone who is fundamentally unsatisfied with the status quo! I am excited to be working as the Narrative Medicine co-lead this year. Writing is a very healing and empowering practice for me; stories, in my opinion, have the power to change the world by helping us break barriers, bridge gaps, and recognize our common humanity. When I’m not working or writing, you’ll find me on long walks outside, listening to podcasts, knitting, or volunteering in the community!
Hello everyone! My name is Sophie, and I’m a first-year medical student at the University of Toronto. I am excited to be serving on the ArtBeat team as one of the leads of the Patient Voice Curriculum Portfolio. I’m looking forward to engaging U of T medical students in the medical humanities through co-designing impactful Patient Voice additions to the CBL curriculum using a social justice-oriented framework.
Hello everyone, My name is Areeba Zubair, and I am a first-year medical student at UofT. I am one of the co-leads for Improv this year. I am excited to be part of this group and can’t wait to make a fantastic experience for everyone involved.
Hi! My name is Harneet, and I am one of the co-leads for the Narrative Medicine Portfolio. I have a strong passion for the Arts and Humanities and am excited and grateful to continue furthering the perspectives of myself and my classmates on the role of patient stories in effective patient care and health advocacy.