Kayla’s pathway to becoming a doctor looks a little different than the typical aspiring med student’s. That’s because after leaving Collingwood this spring, Kayla will begin a unique direct-entry medicine program where she will earn a Bachelor of Medical Sciences at the University of Waterloo, culminating with two years of clinical training on the sandy shores of Grenada at St. George’s University, and another two years training in various hospitals. This highly selective program accepted just 150 students across Canada in 2026.

With over 30,000 students vying for just 3,100 spots at Canadian med schools, becoming a doctor in Canada is competitive and can often take years longer than expected. For a student like Kayla, who is unwavering in her pursuit of an MD, this fast-track program will have Kayla learning hands-on medicine inside a Canadian, US, or UK hospital in just four years from now. Even with competitive offers from UBC Sauder, Western Business and Queen’s Engineering on the table, this innovative medical pathway was the right fit.

Starting Early

Coming from a family of doctors, Kayla’s choice to pursue medicine was made less from parental pressure and more from real-world exposure. Watching her father, aunts, and uncles all work in medicine inspired her to find out if the career path was right for her too. She witnessed the perks of the job, but also the pitfalls, and knew that if she wanted to pursue becoming a doctor, the work would need to start early.

Kayla joined Collingwood School in Grade 8, coming from a French Immersion primary school on the North Shore. While her French was outstanding, Kayla struggled with her academics in English and had to catch up to her peers in writing and reading – something she said was a struggle at first. With supportive parents by her side, she began a rigorous academic journey. Collingwood's personalized approach to learning also gave Kayla the agency to pursue her deep academic passions, taking AP French 12 in Grade 9, Chemistry 11 in Grade 10, Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Pre-Calculus in Grade 11, and Physics, Anatomy & Physiology, and Calculus in Grade 12. 

Pursuing Passions

At Collingwood, learning moves beyond content to develop real-world competencies. In her Grade 11 year, Kayla also took Work Experience 12 where she participated in hands-on experiential learning by interning at a local pharmacy. She also attended the prestigious SHAD Canada STEM program at UPEI over the summer, collaborating on complex engineering and business pitches. 

Taking some of the hardest courses at Collingwood didn’t force Kayla to sacrifice other areas of her life. An avid athlete, she balanced her course work with ice hockey, field hockey, and alpine racing. When she was initially cut from the field hockey team, her resilience and persistence saw her make the team in Grade 11 and she helped lead them to the Provincials.

Kayla also poured her energy into service. She co-founded the Homework Hub, offered her time for peer tutoring, led the Yearbook team, and served as a Special Olympics Coach for two years. She was also an Admissions Ambassador, introducing prospective families to Collingwood and sharing her student experience. In her words, she says all of these roles helped confirm her passion for helping people – and she still had time to watch Star Wars religiously with her dad and spend time with her sister. 

How University Guidance Supported Kayla

For students interested in medicine, there are several routes they can take. Most commonly, students take a four-year undergraduate degree and then apply to medical schools for another four years of study. There are a number of unique programs around the world where students can go directly into medicine, but no Canadian universities offered this option – until now.

Collingwood’s University Guidance (UG) department specializes in steering students towards their passions, working with students each year beginning in Grade 8. 

“We focus on helping students navigate post-secondary options to find the absolute right fit for their unique goals,” says Ms. Pezim, Kayla’s UG counsellor. “Kayla was entirely unwavering in her dream to practice medicine. When we heard the announcement about the new Waterloo and SGU partnership, it was perfect timing for Kayla.”

Ms. Pezim was there every step of the way to answer questions and ensure Kayla’s expectations were appropriate. When her offer of admission to Waterloo and SGU came in January – complete with a significant scholarship – she was thrilled. Her determination, consistency, and hard work got her years closer to achieving her dream and she will be one of the first students to take advantage of this first-of-its-kind program.

Her story proves that, at Collingwood, students can discover countless opportunities to find and refine their passions until all the puzzle pieces fall into place.