alumni spotlight series fall 2014

coast to COAST

How one grad is embracing life in Australia as he studies medicine at

the University of Sydney.

Q&A Hi Aryan! Thanks for taking the time to catch up with us. Can you explain to our readers what you are currently studying at the University of Sydney?

Hi Chloe, thanks for reaching out; it’s a pleasure! I finished my Bachelor of Science at UBC in May of 2013, and I’m currently studying for my MD at the University of Sydney, Australia. I am almost finished with my first year of postgraduate studies.

What persuaded you to move to Australia to study medicine?

I had a variety of reasons for moving to Australia. Throughout the application process, I kept an open mind as to where I would study medicine.

I applied to various universities in Canada, the USA and Australia, and I was privileged to gain acceptance to the University of Sydney. The approach that the University of Sydney has for their MD program intrigued me as students start going to the hospital from the 2nd week of classes. During my haematology block, for example, we were at the hospital almost everyday, working closely with patients and performing examinations on them. It has been great to have that exposure from the beginning of my training. I also lived in Vancouver for 17 years, so my acceptance to the University of Sydney provided me with a great opportunity to explore a new country and culture. In turn, these experiences may, hopefully, help me better connect with my patients in the future.

ARYANFirouzbakht

Service-oriented, empathetic and risk-taking by nature, it is no surprise to many within the Mulgrave School community that Aryan Firouzbakht, class of 2008, is pursuing his dream of becoming a doctor at the University of Sydney, Australia. What is surprising, and even more impressive, is his ability to balance his studies, his passion for music and photography, and his philanthropic inititatives. In this Alumni Spotlight, we introduce you to Aryan.

Mulgrave School Class of 2008 | Interviewed by Chloe Scott | November 2014

Q&A

You completed your Bachelor of Science at UBC. What is the biggest difference between studying at a Canadian university and an Australian university?

To me, the biggest difference between studying at a Canadian university and an Australian university, so far, has been self-directed learning, although I would attribute this difference more to the nature of my degree than to a comparison of universities by a geographical nature. For our programme, we have to not only rely on lecture material, but we must read from various sources such as journals, books and research to augment our learning. Through this process, I believe that I have become more of an inquisitive learner, whereby I’m questioning more and trying to search for the answers. Of course, the weather is a huge difference as well!

Much of your academic studies have included practical experience in the laboratory. What sort of research have you executed?

While in Vancouver, I was exposed to both wet and dry lab settings. At Dr. Tanentzapf’s lab at UBC, I explored the actions of various gene deletions on muscle maintenance and function for D. melanogaster. Following this, I gained experience in a clinical research setting, where I compared various chemotherapeutical options for the treatment of colorectal cancers at the BC Cancer Agency with Dr. Winson Cheung. The manuscript for this research is almost complete, and I hope to submit the paper soon to various oncology journals. Currently for my MD, we are just beginning the preparations for our research project, and I am in the refining stage of my research topic in the domain of surgery.

As both a Mulgrave student and a university student, you have been highly involved in numerous volunteer initiatives, perhaps most notably serving as the President of the Light, Hope and Life Foundation, for which you are also a founding team member. Can you describe the mission of the Light, Hope and Life Foundation and what your role is in communicating this mission?

The Light, Hope and Life Foundation is a registered Canadian charity that fellow Mulgrave alumnus, Kian Abghari, and I founded while we were still students at Mulgrave, along with other motivated members of the Vancouver community. Our mission is to make a difference for children in their future. Education is a great tool for the future of children, and we have partnered with various international charities such as Education Beyond Borders, Free the Children and SOS

Children’s Villages to work towards our goal.

I maintained a presidency role for the past year while I was still in Vancouver, and other members of the executive team are currently leading the foundation while I am in Australia. I continue

to help manage the charity’s operations remotely while I study in Australia. I hope that we will be able to further grow our charity through the creation of new partnerships and development of suitable approaches to improve access to education for children around the world.

Many of your volunteer positions have a focus on health and medicine. How have these positions helped to shape your career goals?

I believe all of my volunteer positions in health and medicine have helped me gain insight into various angles of medicine in terms of the care of a patient. Being a volunteer with the book sales

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“My acceptance to University of Sydney provided me with a great opportunity to explore a new country and culture.”

at Lions Gate Hospital (LGH) taught me how to interact with the patients and their families as they come into the hospital. As a volunteer in the emergency department at LGH, I observed the quality of care that nurses, doctors and other personnel provided in a highly intense setting, while helping whenever possible with translation or guidance for patients. There are many other volunteer experiences that helped to shape my interest in medicine, such as with the UBC Canadian Liver Foundation, and all of these experiences were not only influential in my decision to study medicine, but also helped to shape who I am today.

Alongside your aptitude for science and medicine, you are also very artistically and musically talented. How do you find time to nurture both your scientific and artistic sides?

Science and art are both very intertwined. I’ve never been able to focus only on my studies; I’ve always needed an outlet whether it is music, photography or exercise. There is always time to have a break, play a song or to explore your creative side; you just have to make sure it doesn’t consume you too much. I was happy to be involved with the Med Revue and also the Halloween event for the North American Medical Students Association this year in terms

ABOVE Aryan and his mother, Mandana Sadr , at his graduation from the University of British Columbia in May 2013 where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree.

of music production and performance, and I hope to be even more involved through the years.

You have your own photography company, AF Photography. What is it about photography that you love?

The tangible aspect of photography is a great experience. The photographer is able to explore his or her creative side while the subject can do the same (in the case of portraits for example). Photography can be an activity that you do by

yourself or with a group. The photographs you take will always bring back memories of that time and I think that is what makes the art of photography so appealing. You also have to have a vision inside your mind of what you want to accomplish when you take a picture. It is not about just pressing the buttons, it is the attention to the details that is key.

“I’ve never been able to focus only on my studies; I’ve always needed an outlet whether it is music, photography or exercise.”

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TOP Aryan (centre) with his classmates and teachers as a part of a problem based learning group. BOTTOM LEFT Aryan takes a study break at Bondi Beach. BOTTOM RIGHT Aryan (left) with friends.

When not studying to become a doctor, volunteering or taking photographs, you perform as a professional DJ. How did DJ-ing become a part of your professional repertoire?

I’ve played the piano since I was 10 years old, completing the Royal Conservatory of Music Examinations up to and including my Grade 9 Practical. This passion of music carried to DJing when I started playing some music for a few gatherings with friends during our Mulgrave years. I noticed people really enjoyed the music and that pushed me to learn even more. I taught myself all the skills from videos and minimal practice, and it grew from there. I have performed at various venues in both Canada and USA. I have always DJ-ed and produced just for the music, for my desire to connect with others and make them feel better through music. I think for those reasons, it has always been an effortless process.

Let’s rewind a little bit, and reflect on your time at Mulgrave. As a member of Mulgrave’s first IB graduating class, what was the biggest challenge you and your peers faced?

I think that, as the first graduating class of the IB programme at Mulgrave, the biggest challenge we as a graduating class faced was the uncertainty of our final result. We knew the resources and programme were in place because Mulgrave had received accreditation from the IBO, but we weren’t sure what the final outcome would be.

On that same note, what was the highlight of your IB experience at Mulgrave?

The highlight of my IB experience at Mulgrave has to be my involvment with the musical FAME.

I played one of the leads, Tyrone Jackson. It was my first time being involved in such a huge production, and I’m not sure if Mulgrave has professionally executed a musical to the same extent as our cast and crew did for FAME. It was an amazing experience. We all grew as a cast and crew, and made many great memories; definitely a highlight for sure.

It is evident in the diversity of your experiences and interests that you are a very well-rounded individual. How did the IB Diploma Programme help you to discover new interests and skills?

Mulgrave had so many resources and possibilities at our disposal, and I was eager to explore what I might be interested in. I engaged in what

I enjoyed and discovered new passions through the wealth of experiences and opportunities made available to me through Mulgrave. The concept of finding passion in one’s initiatives has carried me through my university studies and is ongoing. If you have the opportunities,

I believe you should make the most of them and even push yourself outside your comfort zone because you never know what you may have been interested in or can accomplish.

What advice would you give to students interested in applying to medical school?

The best advice I can give to those who are interested in applying to medical school is to be active in your passions. Let your passion for your activities take you to higher levels. Aim to be an individual who is constantly learning by asking questions and finding answers. Through this, get as much exposure as you can to the medical field so you can make your decision. Know what the requirements are for universities and tailor your

“I discovered new passions through the wealth of experiences and opportunities made available to me through Mulgrave.”

ONE Aryan’s headshot from FAME amidst his fellow cast members’ headshots.* TWO Aryan and fellow alum Christie pose on the old steps of Mulgrave School. THREE The first Mulgrave IBDP class graduated in 2008, and are pictured here along with many of their teachers and advisors. *These headshots, along with other photos and memorabilia from a variety of past Mulgrave productions, are part of the Mulgrave Fine & Performing Arts Department Archives.

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approach from the beginning. At the end of the day, I believe that you are not making a decision for a certain career, but rather a different way of life as you will be dedicating many years to perfecting your craft, honing your skills, building your medical knowledge and developing a sound clinical acumen.

What is next on the horizon for you?

I’ll be heading back home for the upcoming ‘summer’ break in December and return to Sydney in late January for my studies as a second year student. During the break, I’ll be studying for the first exam of the US Medical Licensing Exam, which I will take at the end of next year, and hopefully gaining more clinical experience in Vancouver. I’m always happy to speak with anyone who has questions about the process of applying for medical school in Canada, the USA or Australia, so please don’t hesitate to email me at afir2383@uni.sydney.edu.au. Thank you for reaching out Chloe, and I hope to see you and other alumni at future events!

Aryan Firouzbakht, November 2014As interviewed by Chloe Scott

OPPOSITE Aryan (sixth from left) with his classmates at the opening of the Charles Perkins centre at the University of Sydney in May 2014.

BACK COVER The University of Sydney.

Know an amazing Mulgrave grad you would like to see featured? Contact alumni@mulgrave.com.