Medicine Class of 2026 ready to make positive impact on health of patients

Growing up in Winnipeg, Dr. Odile Huynh had no exposure to what life was like in rural and northern Manitoba.  

That was until she entered the Max Rady College of Medicine. As a medical student, she spent one week in Churchill, Man., and six weeks in Winkler, Man.

“My exposure in Churchill was centered around a remote primary care centre where I admired how the physicians were so integral in a small community setting,” said Huynh, a member of the medicine Class of 2026.

“In Winkler, I experienced multiple areas of medicine that a family physician can extend into, such as the emergency room, operating room and as a hospitalist. The versatility and adaptability in these areas are what attract me to family medicine.”

Huynh enjoyed the experience so much that she will be doing her family medicine residency in UM’s Northern Remote Stream. Over two years, she will spend four- to six-week rotations in small First Nations and Inuit communities only accessible by air, and also train at hospitals in Winnipeg.

"I was born and raised in Manitoba and want to pursue this residency program to further explore this beautiful province I call home," said Huynh, who was in a program where she earned a master of science as well as her medical degree. Her research focused on the anti-cancer effects of cannabis against breast cancer cell models.

Congrats Class of 2026

Huynh was one of 109 graduands from the UM medical college to receive their MD degrees at the 147th UM Spring Convocation on the Fort Garry campus on June 1.  

“Congratulations to the medicine Class of 2026,” said Dr. Peter Nickerson, vice-provost (health sciences) and dean of the Max Rady College of Medicine and Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. “You’ve worked hard and put in long hours of studying. You’ve had to make sacrifices over the past four years and now you’re ready to enter your residencies. You will make a positive impact on the lives of your patients.”  

UM President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Michael Benarroch addressed the audience during the Convocation ceremony and told the graduands to lead with integrity, build rather than divide and bring thoughtfulness and care to the communities they shape.  

“Do this and you will continue the legacy of alumni who came before you,” Benarroch said. “You will keep alive the seeds of progress and help us become better. I know you’ll do this because you are graduates of the University of Manitoba. You see and do what others can’t.” 

View Instagram reel of Convocation

Staying in Manitoba  

Of the 109 new physicians, 82 of them will complete their residencies in Manitoba – including 40 per cent who have chosen and were selected for family medicine specialty residencies at UM.  

Dr. Guneet Uppal is one member of the Class of 2026 staying at UM for postgraduate medical education. Uppal will be doing her residency in internal medicine – a specialty she was interested in because she loved the day-to-day work on the wards and clinic.  

“I appreciated the patient and family interactions to support them through diverse and often diagnoses, getting to work in interdisciplinary teams to address complex medical problems, and I was drawn to opportunities in research, education and lifelong learning,” she said.

Uppal immigrated to Winnipeg from Punjab, India, and dreamed of a career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and eventually settled on medicine. The greatest challenge she faced was navigating the medical admissions process and education system as a new Canadian, but she had incredible peers and mentors who helped her along the way.

“I got to connect with peers and mentors through community involvement throughout high school and university, which was daunting in itself as a new immigrant, so it took pushing myself outside my comfort zone,” Uppal said.  

Eleven years after arriving in Canada, she has realized her dream.  

“As a physician, I want to bridge health-care gaps at the interpersonal and system level through engagement in clinical work, medical education and research,” Uppal said.  

Championing traditional medicine

Growing up in Winnipeg, Dr. Tristan Rohatynsky was exposed to traditional Chinese medicine through her grandparents.  

“As a biracial Asian woman, I’ve witnessed firsthand the positive impact of incorporating traditional Chinese medicine into clinical practice,” Rohatynsky said.  

“When used appropriately alongside Western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine can complement conventional treatments by addressing overall well-being. This approach can also be implemented for other traditional ways of knowing and healing, such as with traditional Indigenous medicine.”    

As Rohatnsky enters her pediatrics residency at UM, she would like to explore the use of traditional ways of knowing and healing in her practice. She wanted to go into pediatrics because she has always enjoyed working with children and being in an environment focused on growth and resilience.  

“As a physician, I hope to be an advocate for my patients, and most importantly, an ally in their care,” Rohatnsky said.  

“I would like to make an impact not only by contributing to clinical practice but also by providing mentorship to my peers, engaging in ongoing medical education, and through advocacy and leadership.”