UM graduates creating impact
Interview opportunities with Manitoba's next generation of leaders
May 29, 2026
As UM gets ready to celebrate its 147th Spring Convocation, some interesting and inspiring graduates you may want to consider featuring in your print stories, podcasts, radio or television shows.
Indigenous nursing graduate to take on frontline role at HSC Winnipeg
Kaydence Morgado Thomas is stepping into a frontline role at Health Sciences Centre (HSC) Winnipeg under an Indigenous designation, supporting Indigenous patients through lived experience and culturally informed care. She will also work casually as a registered nurse in Peguis First Nation.
A proud Cree and Portuguese woman with ties to Norway House Cree Nation, Morgado Thomas credits UM’s Mahkwa Omushki Kiim: Pathway to Indigenous Nursing Education (PINE) program for supporting her journey into nursing.
UM Today story
For interviews: Danica.HidalgoCherewyk@umanitoba.ca, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
Determination key to becoming a physician
Guneet Uppal immigrated to Winnipeg from Punjab, India, and dreamed of becoming a physician. 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 that helped her along the way.
Eleven years after arriving in Canada, Uppal will begin her residency in internal medicine at UM. She is looking forward to bridging health-care gaps at the interpersonal and system level through clinical work, medical education and research.
For interviews: Danica.HidalgoCherewyk@umanitoba.ca, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
Rooted in two worlds: Sisters in healthcare and life, give back
Gloria (Juyoung) Lee, a Doctor of Pharmacy student in the College of Pharmacy, and her sister Grace (Ju Hae) Lee, a Doctor of Dental Medicine student in the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry, will both graduate at the June 1 convocation. Their family moved from Geojin, Gangwon-do, South Korea to Winnipeg and lived in several communities, including rural Manitoba and Grassy Narrows First Nation in Ontario.
Grace is looking forward to beginning her career at a private practice clinic in Winnipeg where she hopes to gain some clinical experience. Gloria will work in rural health care in Steinbach and hopes to eventually return to Grassy Narrows First Nation or work with other Indigenous communities.
UM Today story
For interviews: Danica.HidalgoCherewyk@umanitoba.ca, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
A mother’s inspiration: Closing the gap in Down syndrome nutrition research
Inspired by her son, College of Community and Global Health PhD graduate Maria Baranowski is helping fill a major gap in nutrition research for people with Down syndrome, who are at elevated risk of obesity, diabetes, sarcopenia, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Her study — among the first of its kind in Canada and globally — found that children with Down syndrome in Manitoba are not attaining optimal nutrition, underscoring the need for more personalized, proactive care.
Baranowski is part of the Individual Interdisciplinary Studies program, with an advisory committee that includes representatives from the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences' Human Nutritional Sciences and Faculty of Education.
For interviews: Danica.HidalgoCherewyk@umanitoba.ca, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
Note: Maria Baranowski may not be attending the convocation ceremony in person. However, she remains available for media interviews.
The power of friendship and education
Deciding to go back to school is never an easy choice but it becomes whole lot easier when your close friend is along for the journey. Laura Taylor and Deanna Jones will both be graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) in June. They supported one another from application process to studying, juggling school, work and family and even changing career directions.
Deanna wanted to go into education; Laura wanted social work. Somewhere along the journey, they helped each other realise they wanted to swap career directions. Deanna will now start a Master of Social Work in the fall and Laura will pursue education. A testament to the idea that true friendship and life-long learning never end.
For interviews: mediarelations@umanitoba.ca
UM Today story
Design, advocacy, and action: UM student wins Canada’s largest leadership-based scholarship
Jory Thomas-Blanchard is one of three recipients from the Prairies and the only recipient from Manitoba joining the sixth cohort of McCall MacBain Scholars at McGill University, Canada’s largest leadership-based scholarships for master’s and professional studies.
Jory studies Environmental Design, works as a youth care support worker in a group home and freelances as a creative/strategic consultant. She is the Co-President of the Indigenous Design and Planning Students' Association and the vice president of the Student Architectural Society.
UM Today story
For interviews: mediarelations@umanitoba.ca
From personal discovery to global professional
It's been a transformative five-year journey at the Asper School of Business for Kaiden Kalcsics. From finding out he was Metis as a teenager in Lorette, Mb., and unsure of what that meant to finding community and leadership opportunities as the President of the University of Manitoba Indigenous Commerce Students (UMICS), he expanded his views and experiences across continents.
48 hours after walking a stage and shaking hands for his diploma, he will shake hands with his new employer in Toronto at Scotiabank headquarters, where he’ll work as associate in the global strategic functions department.
UM Today story
For interviews: mediarelations@umanitoba.ca
Note to Media: Please note that these graduates will be participating in their formal convocation ceremonies and will be unavailable for on-site interviews during the events. To arrange a pre-scheduled interview, please connect with the media relations contacts listed above.
Media interested in attending any convocation ceremonies should contact mediarelations@umanitoba.ca in advance before attending campus.
