Born and raised in Lebanon, Ali Hammoud returned to the country last summer to work at the Children鈥檚 Cancer Centre of Lebanon, a non-profit medical institution that offers no-cost treatment to children from adolescence to age 18.
The third-year microbiology and immunology student, who is minoring in health studies and psychology, is passionate about using what he learns in the classroom to help others.
Ali鈥檚 job was to research and implement a data registry system to make access to healthcare and medication easier.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a major economic crisis in Lebanon,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t affects every sector of the country, including the health sector. With cancer patients, many don鈥檛 have access to medications. Without a proper registry system, we don鈥檛 know how many people have been diagnosed with different types of cancer; we don鈥檛 know what medications we need.鈥�
While the work provided Ali with invaluable real-world experience, he says there were personal motivations for him to spend the summer doing that type of work.
鈥淚 endured many things throughout my childhood,鈥� he says. 鈥淭here was a war in 2006 and another in 2008. So, living among the people there during these tough, challenging times, I鈥檝e always felt that I should give back to my home country, especially now. At the same time, I鈥檓 in Canada now 鈥� my professional goal is to give back to Lebanon as well as Canada.鈥�
Enhancing the patient exprience
Here in Halifax, Ali works on the youth research consultant team at the PROSIT research laboratory at the IWK, a study that aims to improve the mental well-being of youth.
鈥淲e work on making posters based on research done by the doctor,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hese posters are meant for the patients 鈥� they鈥檙e posted all over the place. We also enhance therapy areas for the patients. Finding ways to improve, maybe adding plants to a room for example, and just enhancing the overall environment, making it easier for the patient to feel comfortable.鈥�
Once he completes his degree, Ali plans on remaining in Canada and hopes to go on to medical school and eventually become a neurosurgeon. It will undoubtedly be the satisfaction of helping others that will guide his journey.
鈥淣o matter what I do, even if it鈥檚 the smallest thing, helping people just gives me the best feeling in the world,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t gives me the sense that I鈥檓 doing something that鈥檚 going to benefit the patient or someone in need."