NOSM student honoured with national award, inspiring a new generation of health leaders

Congratulations to third-year medical student Brittany Pennock, recipient of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (CMHF) Award.

The award recognizes second-year medical students who exemplify perseverance, collaboration and an entrepreneurial spirit. Recipients have an established track record of community leadership, superior communication skills and demonstrated interest in advancing knowledge.

“I am very honoured and humbled to have been chosen as NOSM’s recipient of the 2020 Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Award,” says Pennock. I have found great pleasure and a sense of accomplishment in working closely with NOSM to represent learners in various respects. My passion is for improving medical learner wellness, but I hope that my accomplishments can inspire other learners to engage in their own passions, to act as advocates, and to exemplify leadership in their own medical profession.”

Pennock is currently starting her third year of medical school at NOSM. She is the Learner Wellness Committee Chair at NOSM—a role where she advocates for wellness, respect and professional collegiality at the School and in the wider profession. Pennock also sits on the NOSM Student Council Executive and on the Canadian Federation for Medical Students (CFMS) Wellness Roundtable.

During COVID-19, she volunteered for the Thunder Bay Region PPE Drive and organized volunteering opportunities for other NOSM learners at the local Regional Food Distribution Association (RFDA). She has also helped organize the inaugural Dean’s Lecture Series which brought Dr. Timothy Caulfield to Northern Ontario this past March. Dr. Caulfield addressed medical students on the topic of debunking health trends, misinformation, and health anxiety caused by fake news.

Pennock has begun her third-year Comprehensive Community Clerkship (CCC) in Kenora, Ontario.

Recipients of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Award receive a cash prize of $5,000 and a travel subsidy to attend the 2021 Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Vancouver, BC where they will have the opportunity to meet CMHF Laureates and interact with health leaders from across the country.