Spotlight on our residents
The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry is a top institutional choice for outstanding residents. Meet Drs. Taryn Taylor, MD'10, and Ram Anantha, two of the School’s best and brightest. We asked them to share details about their research interests and highlight their professional and personal experiences.
Dr. Taryn Taylor is a third year resident in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and member of the Clinical Investigator Program.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Wallaceburg, Ontario and raised in Chatham, Ontario.
What degree(s) do you have, and from what university(ies)?
I have a BSc in Clinical Biochemistry from Western University, and I obtained my MD from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry in 2010. I am currently enrolled in the Clinical Investigator Program which provides support for my doctoral studies at the School of Health Professions Education, Maastricht University, the Netherlands.
What special interests or hobbies do you have?
Professionally, I have a keen interest in medical education research, which has led me to the Centre for Education Research & Innovation (CERI) at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry. It has been an exceptional opportunity to connect with other individuals from diverse backgrounds who are motivated to question and propose solutions to the challenges within medical education.
In particular, I'm interested in understanding more about how residents and physicians make judgements about their own ability to manage fatigue in the context of long working hours.
In my spare time, I also enjoy acrylic painting, although balancing my research with clinical duties has temporarily cut into my painting time.
Why did you choose to pursue your residency at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry?
My clerkship year in Windsor was a very positive experience. In particular, my ob/gyn rotation caught me entirely off-guard and ultimately led me to consider this specialty. I knew that many of the staff I enjoyed working with and respected in Windsor had been trained in London. That was all the convincing I needed.
What inspires you in your work?
Certainly many people feel called to obstetrics and gynaecology because of the joyfulness and excitement that accompanies welcoming new life into the world.
I am no exception to this. But I have found that there is much inspiration to be drawn from patients and their families who choose to be resilient in the face of tragedy or unanticipated challenges.
What has been your greatest experience to date in your residency?
If someone had told me four years ago that I would be embarking on doctoral studies in medical education during my residency training, I would've thought they were crazy. And yet I am, thanks to the support of my family/friends, colleagues, and mentors.
Although it's hardly over, I do feel that this opportunity has already exceeded my expectations. I see the advantage of living in both "worlds." My perspective as a medical trainee allows me to engage with the medical education literature in a unique way, just as my scholarly perspective has brought new insight into what I take away from my training experiences.
What do you do when you aren’t working?
Although we cover a lot of ground running around the labour and delivery floor, I enjoy staying active outside of the hospital as well. I often attend group classes at Goodlife and I plan to start training for our first annual staff vs. residents dodgeball charity tournament organized by our RTP reps. I'm completely addicted to This American Life podcasts and I like to travel when I can. My most memorable trip involved climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro with a few friends during a blue moon.
Dr. Ram Anantha is a fourth year resident in General Surgery, and a member of the Clinical Investigator Program.
What program are you a resident of and what year of residency are you in?
I am a General Surgery resident in the Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. I am in my fourth year of residency, and I am currently enrolled in the Clinical Investigator Program (CIP), doing a graduate degree in Microbiology and Immunology.
The CIP is a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada accredited program for senior residents that provides a research-rich training environment and provides the opportunity to complete a graduate degree accompanied with specialized research training.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in a small town in southern India and immigrated to Ottawa, Ontario when I was 12 years old. I’ve been in Canada ever since.
What degree(s) do you have, and from what university(ies)?
I have a BSc (Honours) in Biopharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Ottawa. I also have my MD from the University of Ottawa. I am pursuing a graduate degree (MSc) in Microbiology and Immunology this year from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry as part of the CIP.
What special interests or hobbies do you have?
I play the guitar and the viola, and I love to cook (and eat). I’ve also recently started collecting musical instruments, but it’s hard to play them all, and keep them away from my son.
Why did you choose to pursue your residency at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry?
Schulich Medicine & Dentistry was my top choice for pursuing residency training because of the rich learning experience, strong mentorship, and high-volume operating experience.
We also have a very collegial group of residents, and supportive consultants and staff. London is also a nice town to live in for my wife and myself.
What inspires you in your work?
During my experiences in residency, I was struck by the paucity of knowledge about the molecular processes and pathophysiology that underlie many diseases.
While the emphasis of my training was on the clinical aspects of surgery (learning how to diagnose and treat medical conditions, learning how to operate, and learning how to take care of patients on a daily basis), I felt that understanding a disease at a more fundamental level would not only help me appreciate it more, but also provide me with insight into developing more comprehensive, more successful therapies for it.
This desire inspired me to enrol in the CIP and pursue graduate research training that will hopefully help me to be a better surgeon.
What has been your greatest experience to date in your residency?
Doing research that has a direct impact on patient outcomes, and working towards developing new treatments in sepsis (a life-threatening infection that affects thousands of Canadians every year) has been incredibly rewarding and exciting for me professionally.
Personally, watching my son grow and learn something new every day has also been incredibly rewarding and enriching.
What do you do when you aren’t working?
I hang out with my wife and my fifteen-month old son, trying to spend as much time as I can with them.
