After 25 days with little sleep and barely any food, Maryanne Oketch stood in the blazing Fijian sun, one hand behind her back, catching a stream of balls as they launched down a spiraling metal chute with two exits.
A single drop could cost her the title of Sole Survivor.
This was the final immunity challenge on season 42 of the hit reality TV show Survivor – a test of focus, nerve and endurance.
Set against the picturesque Mamanuca Islands of Fiji, contestants known as ‘castaways’ battle for a $1-million prize, seeking to outwit, outplay and outlast one another in challenges designed to push them to the edge.
Now, three years later and on the other side of the world at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, Oketch is facing a different type of test – one grounded not in island survival, but in the rigorous journey to become a physician.
Maryanne Oketch, in the final immunity challenge on season 42 of the hit reality TV show Survivor.
“The biggest thing is really being able to connect with people,” says Oketch, who went on to win the Sole Survivor title, along with the $1-million prize and legions of fans worldwide. “ Survivor is a social game. You have to genuinely connect with people from all walks of life.”
It’s a philosophy she carries with her as a medical student. Alongside her role as Class President for the Medicine Class of 2028, Oketch is a devoted member of the Dungeons and Dragons club – where she says plotting a quest and casting spells offers the perfect mix of imagination, teamwork and strategy.
But one of her favourite parts of first year was the longitudinal clinical experience, where she had an opportunity to conduct initial interviews with patients in a family medicine clinic.
“When we learn about interviews in class, it's all cerebral, in your head,” says Oketch. “But being able to apply it, to see why a question matters in real time – that hands-on experience made it all click.”
One moment stands out. A patient lit up with recognition at a follow-up visit. “It really meant a lot, especially being a learner,” says Oketch. “It instilled my passion for an area of medicine that allows for patient care with long-term relationships.”
Looking ahead, she hopes to build a career rooted in that kind of continuity – whether in family medicine or caring for people living with chronic conditions like diabetes or sickle cell disease.
Along the way, Oketch is learning to embrace failure. Flexibility, a willingness to change her approach or method, and asking for help have been crucial lessons along the way.
“One thing I’ve learned is being okay with failure and being open about it,” she says. “When you're ashamed about it, you distance yourself. And when you distance yourself, you seem to have less support. It's a vicious cycle.”
Oketch highlights the many supports at Schulich Medicine, including Learner Experience – where students can get academic coaching, peer mentoring and resources the moment they feel things starting to slip.
“The biggest thing is really being able to connect with people.” — Maryanne Oketch
“When I’m doing a high-stakes task – an exam or a summative assessment – I think, ‘This is like an immunity challenge. This could make or break me.’ But I also remind myself that if it doesn’t go my way, there’s always another opportunity,” says Oketch.
That mindset served her well on Survivor. Although the final immunity challenge didn’t go her way, her strong relationships and confident gameplay led her to making the final three – and ultimately, winning the show.
“I persevered and was able to win after that moment,” she says. “It shows that throughout the highs and lows of medical school, I’ll be able to see the light at the end – becoming a physician.”
