Our initiative
We are a team of medical learners who have come together to offer meditation and mindfulness-based resources to our colleagues – created by learners, for learners. This initiative seeks to support learners throughout their training by creating, promoting and sustaining a culture of wellness and resilience. Research shows that mindfulness-based practices can be hugely beneficial for mental well-being. This is particularly pertinent for medical trainees who are consistently operating in high-stress environments. We hope to create a community around mindfulness and meditation and promote awareness about the role that it can play on both a personal and professional level.
Zoe O’Neill
Founder
Zoe is a fourth year medical student at McGill University and she completed her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Microbiology and Immunology. She is passionate about medical learner wellness, clinical research and public health. Zoe loves getting out of her comfort zone and in her free time, you will find her hiking in the mountains, planning her next get away or exploring Montreal’s vibrant food scene.
Handsun Xiao
Co-founder
Handsun is a second-year resident at St-Mary’s Family Medicine Centre. He completed his MDCM at McGill University. He is interested in rural medicine and gaining a deeper understanding of the factors impacting a community’s health. When not studying, Handsun likes to play hockey, rock-climb, and ride an old bicycle whose parts keep breaking down.
Madison Le Gallee
Content creator, member of the mindfulness course working group, podcast interviewer and founding member
Madison is a family medicine resident at McGill University. She’s interested in understanding chronic cutaneous disease and the associated psychological burden. Her research interests include chronic inducible urticaria as well as youth mental health in Canada. She’s passionate about all things medical education and has collaborated on dermatology teaching material for medical students and trainees alike. After hours she enjoys cooking, reading, stretching into a pilates workout, and folding origami models.
Ana Clouatre
Ana is a third-year medical student at McGill and she completed her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of British Columbia in Biophysics. She is passionate about overall wellness for health care learners as well as sexual health and harm reduction methods. Outside of school, she enjoys baking, cooking, trail running and buying too many plants.
Ashkan (Ash) Salehi
Ash is a fourth-year medical student at McGill University. He has been passionate about mindfulness meditation and practiced for a number of years. Ash aims to incorporate this in his mission to increase access to primary care. Outside of school, Ash loves documentaries, traveling, visiting museums and enjoying local mom-and-pop cafés.
Jillian Caplan
Jillian is a second-year medical student at McGill, with a B.Sc. in Behavioural Neuroscience from Concordia University. She is interested in clinical research, brain health, and loves all things related to mental health and well-being! Jillian previously founded Stronger than Stigma Concordia, a student led mental health advocacy group, and served as Chief Operating Officer at WellMTL. When Jillian isn’t studying, you can find her doing yoga, and cooking new recipes.
Arshi Kaffash
Arshi is a Family Medicine resident at McGill University and completed a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science at Concordia University. His career interests revolve around medical student wellness, primary prevention and palliative care. Outside of school, you will find him listening to podcasts, reading self-help books and being absolutely obsessed with martial arts.
The Mindful Medical Learner 