‘I want to see how far I can take myself’: Third-year Health Sciences student awarded prestigious Killam Fellowship

Ashley Jong never expected a scholarship application would take her from Hamilton to Seattle, but when the third-year McMaster University health sciences student opened the acceptance email for the prestigious Killam Fellowship, she could hardly believe it.

“I thought there was a mistake,” she laughed. “I didn’t think I could get this.”

The 20-year-old will be travelling to the University of Washington for her winter semester thanks to her Killam Fellowship. The fellowship program, administered annually through Fulbright Canada, provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to engage in cross-border academic exchanges between Canada and the United States.

“I originally applied because I was interested in studying in the U.S., but now that I’m thinking about it, it might’ve been more to see just how far I can take myself, or what I could be capable of achieving within the unknown.”

In her research endeavours, Jong has previously collaborated with American hospitals, which made her recognize just how different their health-care system is when compared to Canada. That was why in her application, Jong emphasized a desire to better learn about its intricacies so she can navigate those differences.

“This knowledge disparity has been something I’ve long desired to elucidate for myself,   so that, hopefully, when I do end up pursuing a career in the health sciences, I can utilize this experience to better understand what encompasses generalizability and inclusivity  not only in health care but in research as a whole. It’s a privilege I hope to equip to its fullest.”

Though Jong is still figuring out what her future will look like, she has been interested in the clinical aspects of medicine for a long time but is also drawn towards research.

“I used to think there would be an end goal for me, but I realize just how many things I want to do in this one life I have,” Jong says. “I don’t wish to narrow my growth to a finite endpoint. I’m just seeing where the world takes me, and it seems like, for now, it’s taking me to the U.S.”

While the fellowship offers a unique opportunity for learning, it also presents Jong with a chance to explore a part of the world she’s never seen. This will be her first time visiting the west coast, and she’s hoping to make the most of it.

“I want to explore the country, and not just limit myself to Seattle. My family, friends from Fulbright and McMaster, and even my professors and child health facilitators have given me great suggestions. There are so many landmarks I want to see and places to hike, such as the Grand Canyon, or to ski with friends at Aspen in Colorado.”

In addition to a semester abroad, recipients of the Killam Fellowship receive a cash award US$6,000. McMaster University is among the Canadian institutions that welcomes students from the U.S. for study through the Killam Fellowship.