Susan Zhou on Pursuing Your True Calling & Her Experiences in Women's Health, Neuroscience, and Clinical Research

Message from Sachi

Hi everyone,

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter long weekend, and all your exams are wrapping up now. Congrats on making it through the school year!

I’m currently enrolled in my final (😭) module of my MSc programme - number 6 out of 6! It will be on Translational Science and Global Health, and I’m really looking forward to it. My course directors are offering a free public online lecture this Wednesday, with Mitchell Warren from the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition. Anyone anywhere in the world can sign up - check it out here!

I’m also very excited to share that this is interview number 60 of Invite Health! We’ve come so far - thank you to the 1.7k+ of you who are here for this milestone 💌 

This week, I invited one of my friends, Susan Zhou, to share her story.

What you’ll learn from Susan:

• How the Emily Stowe Scholar program at Women’s College Hospital (Toronto) changed her life

• Projects she is building in the women’s health and Femtech spaces

• How she optimizes LinkedIn to find opportunities, and advice for students who want to start using LinkedIn more effectively, but don’t know how or where to start

Enjoy today’s read,

Sachi 💌 

Susan Zhou on Pursuing Your True Calling & Her Experiences in Women's Health, Neuroscience, and Clinical Research

First off, tell us about your journey so far. Where do you study, what inspired you to pursue this, and what’s next? What else do you like to do outside of studying?

Hi friends! My name is Susan Zhou (she/her) and I’m currently studying in the Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) program at Queen’s University. Queen’s BHSc is a multidisciplinary program with a flipped-learning structure. That means instead of traditional lectures, we complete online modules independently then engage in interactive discussion-based sessions during class.

When I was deciding on universities, I considered programs like iBioMed at McMaster, the Conditional Acceptance to Pharmacy (CAP) program at Waterloo, and Western’s BMSc Scholar’s Elective program. I actually spent a long time debating between the Health, Engineering Science, & Entrepreneurship (HESE) Specialization at iBioMed or Queen’s BHSc. Ultimately, I knew I wanted to pursue medical school, so I chose Queen’s for the flexibility to work on personal projects and learn at my own pace. I also loved the human health-focused curriculum, with courses spanning pharmacology, anatomy, human physiology, global health, biochemistry, and health policy. 

Like many my age, my path hasn’t been a straight line. As I’ve grown since Grade 12, there’s been moments where I questioned if my program was the right fit and whether I would have been happier in iBioMed HESE, which better aligns with my current interests. However, through new experiences, I’ve come to realize what I truly value and have been forging my own path forward—more on that later! 

Currently, I’m working towards my goal of becoming a clinician-scientist, a career that blends patient care with research. I’m still exploring whether that means pursuing a MD/PhD, MD/MSc, or graduate studies after medical school, but what excites me most is the interdisciplinary nature of this career—one that allows me to bridge my passion for translational research, patient care, community development, and medtech innovation simultaneously. 

I’ve always been fascinated by the human brain, which has led me to become a research trainee at SickKids, where I’m working on my undergraduate thesis investigating brain tissue changes in pediatric lupus using diffusion tensor imaging, a neuroimaging method that looks at water flow in the brain. To build my background, I’ve been deep-diving into neuroimaging papers, self-teaching Python and MATLAB, and auditing related courses! 

Beyond research, I’m involved in women’s health advocacy through The Bloom Red Project and femtech, where I’m currently building vitalia, a digital ecosystem targeting the diagnostic gap faced by women with chronic health conditions like endometriosis and PCOS. Did you know that it takes 7 to 10 years on average to receive a diagnosis for these conditions? To expand my knowledge and network across my fields of interest, I’ve been attending a lot of interesting conferences. Some memorable experiences include: 

• Montreal AI and Neuroscience, where I learned about a machine learning model that can assist neurosurgeons in preventing accidental cranial nerve nickings (Abstract 24) 

• The annual Black Women’s Healthcare Summit held by Women’s College Hospital, where poignant, diverse patient stories have inspired several project ideas

• International Day of Women in Science at the MaRS Discovery District, where I learned of femtech companies revolutionizing women’s health through surgical navigation tools, take-home endometriosis tests, gynecological cancer screening with nanomaterial-embedded menstrual products, and more!

In the coming weeks, I’ll also be presenting my research at the 2025 Pediatric Academic Societies meeting in Honolulu (🌊🌺) and the International Lupus Congress in Toronto which I am super excited for!

Outside of studying, I am a huge wellness enthusiast who loves running, travelling, and hiking. I’m part of GirlsRunThe6ix and I am currently training for my first half-marathon in June, with plans to run the Toronto Waterfront full marathon with friends in October. While in Hawaii, I’m excited to explore the Diamond Head, Koko Crater, Haleakalā, and Waihe’e Ridge hiking trails. I also enjoy skiing though I am definitely still an amateur!

Tell us about your experience as an Emily Stowe Scholar at Women’s College Hospital!

If I had to name the experience that fundamentally changed my life’s trajectory, it would be my time as an Emily Stowe Scholar the summer after Grade 12. The Emily Stowe Scholars program at Women’s College Hospital is a 6-week paid research internship for underrepresented groups in science, including those who identify as Black, Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQI+, or living with a disability. The program is dedicated to removing barriers, providing mentorship, and supporting the careers of diverse groups in medicine. 

During my internship, I worked in the Familial Breast Cancer Research Unit on the Risk Factor Analysis of Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer study led by Dr. Steven Narod, the largest long-term study of BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers worldwide. Alongside two other scholars, we helped set up sample kits, reviewed pedigrees and questionnaires, and organized patient records. I also contributed to related studies like RUBY (Reducing the Burden of Breast Cancer in Young Women) and conducted a literature review on racial disparities in invasive lobular carcinoma under my PI, Dr. David Lim. For more info, check out our presentation here.  

A defining moment in my internship was shadowing my PI, a breast surgical oncologist at the Henrietta Banting Breast Centre. Watching him interact with patients, perform exams, review radiology reports, and navigate treatment plans showed me firsthand how intricate and personal breast cancer could be. I still remember meeting a young mother facing a likely triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, an aggressive form with poor outcomes. Sitting with her in that room, I could feel the gravity of her situation and how much she had to lose. Despite the uncertainty, she remained remarkably resilient, even cracking jokes and asking me about my experience. Her grace and dignity was striking, and more than anything, I found myself hoping she would receive the best possible care. Witnessing my PI deliver that care with incredible compassion was profoundly inspiring and cemented my interest in medicine. Many of my fellow Emily Stowe Scholars had similar experiences shadowing in the OR or clinic, witnessing procedures like ACL reconstructions and vaginoplasties.

Even after my internship, I’ve been invited to events like the Black Women’s Healthcare Summit, Women of Gairdner, and Women for Women’s. Through these experiences, I met mentors, physicians, and scientists—including my thesis supervisor—who have opened doors I never thought I’d walk through as a first-generation student from a blue-collar background. When I applied, I had zero prior research experience. All I had was what I learned running my nonprofit, Bloom Red, which donates period products to those in need. I had encountered a young woman who spent years fighting for an endometriosis diagnosis. Her story had fueled my desire to drive change, and I knew Women’s College, one of the few research institutes focused on women’s health and innovation, was the place to learn how. 

Revolutionizing healthcare starts with amplifying diverse voices, and I’ll always be grateful for my time as an Emily Stowe Scholar. If you’re considering applying and this work is what you’re passionate about, please don’t hesitate, applications are typically due in February!

Emily Stowe Scholars Program: https://www.womensacademics.ca/learning/emily-stowe-scholars-program/ 

What advice do you have for students (especially high school + undergrads) who want to pursue research, especially if they don’t have any experience yet? 

1. Start by learning to love learning and find what drives your curiosity.  

Research is often seen as a checkbox to be filled, but I disagree. It’s a career where you genuinely have to love learning and be comfortable questioning the truth in front of you. On many occasions, I’ll open a paper and realize I understand maybe 10% of the words. I’m lucky to be studying the brain, something I’m enraptured by, which makes the steep learning curve easier. It’s overwhelming at first, but the process of figuring things out makes it incredibly rewarding. Figure out what sparks your curiosity, what you could spend hours learning about, then look for papers and researchers in that field.  

2. Seek mentorship everywhere, be resourceful. 

I wouldn’t be where I am today without mentorship. As a first-generation student, most of what I’ve learned has come from mentors and the internet. I’ve connected with mentors through jobs, conferences, school events, volunteering, extracurriculars, and cold-messaging on LinkedIn. They can offer valuable advice on research opportunities, resume templates or even just sharing their experiences. My mentors were how I discovered programs like SickKids SSuRe, Amgen Scholars, and St. Michael’s KRSS. If you’re unsure where to start, just reach out. As a mentor myself now, I’m always happy to share my experiences! 

3. Rejection is redirection, be persistent.   

I’ve sent dozens of emails, applied to countless opportunities, and refined my CV hundreds of times. I’ve been rejected, ghosted, or told I was too young, but here’s the thing: you only need one yes. That yes could be after your 10th or 100th attempt. If you stop at number 37, you’ll never know if 38 could’ve been your breakthrough. Rejections have led me to where I am today, doing research I truly love and could see myself studying for the rest of my life.

4. Never stop being kind. 

Be kind to your mentors, especially PIs who take time out of their busy schedules to offer you opportunities and guidance. I’ve met many researchers who’ve shared how students often ask for opportunities but don’t show a genuine interest in their work. What makes a great research trainee isn’t just what you know, but how dedicated and passionate you are about your work. That shows through the initiative you take, the quality of your work, and your consistency.

You’re also very proactive on LinkedIn in sharing your experiences and engaging with people - what advice do you have for health science students who want to get over their fear of LinkedIn and start making content on the platform? 

In the beginning, it’s easy to fall into the trap of imposter syndrome. When that happens, I try to remind myself of two things: (a) comparison is the thief of joy, and (b) LinkedIn—like any other platform—is just a tool. It’s a means to an end, you engage with content that interests you so the algorithm adapts, and you share your experiences to connect with like-minded people or potential opportunities.

For example, I’ve been looking for medtech networking events, so I started engaging with related content and now my feed is full of useful posts. It can feel scary to think people might judge what you’re liking or posting, but the truth is, no one is thinking about it as much as you are. As long as you’re being professional, it doesn’t matter if someone sees you liking a post about an IRL GruMobile (and honestly, if they judge you for that, it’s their loss).

I’ve discovered amazing opportunities just by following the right people. I came across the Montreal AI and Neuroscience conference through a neurotech professor, Dr. Susan Boehnke, at my university. I happened to be free that week and ended up learning about brain-computer interfaces, neural networks, and even participated in a hands-on machine learning and neuroimaging workshop! I also follow major hospitals like UHN, Women’s College, and SickKids, as well as organizations like Nucleate Dojo, CIHR IHDCYH, and Femtech Canada. Doing this has brought many useful seminars, workshops, and conferences into my feed that I wouldn’t have found otherwise. 

What types of experiential learning opportunities did you have in undergrad that you think were the most pivotal in getting you to where you are today?

I’ve always seen myself as a lifelong learner, and my interests have evolved significantly over the past two years. In high school, I was known as the women’s health fanatic, set on becoming an obstetrician-gynecologist one day. However, as I near the end of my second year, I’ve become captivated by diagnostic radiology, neuroscience, and the intersection of biomedical engineering (BME) with translational medicine. Originally, I planned to apply to medical school in my third year, but I’ve decided to take a fourth year to complete a two-year undergraduate thesis project. I also intend on pursuing a master’s or PhD in BME alongside an MD. Letting my curiosity guide me, even when it means taking a less traditional path, has been incredibly fulfilling. Each new experience, starting from my time at Women’s College, has refined my interests and led me toward neuroscience and imaging research.

1. Research Volunteering and Case Competitions (cold-email, unpaid) 

In my first year, I explored various research areas through short-term volunteer roles in health policy, pediatric sleep apnea, and respirology labs, while also participating in undergraduate research competitions. These experiences helped me realize my love for original research. A highlight was visiting the University of Ottawa to present at the SciNapse USCC finals! 

2. Research Assistant - Maternal Infant Global Health Team (cold-email, paid) 

For the past year, I’ve worked with Dr. Shahirose Premji and her Maternal Infant Global Health Team on a feasibility study adapting the WHO’s Thinking Healthy program into a Mandarin-language mobile app for pregnant Chinese immigrants. As a research assistant, I translated study documents, contributed to app development, and assisted with participant recruitment and interviews. I’m now leading a manuscript on our beta-testing findings. This project was deeply personal, having witnessed firsthand how a resource like this could transform perinatal mental health care for immigrant women like my own family members. 

3. Research Student, Garry Hurvitz Centre for Brain and Mental Health - SickKids SSuRe (cold-email, paid) / HSCI 59X Undergraduate Thesis (unpaid)

After mentoring at-risk youth and advising on CAMH's national youth council, I developed an interest in pediatric disease burden and mental health. This brought me to join the Knight Lab as a 2024 SSuRe student in the SickKids Garry Hurvitz Centre for Brain and Mental Health. Here, I worked on a project investigating the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on pediatric lupus patient outcomes. I’m currently transforming my findings into a manuscript and will be presenting them at PAS and Lupus Congress 2025. I truly enjoyed my experience at SickKids, being able to work alongside an incredible team and learn from other researchers via program events! 

This lab experience was pivotal in shaping my trajectory. While reviewing literature on lupus biomarkers, brain inflammation, and neuroimaging, I saw my first magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scan—a moment that ignited my fascination with neuroinflammation’s impact on brain function. This led me to pursue my undergraduate thesis through the Queen’s HSCI 59X series, where I’ll be using diffusion tensor imaging to assess brain tissue changes in pediatric lupus. I’m hoping my work will help inform the development of neuroimaging biomarkers in lupus and improvement of patient outcomes. I’m currently finalizing my project aims and will begin imaging analysis this summer. The learning curve is steep, filled with dense MRI physics and mathematics, but every step has been incredibly exciting! Finding the field that I wake up early excited to study every morning has brought me so much happiness and fulfillment :)  

CAMH National Youth Council: https://www.camh.ca/en/science-and-research/institutes-and-centres/the-margaret-and-wallace-mccain-centre-for-child-youth-and-family-mental-health/youth-engagement-initiative 

SickKids Summer Student Research (SSuRe) Program: https://www.sickkids.ca/en/research/research-training-centre/summer-research-program/ 

Queen’s HSCI 59X Research Courses: https://bhsc.queensu.ca/current-students/current-online-students/research-courses 

4. Educational Observership, Sunnybrook’s Louise Temerty Breast Cancer Centre (cold email, unpaid)

Last summer, I completed an educational observership at Sunnybrook, shadowing a medical oncologist at the Louise Temerty Breast Cancer Centre. She provided invaluable teachings, patiently walking me through patient histories, chemotherapy regimens, and imaging findings. I vividly recall her pointing out tumor characteristics and metastases on CTs, MRIs, ultrasounds, and mammograms—deepening my appreciation for imaging’s diagnostic power. Most profoundly, I had met a young mother with brain metastases and saw her MRI scan. It was a heartbreaking reminder of cancer’s aggression, but also a testament to the role of advanced imaging as a prognostic and diagnostic biomarker. It reinforced my fascination with diagnostic imaging and its potential to transform patient care. 

Educational Observership Sunnybrook: https://sunnybrook.ca/education/content/?page=education-observers 

5. Neurosurgery/Trauma Ward Volunteering at St. Michaels (application, unpaid)

Though out of my comfort zone, I committed to volunteering my weekends with patients in the Neurosurgery/Trauma ward at St. Michael's Hospital, Downtown Toronto's level 1 trauma center. It was an incredible gift to witness patients in their darkest moments, seeing the resilience and bravery shown by those experiencing car accidents, terminal brain/spinal cancers, paralysis, strokes, and other tragedies. I had encountered a young paraplegic patient with terminal spinal cancer, who had felt like an older sister. Her tumor had been inaccessible, virtually undetectable on imaging scans, which added to the diagnostic delay she experienced. I realized I was deeply fascinated not just by the type of cancer she had, but how we could advance neuroimaging to be better at detecting such diseases.    

St. Michael's Summer Student Volunteer Program: https://unityhealth.to/get-involved/volunteer-at-unity-health/ 

Key takeaways

Through these experiences, I realized I couldn’t see myself pursuing anything other than research innovation and medicine. Witnessing these painful patient experiences, I wanted to learn how to treat them, but more than that, I saw systemic gaps that no individual physician, no matter how skilled or compassionate, could solve alone. A doctor can provide life-changing care to one patient at a time, but without innovation, the broader reality for patients simply remains unchanged. This is what has fueled my pivot toward BME, the intersection of medicine and technology, where we can expedite solutions redefining diagnosis and patient care.

Where can students go if they want to learn more about your experiences?

I’m always happy to chat and answer questions by email ([email protected]) or on LinkedIn! I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am today without mentorship and the people who were willing to answer my questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out :)  

I also do a lot of reflective writing which I have shared on my Medium page. Check it out here!

Is there any final advice or resources that you would like to share with Invite Health readers?

I’ve always lived by the saying “Passion fuels purpose”, but lately, I’ve been holding onto something an acquaintance once told me: “No box is ever truly a box.” At the time, I was dealing with imposter syndrome, hesitant to step outside my comfort zone yet certain I didn’t quite fit within it. 

Being in a traditional pre-med program, three hours from the nearest biotech hubs, made breaking into femtech or neurotech feel out of reach. Unlike BME programs like iBioMed, which emphasize experiential learning, design thinking, and technical skills, my curriculum was rooted in rote memorization and pre-med coursework. I was on the right track for medical school, but part of me felt stagnant—like I was confined in a space that didn’t fully align with my ambitions. 

While I’m still navigating my place in these fields without a formal BME background, embracing this mindset gave me the courage to finally take action. I’ve started learning coding for MRI processing, self-studying MRI physics and mathematics, auditing upper-year courses, finding resources from BME course syllabi, and diving deep into neuroscience. I’ve been networking with femtech founders and venture capitalists, attending coworking sessions to build my women’s health work (shoutout to Queen’s id8), and pushing beyond my circles to gain knowledge. I recently demoed vitalia to the Queen’s community and the overwhelming support I had received was incredible. While it’s been daunting and filled with uncertainty, I’ve never felt more fulfilled, knowing I am finally in full pursuit of my calling. If you’re interested in vitalia, please check out my slidedeck and reach out if you have any questions! :) 

I think it goes to show you shouldn’t be afraid to chase the things that truly excite you—background doesn’t matter. Sometimes, the non-traditional path leads to the most fulfillment, even when it’s terrifying. If every part of you is telling you the “expected” route isn’t right, trust yourself and carve the one that is. For me, that meant stepping into rooms filled with femtech and neuroscience innovators—where, for the first time, I felt like I truly belonged.

In terms of resources, I’m subscribed to several helpful newsletters/content: 

• CIHR Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH News)

• Brains and AI by Dr. Terry Sejanowski 

• Neuralink Canadian Trials (re: BCI’s and paralysis)

• Women of Wearables 

• SickKids Research Training Centre 

• Canadian Partnership for Women’s and Children's Health (CanWaCH)

• Women’s College Hospital Foundation 

• A Founders Diary by Nadia Ladak, founder of Marlow 

• And Invite Health, of course! 

Cold-Email and Resume Templates: 

• Cold-email: https://www.labpath.ca/cold-outreach 

• Resume/CV: https://sheetsresume.com/resume-template/ (this is the template I used) 

Jobs, Opportunities & Resources 💻️ 

Most of these resources are reposted on Invite Health’s LinkedIn page.

• Coordinator, Governance and Strategy | Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) | LinkedIn

• SE Health Jobs - Research Fellow, Ontario 

• 2025 Health System Impact Fellowship | Canadian Institutes of Health Research

• Careers page | Flo Health

• Analyst/Consultant, Digital Health | Deloitte | LinkedIn

• Summer Student at Humber River Health

• Summer Student Research Assistant | Nisa Foundation

• Summer Student Social Survey Researcher | Nisa Foundation

• Student Recruitment and Engagement Officer | McGill

• Registration | Canadian Conference on Global Health (CCGH)

• Available Funding Opportunities: Being Initiative 

• Research Coordinator | UBC Vancouver Campus

• Research Internships - Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence

• Careers & Fellowships | The Walrus 

• Current Opportunities - Global Strategy Lab 

• Torstar Toronto Star One-Year Journalism Internship | SmartRecruiters 

• Career - Breakfast Club of Canada

About Invite Health 💌 

I started Invite Health for my younger self who was trying to figure out what to do with my health sci degree that wasn’t a career in medicine.

Today, I’d say this quote is the primary reason I continue to build Invite Health:

The mission of Invite Health is to close this talent-opportunity gap for students in the life and health sciences.

Since 2022, we’re the leading resource for students figuring out what to do with a life sci / health sci degree. I interview students pursuing diverse careers in healthcare, and how they got there - no gatekeeping here. Every newsletter is rich with resources and insights.

Our main channel is this newsletter, and I occasionally share resources on social media (LinkedIn and Instagram).

You can read more about why I built Invite Health here

How to get the most out of Invite Health 🫶

1. Connect with the interviewees: At the end of every newsletter, the interviewees leave their contact information for you to contact them. In your message, mention that you learned about their journey through Invite Health, and that you’re curious to learn more!

2. Share the word: Share Invite Health with your friends and networks. Start a conversation about something you learned- an opportunity, a piece of advice, or a recommendation that an interviewee made.

3. Bet on yourself: Apply to the opportunities that are shared in the newsletters. You have nothing to lose, and so much to gain. Circling back to point #1 - always reach out to the interviewees if you want advice!

You 🤝 Invite Health

Enjoyed this newsletter? Forward it to a friend, and let me know by commenting on our social media posts

Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Subscribe to Invite Health for free

Have feedback? Reply to this email, or fill out this feedback form

Read all of Invite Health’s past interviews

How I Built Invite Health - BTS 🌼 

I’m building a series where I share strategies on how I built Invite Health. In two years, I’ve grown Invite Health organically to 1,700+ subscribers (meaning, I’ve spent $0), building it sustainably as a solo student founder throughout undergrad and my Master’s.

How I find opportunities to share on Invite Health

As Susan mentioned throughout her interview, following the right people can lead you to your next opportunity.

Most (if not all) the opportunities I share on Invite Health newsletters are found through LinkedIn. Whenever I see an opportunity, I repost it from both my personal and Invite Health pages. That way, when I make these newsletters, all I have to do is scroll through my posts and copy links to all the opportunities I share. Every time I see an opportunity, I try to follow the person or organization that shared it, so I can stay updated with future posts. It also helps when these organizations have their own newsletters as well.

If you are interested in getting the most out of LinkedIn as a student, a good place to start is by following the people and organizations I repost on my LinkedIn page.

Free Links & Resources 🫰 

• Applying to Grad Schools Notion Guide by Sachi

• 15 Paid Summer Research Programs in Canada

• 25 Paid Summer Programs for Life Science & Health Science Students in Canada

• Paid Summer Programs in Research, Policy, Tech, etc.

• Paid Healthcare x Business Opportunities for Students 

• How to Write a Cold Email

• How to Secure Research Funding

Made with 💝 & 🍵 by Sachi

Invite Health’s Impact 💌