About this program

The Multidisciplinary Health Research Experience (MHRE) Program is an integrative health sciences program that aims to expose undergraduate students to the different disciplines and research areas in Health Sciences that are otherwise not available to them at the undergraduate campuses.

Twice per month, MHRE will host two seminars about different topics in health sciences. These seminars are designed to introduce basic concepts and to engage trainees via skills workshops and interactive activities. Instructors for the program will be composed of experienced graduate and professional students from health sciences at the University of Manitoba.


Past MHRE Sessions









In the News:

Pilot promoting health sciences grad studies, professional programs ‘helps students find their passion’

UM undergrads invited to explore health science opportunities


If you are interested in being a trainee in the MHRE Training Program, please register for the program here. For more information, please refer to the trainee program guidelines here

If you are interested in being an instructor in the MHRE Training Program, please apply for the instructorship here. For more information, please refer to the instructorship program guidelines here. 


MHRE 2022-2023 Team

About the Program Director

Hi everyone! My name is Camila Chacon and I am a PhD student in the department of Physiology and Pathophysiology studying spinal cord injury. Prior to my PhD studies, I completed a MSc at the U of M in Physiology and Pathophysiology and a BSc in Physiology at McGill University. 

As the Program Director of MHRE for 2022/23 and 2022 MHRE Instructor, I am excited to support you in this training experience! I want to help you develop new skills that will make you a better trainee in health sciences. I highly encourage all students to participate in MHRE and to use this experience to explore your interests within the health sciences! This program is a stepping stone to guide your future educational goals. 

Please feel free to email me mhredirector@hsgsa.org for any questions/discussions






2022 MHRE Committee (In alphabetical order)


Full Name: Alexa Pommer (she/her)

Hometown: Winnipeg, MB

Education: 3rd year, Bachelor of Health Sciences 

Interests: dance, playing piano, spending time with friends and family, Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Harry Potter 

Career aspirations: Upon completion of my undergraduate degree, I plan on continuing my education in medicine and research. My ultimate goal is to become a public health physician. This career would allow me to gain and apply the interdisciplinary skill set required to evaluate the health of populations and develop strategies to improve health.






Name: Amy Lloyd (she/her)

Hometown: Winkler, MB

Education: Bachelor of Science, General

Interests/Hobbies: Playing soccer and violin, snowboarding, dancing and coaching basketball. 

Career Aspirations: Coming from southern Manitoba, I aspire to help promote healthier lifestyles in rural and underserved communities through pursuing a career in medicine or another health care related field.







Full name: Cara Follows

Hometown: Winnipeg, MB

Education: B.Sc Major Microbiology

Interests: reading, traveling, spending time with friends and family, volunteering

Career aspirations: I hope to continue my education into medicine or a medical related field. I want to work with at risk communities, helping to provide them with medical care and access to resources to help them succeed. I also would like to work with the disabled community, helping integrate those living with a disability into society while also raising awareness for the importance of acceptance and equality for all.



Full Name: Eldrec Ralph Genzola Abanto (he/him)

Hometown: Winnipeg

Education:  UofM faculty of Science – majoring microbiology

Interests: I love to workout and play basketball. I enjoy spending my free time with my dog who I am allergic to.

Career aspirations: I’m still on the fence on either becoming a dentist or entering the medical industry to become a general doctor or specializing in dermatology or anesthesiology





Name: Jamie Sookhoo (he/him).


Hometown: Trinidad and Tobago.


Education: BSc. Biology and Biochemistry (UWI), M.Phil Veterinary Virology (UWI).


Interests/Hobbies: Self-defense, Krav Maga, Canadian Armed Forces PRes..


Career Aspiration:  Federal research scientist working to strengthen Canadian biosecurity, emergency preparedness and response to natural and man-made biological threats.




Name: Paul Jerard Layug (he/him)

Hometown: Manila, Philippines

Education: 4th Year Honours Genetics, Minor in Chemistry

Interest/Hobbies: calligraphy and watercolour painting

Career Aspiration: I hope to pursue a career in translational medicine as it incorporates two of the things that never fail to intrigue me– basic science research and clinical medicine– while fueling my creative side through innovation.

















MHRE 2021-2022 Team

About the Founder/ Program Director

Hi everyone! My name is Toby Le and I am a PhD student in the department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Before coming to Winnipeg, I completed a Bachelor of Medical Sciences with an Honors Specialization in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Western, Ontario.

As the Founder/Program Director of MHRE , I am here to support YOU in this training experience and to help you develop new skills that will make you a better trainee in health sciences. Also, I highly encourage all students to participate in this MHRE program and to use this experience to explore the health sciences so that you can make the most informed decisions about your future educational and career goals.

For discussions and/ or questions, please feel free to email me let6@myumanitoba.ca





2021 MHRE Committee (In alphabetical order)


Full Name:  Akshi Malik
Hometown: Delhi, India
Education:  Bachelors of Science in Life Sciences, Masters in Medical Physiology
 Interest/Hobbies(s): Cooking and dancing
Career Aspirations: My current research focus is on chemotherapy induced cardiotoxicity and understanding the mediating role of ER-stress. I aim to strengthen my research techniques and work for Industry in future. 








Full name: Cara Follows

Hometown: Winnipeg, MB

Education: B.Sc Major Microbiology

Interests: reading, traveling, spending time with friends and family, volunteering

Career aspirations: I hope to continue my education into medicine or a medical related field. I want to work with at risk communities, helping to provide them with medical care and access to resources to help them succeed. I also would like to work with the disabled community, helping integrate those living with a disability into society while also raising awareness for the importance of acceptance and equality for all




Full Name: Chloe McElheron

Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Education: I am currently in my final year of my B.Sc. with a major in Psychology and a minor in Biology

Interest/Hobbies(s): 

Career Aspirations: After my undergrad, I hope to pursue a graduate degree.  Afterwards I plan to have a career in the field of forensic science.






Full Name:  Emily Barker

Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Education:  Bachelors of Science, Genetics

Interest/Hobbies(s): Roller Derby, Music, Pottery

Career Aspirations: In the future I hope to help run research programs in rare genetic disease, or complete research important to rural areas.





Full Name: Javad Alizadeh

Hometown: Iran

Education: I got my M.Sc from UofM and now Im a PhD student at the Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Sciences and I have been working on lung cancer metastasis for my odctorate thesis project.

Interest/Hobbies(s): I’d say I have a wide range of hobbies. I love to explore resteurants and meuseum in the city, trying new food recipes, playing tennis and volleyball. 

Career Aspirations: I would like to be ahealth sciences researcher in future as my career and this could be in different sectors and workplaces.





Full Name: Kohavit Kleitman

Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Education: Bachelor of Science, Microbiology

Interest/Hobbies(s): listening to music, binge-watching Netflix series, and finding any excuse to get Starbucks

Career Aspirations: I am particularly passionate about medical microbiology and immunology-based therapeutics and aspire to make a difference in the lives of patients through research.






Full Name: Marina Costa Fujishima   

Hometown: Brasilia, Brazil     

Education: BSc Microbiology minor Chemistry

Interest/Hobbies(s): eat sushi

Career Aspirations: would like to become an independent research in the Health Sciences Field – with particular interest in Mucosal Immunology.






Full Name: Nolan Sean De Leon

Hometown: Winnipeg, MB

Education: Bachelor of Science (joint major in biochemistry and microbiology; cooperative designation) – Université de Saint-Boniface | MSc candidate (Physiology and Pathophysiology) and medical student – University of Manitoba

Interest/Hobbies(s): Strength and Conditioning Athlete/Coach, Martial Artist, Music Composer/Performer, CalligrapherCareer Aspirations: I plan to pursue a career as a clinician scientist (MD, PhD). As a physician, I always want to be thinking of ways I can make the patient experience better and improve treatment options. As a researcher, I want to be able to question our current information, identify gaps in knowledge and create a structured plan to act and gain a deeper understanding of health. I believe that by bringing the worlds of research and practice together, I can make a lasting impact on child health for today, and for the future.




Full Name: Paul Jerard Layug

Hometown: Before coming to Winnipeg (~4 years ago) with my family, I was born and raised in Manila, Philippines.

Education: 3rd Year Honours Genetics, Minor in Chemistry

Interest/Hobbies(s): In my spare time, I love to do watercolour painting and calligraphy!

Career Aspirations: I hope to pursue a career in translational medicine as it incorporates two of the things that never fail to intrigue me– basic science research and clinical medicine– while fueling my creative side through innovation.






Full Name: Rebeca de Oliveira Camargo
Hometown: Curitiba / Brazil
Education: Master’s in Physiology and Pathophysiology (University of
Manitoba – 2019 – Current), Medicine (Faculdade Evangelica do Parana / Brazil – 2011 – 2017)
Interest/Hobbies(s): Cooking , Pyrography and Dancing
Career Aspirations: Disseminate reliable science and encourage students.







Full Name: Sanjana Chauhan
Hometown: Winnipeg/India
Education: PhD Neuroscience
Interest/Hobbies(s): Reading, Art and craft
Career Aspirations: I see myself as an established
scientist in the coming years in a research institution.







Full Name: Sarah Llew-Williams

Hometown: Kingston Ontario

Education: Honours Bachelors of Health Sciences (Athletic Therapy)

Interest/Hobbies(s): playing sports, outdoor activities, singing

Career Aspirations: want to finish my Masters Physician Assistant Studies and start working in a much needed area of health services.






This program is sponsored by