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International Officers
Lauren McLaughlin
I was born in Halifax, N.S., and grew up in Vancouver, B.C. I attended the University of British Columbia where I received a Bachelor of Science in Animal Biology in 2008. During my time at UBC I was a member of the Varsity Cross Country team and Varsity Track and Field team and a recipient of the All-Canadian academic athlete award. I also worked in Whistler/Blackcomb for three years during university as a ski instructor for the Whistler Adaptive Ski Program. I am currently a third year student at Rocky Vista University COM. In my free time I enjoy the mountains, running, skiing, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. I am truly excited about being a founding member of the Canadian Osteopathic Medical Student Association and I look forward to all that we will be able to achieve in the near future.
Dennis Fiddler
I am a second year medical student at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale FL. Lived in Lindsay, ON until I went to Toledo, OH for Bioengineering. After three years I was fortunate to be accepted to medical school. Being a physician in Canada has been my lifelong goal. Knowing that licensing for Osteopathic medicine is not consistent across Canada, I wanted be part of the cause to get Canadian Osteopathic medical students back to Canada. In down time I like to be outdoors; be it skiing, hockey, or fishing, I am inclined do anything new and exciting.
Iain Jeffery
I was born in Toronto and grew up in Peterborough, Ontario. After completing a BSc in Biology at McGill University, I went on to earn an MSc in Biomedicine & Society from the London School of Economics. I started my first year of medical school at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York City in August of 2011, and look forward to graduating in 2015. After applying to Canadian medical schools for two consecutive years without success, I wanted to be a part of this amazing organization and help young Canadians realize their dream of becoming physicians. In my spare time I play music, read, and cook, and I like to visit Ontario when I can to get out on the lake.
Lynda Simpson
I am a non-traditional medical student from Toronto, Ontario in my first year at Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience (KCUMB) in Missouri. I have a BSc from University of Toronto, an MBA from McMaster University, and a strong business background having worked in the Consumer Packaged Goods and Telecommunications industries as a Marketing professional prior to my entry into medical school. For several years I volunteered at the Dorothy Ley Hospice in Toronto. My current interests lie in Family Medicine and Geriatrics. I am a student member of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) and the Student American Academy of Osteopathy (SAAO) through KCUMB.
Niraj Patel
I was born and raised in the Greater Toronto Area. I did my undergraduate education at the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo) where I completed my degree in Biomedical Sciences. I then went on to pursue a graduate degree in Biomedical Sciences at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - Georgia Campus where I was able to secure a spot in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program for the Class of 2015. My hobbies include: Amateur Astronomy, Reading, Playing sports, Watching Hockey (Toronto Maple Leafs) and being outdoors.
Kristin Lythgoe
I grew up in Calgary, Alberta and moved to Newmarket, Ontario, as a teenager. I attended the University of Western Ontario, graduating in 2010 with an Honors Bachelor of Medical Science with a double major in Physiology and Medical Sciences. As an undergraduate student, I enjoyed intramural sports such as dodgeball, volunteering with the local branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, as well as oil and watercolor painting. I am an avid fan of the Western Mustangs football team. I also enjoy waterskiing and other water sports and love to spend time at my family’s cottage in the Haliburton area north of Toronto. Following graduation, I worked for a year as a Research Student in the Laboratory Medicine Program at Toronto General Hospital. I matriculated at ATSU-KCOM in August 2011. I was elected the first-year representative for the Internal Medicine club and am also a member of the Rotaract and Unicef clubs on campus. I enjoy shadowing local physicians and gaining exposure to different specialties in medicine. I am considering a career in General Internal medicine, Cardiology, or Endocrinology, and hope to practice in a hospital-based setting.
Chris Jacob
I am from Whitby, Ontario. I attended the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, and graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Science and Management with a specialization in pharmaceutical biotechnology. My honours thesis investigated the RANK pathway and its impact on breast oncogenesis. I have worked as a teaching assistant and ambulance attendant. I am currently in my first year at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Aside from medicine and science, my interests include photography, cooking, and motorcycling.
Nick Church
I’m from Victoria, BC, where I grew up enjoying outdoor sports like rowing, cycling, and skiing. I’m now an osteopathic medical student in the class of 2015 at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (Biddeford, Maine). Prior to becoming an osteopathic medical student, I completed a B.Sc. at the University of Victoria and a B.Math at the University of Waterloo. I became an officer for COMSA because I want to represent my colleagues who are interested in practising in Canada, and because I want to contribute to the development of osteopathic medicine in the Canadian health-care system.
Andrew Bi
I grew up in Toronto, Ontario. I attended the University of Toronto, graduating in 2009 with an Honors Bachelor of Science with a major in Human Biology and double minors in Biology and Anthropology. I am an osteopathic medical student in the class of 2014 at the Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California. I became an officer of COMSA to advance the cause of osteopathic medicine in Canada. In my spare time, I like to play ping pong, and video games.
Christine Marechal
I was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. In 2009 I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Honors Geophysics with a minor in Geology at the University of Calgary. I am now in my first year of medical school at the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine in Glendale, Arizona. I’ve been fortunate to have excellent mentors throughout this journey and I’m excited that through COMSA we will be able to guide other students wishing to pursue careers in Osteopathic Medicine. I am currently involved in a variety of volunteer organizations in Arizona and during my spare time I also enjoy skiing, drawing, hiking and mountain biking.
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