McGill University medical students achieved significant recognition at the 2025 annual meeting of the American Osler Society in Pasadena, California, continuing the institution's strong tradition in medical humanities research. The event brought together physicians, researchers, and students from around the world to explore the history of medicine and its contemporary relevance, with McGill's participation highlighting the critical intersection between medical education and humanities scholarship.
Three McGill students presented research at the meeting, with Paris Dastjerdi winning first prize for her presentation "Restoring Avicenna's Tomb: A Historical Analysis of William Osler's Efforts" and Meygan Brody receiving third prize for "Justifying Judgment: How Canadian Temperance Textbooks Use Medicine to Teach Morality." Reda Hessi also presented on "Harold Griffith and Sir Robert Macintosh: Untold Stories of Curare's Journey to the Operating Room." Since the inception of the Best Medical Student Presentations awards in 2023, McGill students have consistently excelled, winning six of nine prizes, including first prize all three years.
The Bernadett Family International Medical Student Scholarship Program, established in 2024 on behalf of Faustino Bernadett and his family, provides funding for students to pursue medical humanities research in the United Kingdom. Reda Hessi was one of two recipients, undertaking a four-week research project in London titled "The Reception of Curare in Medicine and the Influence of the Pharmaceutical Industry." Hessi expressed gratitude for the opportunity, stating it would "deeply enrich my research and broaden my perspective." Program details are available at https://www.americanosler.org/content/awards-scholarships/international-medical-student-scholarship-program.
The meeting also featured McGill alumni Brendan Ross, a psychiatry resident at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, serving as both presenter and session chair, and Ali Fazlollahi, a recent graduate and previous Molina award winner. Annmarie Adams delivered the McGovern Lecture, entitled "Maude Abbott: A Life in Ten Spaces," exploring Abbott's pioneering studies on congenital cardiac disease and her enduring relationship with William Osler through a spatial biography approach.
The 2025 AOS meeting successfully emphasized the intersection of medicine and the humanities, with McGill's participation playing a pivotal role in advancing this mission. The contributions of the Osler Library Board of Curators and the Montreal community were instrumental in supporting McGill students' attendance. The continued success of McGill students in medical humanities competitions suggests a growing recognition of the value of historical and ethical perspectives in medical education, potentially influencing how future physicians approach patient care and medical innovation.
For business and technology leaders, these developments signal an important trend in professional education where interdisciplinary approaches are gaining prominence. The expansion of scholarship programs like the Bernadett Family International Medical Student Scholarship indicates increased philanthropic investment in humanities-focused medical research. Information about Faustino Bernadett's philanthropic work can be found at https://www.bernadett.org/. As artificial intelligence and technology transform healthcare delivery, understanding the historical context and ethical dimensions of medicine becomes increasingly crucial for developing balanced, human-centered innovations.
