Discovering the power of real-world learning through a co-op in medical mentorship

From clinic floors to classroom labs, Dayyan Raza Shah used his co-op experiences to solidify his passion for medicine.

When Dayyan Raza Shah (he/him), a Health Sciences student, was looking for work experience, he knew he wanted to work in the medical field. The goal was to gain an understanding of the behind-the-scenes work in health care, as well as expand his teaching experience and gain a better sense of hands-on training methods. He wanted to grow beyond the classroom and learn what can only be taught from real experience to give him a better chance at getting accepted into medical school.

Dayyan's co-op journey

Work term one: Dayyan’s first co-op term was at as an ophthalmology clinic intern, where he completed admin tasks and organized events. He found it to be a good introduction to clinical operations and the importance of behind-the-scenes work in health care.

Work term two: For his second work term, Dayyan worked for as a science tutor and lab assistant for the nursing students. He helped conduct anatomy and physiology labs, supported course instruction and worked one-on-one with students.

Q & A with Dayyan

What has been the most rewarding thing about co-op?

“I would say the most rewarding part of my co-op, Centennial specifically, was being able to support nursing students throughout their academic and clinical learning. I worked with students, helping them grasp difficult concepts and guided them through labs. Watching their confidence grow over time made me realize how meaningful the work was.”

“I feel like as someone who wants to pursue a future in medicine, it was really eye-opening to see how much effort and resilience goes into becoming a nurse.”

Did your classroom learning prepare you for your co-ops or did you learn more on the job?

“My course work gave me the core knowledge that I needed, especially in areas like anatomy and physiology, because those are the two main focuses. But I'd say most of the real growth happened on the job.”

“At Centennial, I had to learn to adapt quickly, whether I was helping a student during a one-on-one session, running through a lab activity or supporting a professor in the middle of a lecture.”

“One of the interesting things was that it wasn't just about the material. It was about understanding how to teach it and how to connect with the students. Essentially, how to build trust and encourage engagement. I would say those were the things I had to learn.”

“You can learn all the theory that you want in university, but you can only apply in a real-world setting.”

What is the most interesting thing you've done while on a work term?

“One of the coolest parts of the Centennial co-op was participating in practice sessions, which involved real patient interactions. Watching the nursing students apply their skills in those settings and helping support them throughout it gave me a much deeper understanding of how theory becomes practice.”

“I would say that this also helped me develop a sense of what it's like to teach and support learners in high-pressure, real-world scenarios. I think on top of that, being trusted to assist in running labs and working alongside a professor was also a really unique experience. I found it both challenging and incredibly rewarding.”

“I want to go into medicine and I feel as a doctor you're always teaching your patients about what illnesses they have and what's happening in their body.”

How has co-op helped you with your career goals?

“Co-op has showed me how much I enjoy teaching and guiding others. Whether I was helping in the lab or walking a student through a difficult topic, I felt energized by the opportunity to support someone's learning.”

“I know that mentorship and collaboration are things that I do want to carry with me into medical school and my future career. It helped me develop a lot of skills that were lacking before co-op, whether that be communication skills or leadership skills, it definitely helped me with that.”

Dayyan posing beside a student they worked with at Centennial College

“One of the things that I would say co-op is really helping with is leadership skills. I was the type of student that was really introverted, but because of co-op I got to explore different opportunities to learn different skills and I got to carry those skills with me. I even have my own club at the University now because of the skills that I built due to co-op.”

“The club is called the . We essentially watch soccer games, whether that be big matches at the World Cup or tiny league matches. Co-op helped me with a lot of leadership skills and other skills that I'm using to this day, whether that be with my club or just in general life.”

What skills have you gained from your experiences that you will carry with you in the future?

“I developed really strong communication skills, both verbal and nonverbal, through a one-on-one student approach, lab instruction or working in a clinic setting. At Centennial, I learned how to explain complex concepts, clearly adjusting my language depending on the audience and offer support in a way that was helpful but not overwhelming.”

“I also learned how to work closely with faculty and take on leadership responsibilities in labs. Through hands-on sessions with patients, I gained practical experience. These are just some of the unique skills.”

Centennial College building where Dayyan worked

What do you want other students to know about co-op?

“It's amazing that you can look at so many different opportunities. Each one is really unique and specific. You can develop a lot of skills that you carry on not only in university, but also in the real world. You can use those skills anywhere.”

“I feel like that's something that people don't really look at. They think co-op is just a job, but you get to develop so many skills that you would never think you would.”

What’s next for you?

“I'm volunteering at a clinic affiliated with the Ottawa Hospital.”

“My current big focus is studying for the MCAT. Medical school is my long-term goal and everything I've done so far, from helping students in the labs to working on research, has helped shape this path.”

“There’s three main reasons why I want to go into medicine; to learn, to lead and to care.”