The future is bright for three outstanding high school graduates recognized by Research and Innovation Advancement at IWK Health.
Applications for the IWK Future Health Research and Innovation Scholarship program were received from students who have demonstrated an early interest in health-related research and innovation. One $2,500 scholarship was awarded to an applicant in each Maritime province who plans to continue their education in a related field at a Maritime post-secondary institution.
The 2025 winners are: Avery MacNeil, graduate of Riverview High School in Sydney, Nova Scotia; Vishwa Pancholi, graduate of Kennebecasis Valley High School in Quispamsis, New Brunswick; and Kayla Storey, graduate of Bluefield High School in North Wiltshire, Prince Edward Island.
Each applicant was required to submit an essay using scientific evidence to explain a specific area of health research and/or innovation they would like to pursue and how it could potentially contribute to the health and well-being of Maritime children, women and families.
MacNeil is passionate about Public Health and the benefits of health education in schools.
“Throughout my life, I’ve been dedicated to helping others, and I see nursing as the perfect platform to create lasting change,” MacNeil wrote in her scholarship application letter. “I am eager to focus on Health Promoting Schools (HPS) to enhance health education and preventive care for children, as early health education can have lasting positive effects on individuals and communities.”
Pancholi has a particular interest in health care accessibility.
“By researching digital health care in post-secondary, I want to help create solutions that contribute to the well-being of children, women and families in the Maritimes,” Pancholi wrote. “Telemedicine, remote monitoring and better policies could make it so that no one has to choose between travelling for hours or skipping medical care.”
Storey hopes to attend medical school and become a dermatologist.
“To treat patients who are suffering from skin conditions, researching and innovating effective cures and spreading awareness of the highly stigmatized, obscure skin conditions that affect mental health is my ambition,” she wrote of her future plans.
All three recipients will pursue a Bachelor of Science degree: Pancholi and Storey are enrolled in the Medical Sciences program at Dalhousie University and MacNeil is enrolled in the Nursing program at Cape Breton University.
“Research and Innovation Advancement at IWK Health is proud to encourage our Maritime youth through this transformative program,” says Kathleen Leadon, Director, IWK Health Research and Innovation Advancement. “It is both an honour and a privilege to support these young scholars as they learn, explore, innovate and contribute to a healthier tomorrow for all.”
The Future Health Research and Innovation Scholarship program was created in 2015 to foster awareness of health research among youth.