Elena is a final year medical student at the University of Calgary. She completed three years of a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree at the University of Calgary before starting medical school.
In addition to her medical training, Elena has extensive research experience and has worked on numerous projects during both her undergraduate and medical education. She has experience in both basic science and clinical research and mostly recently completed a project in pediatric emergency medicine and collaborated with basic scientists and clinicians across the country to collect data on demographics and resource availability in pediatric emergency departments.
She is passionate about patient advocacy and has had the opportunity to advocate for patients outside of the hospital through public health initiatives. She has been involved in advocating for water fluoridation in Calgary with Calgarians for Kids’ Health by helping to organize an event to educate Calgarians about the benefits of water fluoridation. She was also involved with Stop Addicting Adolescents to Vaping and E-cigarettes (SAAVE), an initiative that aims to limit youth access to vaping and e-cigarettes by calling for stricter regulations on the sale of these products. She has had the opportunity to speak to high school students, the media, and members of the public both in person and through online platforms.
As an immigrant and the first in her family to attend medical school, Elena is passionate about mentorship and has been involved in several mentorship programs with elementary, high school and undergraduate students. Outside of medicine, Elena enjoys hiking, skiing, and finding the best cappuccinos in town.
