PASADENA, CA, December 10, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- McGill University medical students made a remarkable impact at the 2025 annual meeting of the American Osler Society (AOS) in Pasadena, California. The event brought together physicians, researchers, and students from around the world to explore the history of medicine and its ongoing relevance today.

Award-Winning Presentations
Three McGill students, Meygan Brody, Paris Dastjerdi, and Reda Hessi, attended the meeting, continuing the university's strong tradition in medical humanities research. Paris Dastjerdi won first prize for her presentation "Restoring Avicenna's Tomb: A Historical Analysis of William Osler's Efforts", while Meygan Brody received 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, The Bernadett Family International Medical Student Scholarship Program 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."

Reda commented:
"I am immensely grateful for having been selected for the AOS Bernadett Family International Medical Student Scholarship Award. This exceptional opportunity to engage with rare collections in the UK will deeply enrich my research and broaden my perspective. I look forward to making new discoveries and sharing my findings."

McGill Alumni Participation and McGovern Lecture
The meeting also featured McGill alumni Brendan Ross, a psychiatry resident at Mount Sinai Hospital, 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.

Strengthening the Bridge Between Medicine and the Humanities
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.

About McGill University Faculty of Medicine
The Faculty of Medicine at McGill University is a global leader in medical education and research, fostering innovation, critical thinking, and a commitment to the medical humanities.

Learn More About The Bernadett Family International Medical Student Scholarship

Program Details: www.americanosler.org/content/awards-scholarships/international-medical-student-scholarship-program

Faustino Bernadett Philanthropy: https://www.bernadett.org/

Faustino Bernadett, MD, MBA
Retired Physician and Public Servant

Contact: Faustino Bernadett
[email protected] | 562.232.4375
www.drfaustinobernadett.com

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