Inspiring youth from Black communities

In 5 seconds UdeM medical professor Prévost Jantchou spearheaded the Inspire Foundation’s 4th annual summer Bootcamp, providing motivation and positive role models to more than 200 young people.
Prévost Jantchou

Prévost Jantchou, an associate clinical professor in the Department of Pediatrics in Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Medicine, launched the Inspire Foundation four years ago with a mission to help youth from diverse backgrounds realize their dreams. The summer Bootcamp is one of the Foundation’s most popular events.

This year’s Bootcamp on July 13 and 14 was special: it was held in person for the first time, at UdeM's MIL campus. The organizing committee put together a rich and varied program that included talks, panel discussions and workshops in a wide range of fields, including health, education, entrepreneurship, law and AI.

“The event was a source of inspiration and learning for all participants,” said Dr.  Jantchou. “I would like to thank all the families who entrusted their kids to us, and all the experts and mentors who gave of their valuable time.”

Several members of the medical faculty led workshops or gave talks in which they shared their own journeys to inspire the next generation. These activities – and their UdeM student leaders – included:

A workshop on studying medicine in Quebec, featuring:

  • Claude-Alie Wagnac, 3rd year medical student: “After years of hard work, my dream finally came true: I got into medical school! I’m a person who loves people and loves life, and I want to inspire future generations to follow their dreams, as I have.”
  • Julia Edward, 3rd year medical student: “I’m very involved in research and in peer groups. Aside from medicine, I enjoy reading, running and spending time with my family and friends.”
  • Ariane Manekeng Guimfack, pre-med student: “When I was a mentee with the Inspire Foundation, I participated in a number of activities, including the Bootcamp and the workshop on studying medicine in Canada. They gave me skills and knowledge that were really useful when I was applying to medical school.”

A talk on going into dermatology by dermatology resident Samantha Bizimungu:

“I’ve always been very active in my community and I advocate for fair representation of under-represented groups in medicine. I’m currently on the admissions committee for the MD program at UdeM and I also mentor young people interested in pursuing a career in dermatology.”

A heart-to-heart with Dr. Tchomba moderated by Valéry-Drice Tchomba, a third-year psychiatry resident:

“My interest in the issues around diversity, equity and inclusion prompted me to get involved in the Department of Psychiatry’s DEI Committee in order to promote culturally sensitive care.”

A talk on lab medicine, a vital part of healthcare, by Carine Nyalendo, associate clinical professor in UdeM’s Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and researcher at the CHU Ste-Justine Research Centre:

“I’m interested in developing new diagnostic tests and establishing baseline values for biochemical markers in children and pregnant women.”

Visit the Inspire Foundation website for information on upcoming events.

The organizing committee put together a rich and varied program that included talks, panel discussions and workshops in a wide range of fields, including health, education, entrepreneurship, law and AI.
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