2021 Reichwald Award Recipients

The annual Reichwald Family Foundation Southern Medical Program (SMP) awards are provided to two second-year medical students who demonstrate excellence in academics, leadership, and community service. Congratulations to this year’s recipients Marisa Levesque and Hannah Young.

Marisa Levesque

Originally from Vernon, Levesque earned a BSc from UBC Okanagan. During her studies with the SMP, she has volunteered with the Canadian Red Cross as a Personal Disaster Assistance volunteer and as Certification Manager for the Companion Paws program run by The LifeLine Canada Foundation. She is the SMP representative for the MUS Oncology Interest Group, a student representative for the Internal Medicine Undergraduate Education Committee, member of the SMP Municipal Political Advocacy Committee, and volunteers for the AccessBC campaign which advocates for universal prescription coverage for contraceptives under the Medical Services Plan.

“I am truly grateful to be one of this year’s recipients of the Reichwald Family Foundation award,” says Levesque.  “It will go a long way in alleviating some of the stress associated with the financial burden of medical education, and allow me to focus more on my studies.”

Hannah Young

Prior to joining the SMP, Young moved from her hometown of Quesnel to complete a BSc at UBC Okanagan. She is a member of the SMP Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) and participates in community outreach through the BC Brain Wellness Program which aims to decrease the isolation of individuals with neurological conditions. She also works with the Peer Mentorship in Medical Education team at the SMP, a member of the Wilderness Medicine Club, and co-chair of the SMP Wellness Initiative Network that promotes healthy activities and social engagement for SMP students.

“I am extremely honoured and grateful to receive this award and would like to express my appreciation for the outstanding support the Reichwald family has provided for the Southern Medical Program,” says Young. “I look forward to supporting our community in the future.”