Paxton Bach (Meds'13) is presented with the Sandra Banner Student Award for Leadership by Dr. Richard Reznick, Dean of Health Sciences at Queen's University.

Queen’s medical student and global health advocate Paxton Bach (Meds’13) is the first recipient of the Sandra Banner Student Award for Leadership from the Canadian Residence Matching Service (CaRMS).

“It is an honour to be recognized with this award,” says Mr. Bach. “I have had the privilege of collaborating with an incredible collection of enthusiastic and capable individuals throughout my time in medical school. This award will allow me to further pursue my interests in global health and health advocacy.”

During his time at Queen’s, Mr. Bach was involved in a multitude of global health advocacy initiatives and held several leadership positions, including vice-president of global health for the Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS). In addition, Mr. Bach has participated in student-run programs, helped to steer advocacy initiatives, and fostered improved global health opportunities for medical students across the country, including leading the Canadian delegations to the 2012 IFMSA meetings in Accra, Ghana and Mumbai, India.

Mr. Bach also served as global health liaison and as a key organizer of the Health and Human Rights Conference, which was awarded the Queen’s Human Rights Initiative Award during his tenure. He has also volunteered extensively in rural Uganda, Kenya and Haiti.

Queen’s University Dean of Health Sciences presented Mr. Bach with the CaRMS award at the recent Canadian Conference for Medical Education (CCME) in Quebec City.

“Mr. Bach has demonstrated a commitment to global health advocacy and a willingness to take initiative,” says Dean Reznick. “He is a deserving recipient of this inaugural award for leadership.”

The Sandra Banner Student Award for Leadership includes $5,000 to foster the development of leadership in medicine. The financial award will support Mr. Bach’s participation in the Junior Doctors Network of the World Medical Association (WMA) at this year’s General Assembly in Brazil, allowing him to bring a Canadian perspective on global health education issues to the General Assembly, and contributing to the shaping of future WMA policy.