Ashley Amiraslani

Ashley Amiraslani had an exceptionally close relationship with her pediatrician until he retired at age 92. When Ashley was very young, she would play with the toy medical kits that were scattered around in his waiting room, and on occasion, her pediatrician would engage with her and play along. At other times, when the office was quiet, he would let Ashley try real medical instruments like otoscopes and stethoscopes while he patiently explained what she was seeing and hearing. Ashley was captivated and found herself wanting to learn more and more.

The waiting room was also filled with children’s books about doctors, hospitals, children that were sick and getting better, families that were coping with illness, and countless other books on anatomy, science, medicine, and health. Every subsequent visit to the pediatrician’s office was another opportunity for Ashley to read and learn more about what doctors do, and to imagine what it would be like to help patients become healthy again. As time progressed, Ashley became increasingly interested in health and medicine. By the age of seven, Ashley knew she wanted to be a doctor when she grew up.

Ashley completed her Honors Bachelor of Science Degree with High Distinction at the University of Toronto. Her major was Neuroscience, and her double minor was Physiology and French Language. She is currently completing her Master of Science in Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology in the Department of Laboratory Science and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto. Ashley’s intention is to attend medical school, become the very best doctor she can be, and care for patients.

With her own childhood experiences in mind, Ashley created the iCanBeADoctor program to familiarize children with the medical profession, and to encourage them to reflect upon what it would be like to be a doctor. The program uses interactive, educational, fun activities to stimulate interest, imagination, and a desire to learn more. Research supports the long-term benefits of this type of program as it has the potential to broaden the academic interests and choices that positively influence a child’s life, and in turn, the role that they will assume in their community when they grow up.