U of T Student Leadership Award recognizes five Dentistry students

By Rachel Boutet

The University of Toronto’s prestigious Student Leadership Award recently recognized five Dentistry students – Hartirath Brar, Omnia Elebyary, Anabelle Ng, Emma Wilson and Ocarina Zheng – were recent recipients of this award recognizing outstanding student leadership and volunteer service at U of T. We caught up with the students about this honour.

What are you most proud of, as a recipient of this award?

Brar: As a recipient of this award, I’m most proud of being part of a legacy of student leaders whose contributions have helped shape the fabric of the university’s history. It’s a humbling experience to know that my efforts now form a small but meaningful thread in that enduring story.

Elebyary: I am proud that my efforts have been recognized because I made it a goal to contribute, no matter how small, and no matter how hard it was to find the time. It wasn’t always easy to balance everything, but I stayed consistent and kept showing up.

Ng: To be an advocate for patients in need through Dentantics, raising funds for Access to Care and enhancing the student experience as vice president external of the Dental Students’ Society (DSS).

Wilson: I am most proud of my dedication to enhance the student experience of my classmates and the wider student body at U of T through my extracurricular involvement.

Zheng: I am most proud to have been the student leader of Noma Action Group (NAG), raising international awareness for noma as a neglected tropical disease (NTD) and growing NAG into the largest noma-focused organization in North America. This transformative journey shaped my leadership and deepened my commitment to serving others in my roles as class academic representative and vice president of the DSS throughout dental school.

How did you find time for leadership and volunteerism with your busy school schedule?

Brar: I’ve found that just as we manage to meet academic deadlines – often against the odds – we can also make time for leadership and service when we treat them with the same intention. I don’t see education and volunteering as separate – they’re both driven by a shared purpose: to have a meaningful impact on those around me. Whether through my future career or service work, each path feeds into that larger mission. For me, when my mind felt saturated with schoolwork and dental terms, spending time with my community became a much-needed outlet. I soon recognized the times of day or week when my ability to focus on academics dropped. Rather than forcing productivity, I chose to invest that time in community work – knowing it brought value in a different, equally important way.

Elebyary: Balancing research, teaching, leadership, and a family life has only been possible because I truly care about the causes I’m involved in. I’ve learned to be intentional with my time. I map out key research deadlines, block off dedicated hours for community work, and try to combine tasks whenever I can. I also make sure that leadership roles are collaborative; I work with others to share the load and make the process more enjoyable.

Ng: My whole life, I prioritized committing to making a difference in my community by leading by example.  When I entered dental school, my values to be a leader in my community remained unchanged and I quickly became involved by organizing events for the student community, recognizing that my contributions could have a positive, lasting impact. While I maintained a strong focus on my academic studies, I never defined my dental school experience as solely an academic experience. I am equally passionate about the impact these extracurricular roles have had on the community and I am immensely grateful to be given the opportunity to hold these responsibilities as a student leader and ensure the success of our whole student community. From planning Orientation Week to organizing our Graduation Formal, my drive to give back remained unwavering throughout the four years. These experiences not only enriched my dental school journey, but shaped my perspective on balancing professional commitment with community leadership. It continues to motivate me to be a stronger community leader and engaged future dentist, as I fulfill my lifelong goals in pursuit of achieving a meaningful work-life balance.

Wilson: Dental school is crazy busy, there's no doubt about it. That being said, when you find something you love doing, you will naturally find time for it. I genuinely enjoyed supporting my class and working closely with the U of T Advancement Office throughout my time as a student. It's much easier to keep going despite the countless meetings and emails if you ultimately enjoy what you do! I also leaned heavily on my calendar and was lucky to have amazing friends who encouraged me when things got overwhelming.

Zheng: Since high school, when I first aspired to become a dentist, I’ve had two goals: to strive for clinical and academic excellence, and to help others in need. These goals are my guiding beacons which help me prioritize and choose meaningful opportunities that align with my values, knowing that my time and energy are limited. When I committed to NAG, I carefully planned out event dates for the entire year, using my knowledge as academic representative to avoid exam seasons. After the key dates and venues were finalized, clear communication in delegating specific tasks to subcommittees was key to ensuring efficient teamwork. My aim as the leader was to empower every member’s unique strength and guide the team to achieve our shared vision of advocacy, awareness, and education for noma. Once event timelines and team roles were outlined, I chipped away at the tasks with every pocket of time: before class, during lunch, and during commute – every minute counted. I learned that with clarity of purpose, early planning, and discipline, I could tackle demanding projects while still enjoying a healthy, well-rounded lifestyle filled with social connection and hobbies. Leadership didn’t take time away, instead it gave my time deeper meaning.

Why was it important for you to be involved in extracurricular activities?

Brar: Stepping beyond my academic focus gave me the chance to use different skills, think creatively, and grow in ways the classroom alone couldn’t offer. In fact, this balance often provided clarity and direction to my perspective, actions, and sense of purpose. I’ve always believed that our place in society extends beyond our careers. When I think of the people who’ve made the most significant impact on my life, it’s not their job titles I remember – it’s the support, encouragement, and example they offered. Many didn’t shape my life through their nine-to-five roles, but through the way they showed up for others. Their actions helped me reach the success I have today, and I carry their impact with me. Just as they helped clear the path ahead of me, I hope to make the journey a little easier for those coming next.

Elebyary: Being involved in extracurricular activities has been important to me because I believe that research and community are deeply connected. My work on oral health and systemic diseases is about more than just lab results, it’s about real people, real patients and real stories. Participating in panels and podcasts, organizing intercultural events, and mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds has helped me build bridges across disciplines and communities. It’s also given me a sense of belonging and purpose that fuels my research. For me, extracurricular activities aren’t separate from my academic work, they’re an essential part of it, helping me stay grounded in the bigger picture and reminding me why I chose this path in the first place.

Ng: My drive to be involved in extracurricular activities was instilled at a young age. When I received my U of T acceptance package and read about the Dentantics show, I knew it would be a defining part of my dental school journey. I came from a performing arts background and attended an intensive arts high school before choosing to pursue sciences in my undergraduate studies. Over the years, I continued the tradition of Dentantics as it became a passion project, uniting my love for the stage with my desire to give back to our U of T dental clinic patients. It was truly rewarding to see the impact of bringing students and alumni together, experiencing the smiles and laughter on stage and in the audience to hearing gratitude in clinic. I will always remember one patient who directly benefited from the Access to Care Fund and expressed heartfelt thanks for the treatment they received, knowing I was helping fundraise through Dentantics. Leading Dentantics and serving as DSS vice president external highlighted the importance of community and showed me how passionate leadership can impact lives, shaping my identity beyond academics and reminding me that meaningful connections were the core of my dental school experience.

Wilson: I firmly believe that you get what you give, and I knew from our very first week of school that I wanted to be involved within the Faculty. You won't remember the nights you spent studying, but you will remember the incredible events and the people you met during your time at school. I'm proud to have been someone my class could rely on. Looking back, my extracurriculars opened so many doors for me and made my time at the Faculty so much richer.

Zheng: I strongly believe that we rise by lifting others. While one person can go fast, we go farther together. I’ve been fortunate to receive support from family, mentors, and peers throughout my journey, and I feel a deep sense of gratitude and obligation to pay it forward through service. My extracurricular activities allowed me to continue this cycle of giving while also serendipitously uncovering newfound passions and fostering growth.

For example, teaching dentistry in Ethiopia reinforced my learning and sparked an interest in public speaking and dental education. Advocating for noma opened my eyes to global public health and craniofacial care, influencing my path to residency at SickKids Hospital. Volunteering in outreach programs across Grenada, Jamaica, and Scarborough sharpened my clinical skills and deepened my understanding of how to better serve marginalized communities. These experiences have been instrumental in defining both my professional aspirations and personal values. Inspired by the global impact of WHO’s recognition of noma which NAG propelled, I’m reminded of César Chávez’s words: “Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed.” Dentistry is a privilege that carries social responsibilities, and I’m grateful to have found causes through extracurriculars that I will continue to champion in my career.

Top photo: Hartirath Brar, Omnia Elebyary, Anabelle Ng, Emma Wilson and Ocarina Zheng