Do Something Every Day: Reflections on learning and balance

Stefanie Kiriazopoulos (MD Class of 2028) attended the Fall Formal Banquet and Award Ceremony only to discover she did not win one or two awards, but five.

“Honestly, I was really surprised,” she shared. “Receiving these awards was completely unexpected, so it was incredibly humbling. It's an honour to have my work recognized, especially because so many of my classmates are doing amazing things. I'm very grateful to the donors and the College for their support.”

Among the recognitions she received was the Sylvia Turner Award in Medicine for outstanding academic achievement in years one and two of the MD program, as well as the Saskatchewan Medical Association Prize for having the highest average in the clinical sciences component of the curriculum.

Earlier this year, Kiriazopoulos also received the Canadian Hall of Fame Dr. Calvin R. Stiller Award for outstanding leadership, communication, and a strong commitment to advancing medical knowledge.

Born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, Kiriazopoulos completed a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Saskatchewan before returning to school to pursue medical education. The decision to apply for the MD program came from a desire to be further involved with her patients' health care.

“Learning and working in pharmacy gave me a valuable foundation in patient care and exposed me to so many different areas of health care,” said Kiriazopoulos. “I loved building relationships with patients and helping them navigate their medications, but I found myself wanting to continue my learning and broaden my scope of practice.”

“I was drawn to medicine because it would let me expand my knowledge base, take on a more hands-on role, and be involved in every stage of a patient's care.” She added, “It’s been really meaningful to continue my training while staying connected to the community that shaped me.”

Currently, Kiriazopoulos is in her third year of medical school and has started her clerkship rotations. She’s keeping her options open regarding her future scope of practice, using her clerkship rotations as an opportunity to explore what areas of medicine interest her most.

“I'm really enjoying exploring different specialties and keeping an open mind,” she said. “However, I’m particularly interested in anesthesia and internal medicine because I enjoy the combination of physiology, pharmacology, and hands-on problem-solving in a team setting.”

Kiriazopoulos attributes much of her success in the MD program to maintaining balance in her approach to studying. Wellness can be difficult to prioritize in the midst of exams and rotations. To keep steady, she lives by her father's advice: do something every day, but not everything.

“I think consistency and routine will always serve you better than cramming,” said Kiriazopoulos. “Everyone finds a system that works for them, but for me that usually means starting my mornings in the RGH library before the day gets busy.”

“Focusing on making a little progress each day has helped me balance studying with everything else that comes with medical school and clerkship.”

Drawing on this guidance, Kiriazopoulos offered advice for other learners: “Make time for the people and activities that bring you joy.”

“It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking, ‘I'll do that after the next exam,’ or ‘after this rotation is over,’” said Kiriazopoulos. “But there will always be another priority competing for your time."

"It's okay to sometimes choose a volunteer shift, a concert, dinner with friends, or an evening with your partner over reading one more textbook chapter. Going back to my dad's advice, do something every day, but not everything.”