Student volunteers at home and abroad

Philip Doiron is a pharmacy student who volunteered for five weeks at an AIDS clinic in East London, South Africa.

Philip Doiron, a fourth-year student from Moncton, N.B., is honoured for his leadership within the College of Pharmacy. Since he began his studies at Dal as a transfer student from Mount Allison, he has served in a number of positions with the Student Pharmacy Society - as Social Director, then Vice-President and as President this year (2004-05).

For Philip, student leadership is a natural thing. "I love being busy and I can«t imagine not being involved in student government. It becomes your social life, too. This kind of work gives you back so much when you do it."

He is also saluted for his "many and diverse contributions to the extracurricular realm in Pharmacy." His theatrical background came in handy last year when he helped write a winning skit for Pharmacy in last fall«s «For the Health of It,« the Faculty of Health Professions variety show. As a student, Philip also enjoyed singing with the Medical School Chorale.

The award also recognizes Philip«s service to the international community. Last summer, he volunteered for five weeks at the Ikhwezi Lokusa («the sun will rise« in the Xhosa language) Wellness Centre, an AIDS clinic in East London, South Africa.

When he arrived, Philip brought with him seven cases of essential medicines -- including antibiotics, painkillers, vitamins and anti-retroviral medicines to fight AIDS to help the cash-strapped clinic. Assisting the staff physician in dispensing medicine was a great learning experience. "Getting to counsel patients and explaining to them how all the medicines worked really helped my education." For Philip, working in a South African AIDS clinic was "the most extraordinary eye-opening experience I«ve ever had. It made much more involved politically and it made me more aware of how much we have here compared to a lot of others."

In May, Philip will be studying for licensing exams while preparing to graduate. He is slated to graduate on May 25 and writes his last licensing exam on Sunday, May 28. And because he loves being busy, he will start his new job at a Dartmouth pharmacy the next morning -- on Monday, May 29.

He is very happy with his career choice. "Pharmacy«s been so good to me, it«s ridiculous. I«ve loved my classes and my classmates. I«ve gotten experiences here that I never would have gotten anywhere else. As a career, pharmacy is great because it«s interesting work, it«s flexible and you make a good living. I highly recommend it." Next year, Philip plans to keep connected with the College by acting as a tutor.

In 1992, the Dalhousie Board of Governors established the Governors« Awards. These honours were intended to mark the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Dalhousie Student Union and to recognize that students contribute to the vitality of the University, and the achievement of its mission, both through their academic accomplishments and their involvement in other aspects of campus life.