Leadership on and off the field

Jonathan Doucett has excelled in both school and sports since childhood. And it was a fateful intersection of these dual passions that started him on his path to Dalhousie.

Doucett, a fourth-year Nuclear Medicine student and a co-captain of the men’s soccer team, might never have been exposed to his current academic discipline if not for his sport of choice — and a related visit to the hospital.

“Playing soccer in high school, one of the injuries I had was shin splints, but I thought at the time that it might be a stress fracture,” the Dartmouth, NS-born Doucett recalls. “I got referred to nuclear medicine for a scan and had a good conversation with one of the technologists.

“After that I looked up the subject, saw that they had the program at Dal and pursued it.”

All-around success

Doucett’s successful pairing of academics and athletics has only continued in university. Playing the position of right back for the Tigers, he's been named as an Academic All-Canadian for the third time this year, an honour that speaks to his ability to maintain the highest standards in the classroom and on the field, year after year.

As a scholar, Doucett has set a high bar for himself. He is a Dean’s List student and the recipient of several scholarships, including the Black and Gold, the MacKean Athletic, Dalhousie Renewable and Dalhousie Alumni Leadership scholarships.

Doucett has also been active in the community, participating with groups such as Free the Children and Special Tigers. This commitment to helping others is one of the reasons he’s earned community service awards from both the AUS and U Sports this past season.

Keys to success

His goal is to translate his strong grades and a specialization in research into a medical school education and a career as a physician. Doucett’s busy schedule includes shifts in the nuclear medicine unit of the Queen Elizabeth II hospital in Halifax and the CT (CAT scan) department at Dartmouth General Hospital — he’ll have accumulated more than 2,000 hours of clinical experience by the time he graduates — and participation in a research project investigating how former prison inmates with mental illnesses access recreation and leisure activities.

Doucett says the secret to his academic success is simple: he loves what he does.

“Interest can go a long way,” he says. “With interest comes focus, commitment, determination–all of the things that contribute to success.”

Doucett also credits the support of family, friends and academic mentor Rob Gilbert, an associate professor in the Health Sciences department who has helped Doucett chart a course toward his academic goals.

“Rob reached out to some of his contacts to get me involved in the research project,” says Doucett. “He’s mentored me in that, given me a lot of advice and acted as a reference for me.”

Mentorship and support

While benefiting from the mentorship of Dr. Gilbert, Doucett himself has acted as a mentor for teammates on the men’s soccer team. In the captain’s role, he serves as a liaison between players, coaches and academic advisors, always willing to listen to teammates and help them work through any challenges they are facing.

And even though soccer is a major commitment, Doucett says the time he spends with the team on and off the field gives him balance and perspective.

“Having four or five practices a week and going out on the field for two hours a day, and having all the other things going on in life, like academics and relationships and things like that, it’s nice to have a group of guys you can chat with,” he explains.

“The soccer season is another stressor in my life but at the same time it’s something I’d never give up, because it relieves stress when I go out and play.”