Rizqa Sulaiman-Baradien
Assistant professor
Pediatrics and Child Health/Genetics and Genomics
Max Rady College of Medicine
University of Manitoba
Muslim physician mentor
What I bring to mentorship
I am passionate about patient advocacy and community engagement. I hope to encourage students to build relationships with their communities and work from the ground up so to speak. Know your patients and their struggles, not just their medical condition. As a doctor we live a life of service, and core values such as compassion and equity, can get lost in the pressure to perform, push out numbers, clear waiting rooms or "be the best" etc.
I would like students to know that although I am the Muslim physician mentor, my door is open to any student who feels they may connect with me or identify with my mixed/diverse background. I struggled to find mentors in post-Apartheid South Africa who I could see myself in. Thankfully, we have come a long way since then.
A little about me
I have a massive, sweet tooth and enjoy trying new cake or dessert trends. I am a lover of the arts and enjoy galleries and live shows, but also produce my own paintings. In an alternative life, I would have gone into the performing arts.
How to connect
You can contact me by email.
supporting learners Mentorship style
Each learner is unique, and their needs may vary immensely, so I do not have a blueprint, or one size fits all approach. Learners may come into a mentoring space not knowing what they want to gain from the experience, and we learn as we go.
I am a listener. I strive to provide a safe space for the learner to express their needs, worries and expectations. I am an open book. I am very happy to share my struggles and hard times as well as the good times. I do not sugar coat the journey of the medical professional, and hopefully my experience across two continents will help students be more prepared as they navigate through the world of the health professional, from the study load to clinical practice and building relationships with colleagues and allied health professionals.
As a working mum of four, I am very comfortable with chaos and shifting emotions, much like the world of medicine. My mentoring does not stop at academia or the hospital. I am here for the highs and lows of life too.
Each learner is unique, and their needs may vary immensely, so I do not have a blueprint, or one size fits all approach.
Biography
I completed six years of medical school in Cape Town, South Africa, and obtained my Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB). This was followed by two years of internship, rotating through most medical and surgical disciplines and gaining a lot of hands-on experience.
Before starting residency, I spent two years as a medical officer (MO) in pediatrics. I handled emergency admissions, ward care, neonatal intensive care, and post-delivery care. During those years, I became an integral member of our hospital's multidisciplinary Neurodevelopmental Clinic and completed a two-year master's course in Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics. These four years before residency gave me the opportunity to work across disciplines in both adult and pediatric medicine. I discovered medical genetics through the Neurodev Clinic, developing an appreciation for the complexities of rare genetic conditions and their impact on patient care and family life.
During residency, I earned my Master of Medicine in the field of Medical Genetics. I moved to Canada in 2021, where I was appointed as a Medical Geneticist with Shared Health Manitoba.
Over the last three years, I have become increasingly involved in teaching, working with medical students, residents, and genetic counselors. In 2023, I was offered the role of Staff Lead for the Manitoba chapter of the Muslim Medical Association of Canada. I have been privileged to work with incredible and dedicated medical students through this organization, which has allowed me to grow in my role as a mentor.
This year, I was invited to give the keynote address at the Project Pulse Winnipeg Conference. Project Pulse is a high school learner-led initiative that aims to keep students up to date with the world of health sciences and the career options available to them. I look forward to expanding my involvement in learner education and mentorship this year.
Education
Master of Medicine Medical Genetics (2021)
Fellowship of the College of Medical Geneticists of South Africa (2020)
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (2010)
Mentorship/teaching awards
Nominee, Professional Association of Residents and Interns of Manitoba (PARIM) Mentorship Award (2024)