Pre-Med Success Story: Jamey Toney-Gagné

For Jamey Toney-Gagné, the path to medicine began at home. Growing up, she often joined her mom, a continuing care assistant, at work, where she helped with small tasks and listened to the stories of elders. Later, when her Kiju (grandmother) became ill during her first year of university, Jamey had the honour of helping care for her in her final months. Those experiences sparked a commitment: to dedicate her life to helping others through medicine.

Mentors along the way played an important role in showing Jamey that her dream was possible. In high school, her chemistry and calculus teacher, Mr. Clarke, was the first to suggest medicine as a career. Around the same time, she was inspired by Mi’kmaq physicians and students such as Shanté Blackmore, Bonnie Cremo and Shelley Young. Seeing people from her own community succeed in medicine gave her confidence that she belonged in that world too.

At Cape Breton University, Jamey chose the BSc Chemistry Honours program as her pre-med pathway. The program provided her with both rigorous academics and extraordinary opportunities for research. She began working in the lab at the end of her first year; something most undergraduates never experience so early. By the end of that summer, she was confidently running advanced equipment like the GC-MS/MS, presenting research findings and building skills that would carry her forward into medical school. Smaller class sizes, close relationships with professors and the welcoming CBU community gave her the foundation she needed to thrive.

Among her mentors at CBU, Senior Chemistry Lab instructor Karen Foss stood out. “She always took the time to genuinely listen, help where she could and keep it real,” Jamey says. “Although she is not a doctor, I see the traits of a good doctor and person in her, and I hope to carry myself through a lifetime of medicine in that same way.”

But Jamey’s time at CBU was about more than academics. She served as Coordinator of the Women’s Centre and later the Ekiken Indigenous Centre at the Students’ Union, where she worked on initiatives to address period poverty, provide childcare support and connect underrepresented groups to STEM opportunities. She also credits Unama’ki College with giving her a safe and supportive space throughout her degree. These experiences deepened her advocacy skills and strengthened her belief that being a good doctor means listening to others, respecting multiple perspectives and creating space for every voice

Jamey’s Honours research project reflected that vision. As part of her BSc Chemistry Honours degree, Jamey completed a thesis titled Phytochemical Analysis of Cornus canadensis (L.) Leaves Used in Indigenous Healing Practices: A Two-Eyed Seeing Approach. The project explored how Western science and Indigenous knowledge can work together. By demonstrating the chemical basis for traditional plant medicines, her work highlighted the equal importance of Indigenous knowledge in advancing healthcare. “All knowledge is valuable,” she says, “and science will advance much faster if we consider multiple perspectives.”

Now, Jamey has been accepted into the inaugural class at the Cape Breton Medical Campus—the first Indigenous student in this new program. She is excited to help shape the foundation of the campus and to advocate for culturally safe healthcare practices. As a queer, two-spirit, Mi’kmaq woman living with disabilities, she wants to ensure future students feel they belong and that medicine reflects the diversity of the communities it serves

Her ultimate goal? To become a family physician in a rural community, guided by Mi’kmaq values of compassion, humility and respect for people at every stage of life. Her advice to other CBU students considering medicine is simple but powerful: “Be yourself and believe in yourself. Growth comes from sitting with uncomfortable feelings and persisting despite them. And only pursue medicine if your intent is to help people and make a positive difference.”

Jamey’s story shows how the BSc Chemistry Honours program at CBU can serve as a strong pre-med pathway—preparing students not only for medical school, but for leadership in healthcare and advocacy in their communities.