Dr. Sam Aparicio of BC Cancer, studying medicine was always the plan, but research became his passion. Unbeknownst to him, research also involves many skills that didn’t expect, such as grant-writing, which he had to learn along the way. This led him down other side pathways, such as starting a biotech company to commercialize some of the findings in the genomics field.

Cancer is a complicated topic involving different scopes – Dr. Linda Carlson knows that well. As a researcher, she focuses on all aspects of cancer care. This goes beyond traditional approaches, but also psychological aspects and using mind wellness as cancer care. Her findings are vital for a more holistic understanding of patient care.

Dr. Aziz Ghaharya’s business is in research – and it really is like running a business, from idea development to funding to reaching the finish line. And the competition is tough. He didn’t start out as a burn unit researcher; by using other studies as stepping stones, he was able to become a full professor and one of Canada’s foremost experts in burn and wound health.

The margin of error of drug abuse is narrowing, according to Chantal Vallerand. And that is how she remains passionate about her role as leader of Drug Free Kids Canada. It drives her forward every day, allowing her to seek out potential funders and supporters, explaining to them the importance of the mission to keep dangerous drugs away from youth.

Dr. David Harper’s specialty is in diet, but he emphasizes that he is a PhD in life sciences, not a medical doctor. His true love is education and teaching, which he has done for more than 40 years, something he sees as an example of giving back to the field that gave him his purpose. He sees himself as an advocate for healthy diet who goes beyond the commercial interests of the industry. To him, the key to success is having a vision, being authentic, being accountable for your own actions, not being afraid to be vulnerable, being empathetic, and having courage to be all of the above. ”Don’t worry about failure,” he says, “but fail fast and fail forward.”

Dr. Marion Nestle’s journey to becoming the number-two most powerful foodie in the world (according to Forbes) started as an undergraduate who was interested in food, only to find that the only choices are agriculture and dietetics – two fields she was less than enthralled with. Instead, she found her way through the world of science, ranging from studying bacteria and molecular biology. After entering academia, she was handed a nutrition class to teach – and that transformed her world and catapulted her into the spotlight.

Rory Mullen, as the head of BioPharma and IDA Ireland, meets a lot of people, to say the least. He started studying in business and working in advertising, but wanted to expand his horizons internationally, outside his native Ireland.

Troy Clifford identifies as a paramedic, but his mission is much more. He is the president of a union for ambulance and paramedics union, which is also the profession’s de-facto organization in British Columbia. His role is to support its workers and be the face of BC’s ambulance service.

The life of a family doctor is jam-packed. Dr. Devyn Parsons sees between 30 and 35 patients per day. But somehow, she manages to squeeze in even more – she investigates lab results and contacts patients for follow-up, on top of even more work as an obesity specialist.

Amani Saini took the experience of a family member’s adverse drug reaction to launch a nonprofit dedicated to furthering research and awareness of adverse drug reactions.

David Smith is a doctor and internist with a rich history in the field, ranging from biomimetics technology to traumatic brain injury. But it was far from a straight line to get to where he is today.

Chana Davis, PhD is a scientist and mother of three who who loves helping others to discover and enjoy a healthy diet, rich in delicious, nutritious plants. Chana is equally passionate about empowering others to make food choices from a place of knowledge rather than rooted in fear or hype.

Doug and his wife Diane were both Olympians. They tell anyone, anywhere what the benefits of movement and exercise are to well-being and quality of life.

Rosalin Miles does not identify herself by her academic credentials, nor does she say, “I am a person in this job at that institution.” For Rosalin, it’s her passion for health, sports, recreation, fitness and activity that define her role.

The mapping of the human genome was a fearless plunge into groundbreaking science. Dr Fraser says, as a scientist, she had to take risks that allowed her to answer the questions she was asking in molecular biology – at the time a nascent field. She dared to fail at a time when that was still an option.

Dr Fasano was born and raised in Italy, where he studied pediatric gastroenterology. He was determined to cure diarrhea – an elusive goal, one he failed to achieve. However, that failure led him on a path to new research that revealed zonulin, which regulates intestinal permeability.

Dr. Seely is a leader in the development of integrative and naturopathic oncology. He is the founder and executive director of the Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre and he is the executive director of research at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine.