“Change begins when you believe small actions and decisions we make every day can lead to large-scale impact; it grows from the ground up, not the top down.”
Ronaar Qureshi
2025 Top 30 Under 30
About
AGE: 21
PRONOUNS: He/Him
HOMETOWN: Calgary, AB
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Calgary, AB
ORGANIZATIONS:
- Inform Cannabis
- Pediatric Emergency Medical Research Association Program (PEMRAP) – Alberta Children’s Hospital Emergency Department
- ASPIRE Program
- Brain Buds
- Coded Minds Canada
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
I am most passionate about:
What specific issue(s) are you working to address, and what motivates you to do so?
My initiatives are all centered around addressing knowledge gaps and supporting underserved communities by tackling systemic inequities, specifically in health and education. Currently, I am involved in several initiatives that align with this goal.
As a cofounder at Inform Cannabis, we are developing an AI-powered, simulation-based educational game to combat the issue of youth drug abuse. Every part of the project has been shaped by conversations with teachers, counsellors, public health experts, and recovering addicts amongst others. The project has won multiple awards including the 2022 AHS i4 launchpad pitch competition.
Similarly through the Brain Buds initiative, I helped develop early childhood development support resources for mothers in under-resourced regions of Pakistan. Collaborating with a multidisciplinary team, we created and successfully piloted culturally relevant resources in 2 clinics internationally.
In my role as a caseworker at the ASPIRE program, I help support refugees and newcomers across Calgary by connecting families with resources, housing, and employment opportunities. Our goal is to not just set them up with short-term support, but also provide long-term help for them to be able to provide for themselves and their families.
I also work as a volunteer research assistant in the PEMRAP program at Alberta Children’s Hospital, where we recruit participants for pediatric studies and help ease some of the legitimate fears around public participation in science.
My past work with Coded Minds Canada as an educator and marketing executive is another example of my commitment to addressing inequities through education. As an educator and eventual summer programs director, I replaced traditional teaching methods with hands-on advice to teach STEM subjects to K-12 students in a more engaging way.
Over the years, I have been fortunate to receive multiple awards for my initiatives, including the Cannon Lachapelle Award for Entrepreneurial Thinking and most recently, the Eureka Fellowship for Youth Changemakers. Through the fellowship, I had the opportunity to meet global changemakers as well as corporate and political leaders including being selected to meet the Prime Minister of Canada to discuss my initiatives.
My initiatives mentioned here, among others, have shaped my belief that impactful solutions stem from understanding community needs and co-creating responses with those affected, which is the approach I hope to bring to my practice as someone aspiring to be a doctor. Whether emerging health risks, empowering families through education, or supporting newcomers to build stable lives, I have learned that sustainable solutions require a balance of compassion, innovation, and community collaboration.
What is your foundation?
Growing up, I spent a lot of time in the health care system due to recurrent health problems, and I have always experienced compassionate care from many physicians, including from the doctors who broke the news of my lifelong diagnosis with Celiac Disease at a young age. I remember how my doctor’s use of analogies to explain my condition, in spite of the fact there is no cure, made me feel understood and sparked my interest in medicine and compassionate communication. These experiences ignited my passion for equitable access to healthcare. I have also seen the power of education through me as an educator at Coded Minds Canada, and I believe that combined with modern technology, preventative educational interventions are the key to unlocking a healthier future.
Who I am today has been fully shaped by my community of family, friends, teachers and mentors that have supported me in my community-based activities and initiatives. My parents have instilled in me the values of hard work, resilience, and empathy, always encouraging me to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. Teachers and mentors throughout my life have inspired me to strive for excellence and pursue my passions fearlessly. Their belief in my potential has shaped my ability to tackle challenges, and I am really grateful for their guidance, which continues to fuel my commitment to improving lives through healthcare, hopefully as a future physician.
What is your vision for the future?
I hope the future will lead to people embracing a less polarized climate, where individuals prioritize listening and understanding others even when you have differences in opinions. A world built on empathy and open dialogue is very important for addressing the global challenges we face, from healthcare disparities to lack of education to systemic inequalities. By holding mutual respect for one another, we can unlock innovative solutions that transcend cultural, social, and political divides.
In this future, I hope to see my own role as a physician, educator, and advocate. My work will center on trying to bridge gaps, whether they are gaps in healthcare access, knowledge, or understanding. My experiences have shown me the power of education, from using analogies to explain medical conditions to tailoring lessons for diverse learners like I did at Coded Minds Canada. I want to lead initiatives that address health inequities, leveraging my background in bioinformatics and research to create solutions that are both personalized and scalable.
As a clinician and a leader, I aspire to be someone who listens to parents and communities while influencing policy and innovation. I would know my work was worth it if I see a future where fewer people fall through the cracks of healthcare systems, where education and awareness empower individuals to make informed choices, and where every child, regardless of where they are born, has the tools to reach their potential.
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