Fatima Faisal

BSc (Population Health & Data) in Health Sciences

Fatima Faisal’s brings her lived experiences to inform her pursuit in addressing health service gaps and community contributions.

Originally from a smaller community in Northern British Columbia, Fatima Faisal saw firsthand how geographic location and limited access to services can shape health and well-being. From a young age, she realized that health is shaped not only by individual factors like genetics and lifestyle, but also by structural factors: where people live, what resources are available, and how systems are designed.

“This sparked my interest in health sciences, particularly in understanding health inequities and the social determinants that shape them,” she explains. “I wanted to pursue a degree that would build the knowledge and skills to better understand and contribute to addressing the kinds of health service gaps I witnessed growing up, while also giving me a foundation to stay engaged with my community.”

Working towards a Bachelor of Science in the Public Health & Data stream, Faisal was initially drawn to the Faculty of Health Sciences for its broad coverage of subjects while maintaining a strong focus on prevention and population health. She has found the program helped her build skills like cultural humility and community engagement, which she has found essential when working meaningfully within communities.

In and outside of SFU, Faisal focuses her extracurriculars on community facing roles. She was even recognized for her excellence in her community/volunteer service work, and earned the 2024 Jack Uppal Community Service Award. At SFU, she works with Residence Life as a Community Advisor; she serves as a first point of contact for residence students transitioning into university life, supporting them academically and socially through peer mentorship/leadership. “A meaningful part of my Residence Life work has been connecting with students from diverse backgrounds and being a resource for them as they navigate university life. Having navigated a challenging transition myself, I understand firsthand how much that support matters, and find it deeply rewarding to give back in that way,” Faisal explains. Additionally as a student, she is a member of SFU’s Accessibility Committee and contributes to a community-engaged project on residents’ perspectives on forestry and climate change in Northern BC.

In Northern BC, she worked with her municipality’s Community Services and Recreation departments helping plan/facilitate initiatives and events for residents and visitors. In addition, she contributes to local youth-focused behaviour support and mental health services. “Living in a smaller community has also shown me from a young age the strength of close-knit relationships and what it looks like when people genuinely invest in and support each other. This shaped my values around community service long before university, and all of these roles deepened my understanding of what meaningful inclusion and collaboration looks like in practice.”

When she graduates, she hopes to pursue further education in a health-related Master’s or professional program; through her experiences engaging with communities, she is deeply interested in contributing to community/systems health efforts while directly working with individuals in healthcare settings. As for advice for students, she encourages being patient with yourself.

“Finding your community at university can take time, especially if you're moving somewhere new or if you're unsure of what you want to pursue,” she says. “Stay consistent in your efforts, be open to the opportunities and people around you, and seek support when you need it. The Faculty of Health Sciences and the university have great support/resources available, and the professors and staff are genuinely passionate and committed to helping you succeed in your journey.”