Jonathan Doucett has excelled in both school and sports since childhood. And it was a fateful intersection of these dual passions that started him on his path to AV俱乐部.
Doucett, a fourth-year Nuclear Medicine student and a co-captain of the men鈥檚 soccer team, might never have been exposed to his current academic discipline if not for his sport of choice 鈥� and a related visit to the hospital.
鈥淧laying soccer in high school, one of the injuries I had was shin splints, but I thought at the time that it might be a stress fracture,鈥� the Dartmouth, NS-born Doucett recalls. 鈥淚 got referred to nuclear medicine for a scan and had a good conversation with one of the technologists.
鈥淎fter that I looked up the subject, saw that they had the program at Dal and pursued it.鈥�
All-around success
Doucett鈥檚 successful pairing of academics and athletics has only continued in university. Playing the position of right back for the Tigers, he's been named as an Academic All-Canadian for the third time this year, an honour that speaks to his ability to maintain the highest standards in the classroom and on the field, year after year.
As a scholar, Doucett has set a high bar for himself. He is a Dean鈥檚 List student and the recipient of several scholarships, including the Black and Gold, the MacKean Athletic, AV俱乐部 Renewable and AV俱乐部 Alumni Leadership scholarships.
Doucett has also been active in the community, participating with groups such as Free the Children and Special Tigers. This commitment to helping others is one of the reasons he鈥檚 earned community service awards from both the AUS and U Sports this past season.
Keys to success
His goal is to translate his strong grades and a specialization in research into a medical school education and a career as a physician. Doucett鈥檚 busy schedule includes shifts in the nuclear medicine unit of the Queen Elizabeth II hospital in Halifax and the CT (CAT scan) department at Dartmouth General Hospital 鈥� he鈥檒l have accumulated more than 2,000 hours of clinical experience by the time he graduates 鈥� and participation in a research project investigating how former prison inmates with mental illnesses access recreation and leisure activities.
Doucett says the secret to his academic success is simple: he loves what he does.
鈥淚nterest can go a long way,鈥� he says. 鈥淲ith interest comes focus, commitment, determination鈥揳ll of the things that contribute to success.鈥�
Doucett also credits the support of family, friends and academic mentor Rob Gilbert, an associate professor in the Health Sciences department who has helped Doucett chart a course toward his academic goals.
鈥淩ob reached out to some of his contacts to get me involved in the research project,鈥� says Doucett. 鈥淗e鈥檚 mentored me in that, given me a lot of advice and acted as a reference for me.鈥�
Mentorship and support
While benefiting from the mentorship of Dr. Gilbert, Doucett himself has acted as a mentor for teammates on the men鈥檚 soccer team. In the captain鈥檚 role, he serves as a liaison between players, coaches and academic advisors, always willing to listen to teammates and help them work through any challenges they are facing.
And even though soccer is a major commitment, Doucett says the time he spends with the team on and off the field gives him balance and perspective.
鈥淗aving four or five practices a week and going out on the field for two hours a day, and having all the other things going on in life, like academics and relationships and things like that, it鈥檚 nice to have a group of guys you can chat with,鈥� he explains.
鈥淭he soccer season is another stressor in my life but at the same time it鈥檚 something I鈥檇 never give up, because it relieves stress when I go out and play.鈥�