William Tang

Public Health Journey

Growing up, I never imagined that I’d build a career in healthcare. Like many kids, when asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I had all kinds of answers — from police officer to astronaut.

I completed high school in Ontario, where students are required to complete 40 hours of community service to graduate. I chose to volunteer at a hospital nearby, mainly for convenience. But something unexpected happened — I really enjoyed it. I became curious about how healthcare worked and wanted to learn more. By the time I finished high school, I had volunteered hundreds of hours. Looking back, that’s how the seed of my public health journey was planted.

By Grade 12, I had to choose a major. While I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do, I knew I wanted to continue learning about healthcare. So I enrolled in the Health Science program at the University of Waterloo. This program is unique because students graduate with five four-month co-op experiences. I figured that gaining real-world experience might help me find clarity in my career path.

While the co-op placements exposed me to a range of careers, the defining moment came in my third year, when I took an introductory epidemiology course. I learned how diseases are distributed in populations, what drives them, and how they can be prevented. Not long after I took the course, COVID-19 emerged. During the pandemic, I conducted research under the supervision of an epidemiologist, applying classroom principles to real-world scenarios. That experience deepened my understanding of public health and confirmed that this was the field I wanted to pursue.

Motivated by this experience, I went on to pursue a master’s degree in Epidemiology at McGill University. There, I received rigorous training in research methods, data analysis, and study design. For my thesis, I led two studies evaluating the post-market cardiovascular safety of a new diabetes medication. Beyond technical skills, I also developed my ability to manage research projects, collaborate across interdisciplinary teams, and translate scientific findings into meaningful insights.

Now, I’ve graduated from McGill University and am eager to apply my training and experience to make an impact in public health. I’m open to opportunities across government, research, and industry. I’m also flexible with location and ready to relocate anywhere in Canada.