Faustino Bernadett Scholarship Recipient Excels at American Osler Society Meeting
- Bernadett
- Sep 27
- 2 min read
This spring, McGill University medical students shared their commitment to the medical humanities at the American Osler Society (AOS) annual meeting in Pasadena, California. From 152 abstracts submitted worldwide, McGill students earned four of the 13 top spots, underscoring the university’s strong presence in the study of medicine’s history and culture.
Three McGill students, Meygan Brody, Paris Dastjerdi, and Reda Hessi, were able to attend the Pasadena meeting in person. Each of them is a previous recipient of the Molina Foundation Osler Library Medical Student Research Awards, and both Paris and Meygan also won AOS Molina Travel Awards, which helped fund their attendance. The meeting itself was made possible through support from the Pam and Rolando Del Maestro Family Osler Medical Student Essay Awards and the McGill Osler Society, along with generous contributions from the Osler Library Board of Curators and Montreal’s broader community.
The awards at the AOS meeting recognize excellence in medical student presentations, and this year McGill students continued their strong record:
First Prize: Paris Dastjerdi – “Restoring Avicenna’s Tomb: A Historical Analysis of William Osler’s Efforts”
Third Prize: Meygan Brody – “Justifying Judgment: How Canadian Temperance Textbooks Use Medicine to Teach Morality”
The third student, Reda Hessi, presented on “Harold Griffith and Sir Robert Macintosh: Untold Stories of Curare’s Journey to the Operating Room.”
About Reda Hessi
Reda Hessi is a medical student at McGill University with a strong interest in both medicine and the humanities. His passion for the arts and critical thinking has earned him provincial and national awards in poetry and philosophy in Canada.
Established in 2024 and named after Faustino Bernadett for his generous contribution, The Bernadett Family International Medical Student Scholarship Award, supports students conducting medical humanities research in the United Kingdom. Reda Hessi was one of only two recipients of this prestigious scholarship, undertaking a four-week research project in London titled “The Reception of Curare in Medicine and the Influence of the Pharmaceutical Industry.”
Reda shared his excitement about the award:
"I am immensely grateful for having been selected for the AOS Bernadett Family International Medical Student Scholarship Award. This exceptional opportunity to engage with rare collections in the UK will deeply enrich my research and broaden my perspective. I look forward to making new discoveries and sharing my findings."
About the McGill Osler Society
Founded in 1921, the McGill Osler Society is the university’s oldest student society. Inspired by Sir William Osler, it offers lectures and discussions that connect medicine with the humanities and social sciences. The Society also encourages students to get involved in philanthropy and gain experiences that help them grow as well-rounded physicians.
Tino Bernadett’s Connection to the Osler Society
Tino Bernadett serves as the chairman of the finance committee for the American Osler Society. With over 20 years of experience as an anesthesiologist in Long Beach, California, Dr. Faustino Bernadett’s background in medicine made his involvement with the American Osler Society a natural fit.
Throughout his career, Dr. Bernadett has focused on helping patients manage pain during and after medical procedures. He began his medical journey at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, where he earned his medical degree.
Comments