From CMST Student to Resident Physician in Pediatric Neurology: Catherine’s Journey Comes Full Circle

“Music has been a critical part of my development – both personally and professionally.”

Catherine graduated from CMST in 2017 after spending six to seven formative years in the program, beginning in middle school. Today, her path has taken her from violin student to the University of Toronto, McMaster University, and now into her third year of a five-year residency in Pediatric Neurology at SickKids Hospital.

But music has never left her side.

While pursuing her undergraduate degree in Life Sciences at U of T and later medical school at McMaster, Catherine continued to play violin, performing with the Hart House Orchestra and staying actively connected to music-making. Currently, she returns to CMST on Saturdays as a violin teacher, while balancing her demanding clinical training.

Reflecting on her time at CMST, Catherine recalls how pivotal those early experiences were. One of the most meaningful milestones was her first experience playing in a chamber group, where she was introduced to the collaborative nature of ensemble music. Working closely with peers, faculty, and professional musicians helped shape not only her musical development, but also her interest in performing in orchestral settings.

CMST also played a critical role in making music accessible to her in the first place. Catherine notes that without the support of the school, her musical journey may never have happened. “With [financial] barriers overcome, it was much easier for my family for me to participate in music. Otherwise, it may not have happened,” she shared.

Over time, CMST became more than a place to learn music – it became a space to build skills and confidence that would carry into every stage of her academic and professional life. Catherine credits her years at CMST with helping her develop collaboration, time management, self-directed learning, and the ability to reflect and adjust her approach to complex work – skills she now relies on daily in medicine.

Today, she describes music as foundational to her development: “Music has been a critical part of my development, both personally and professionally.”

Catherine also sees a clear throughline between music and medicine: both require a mindset of continual growth. “You’re always expanding your repertoire,” she reflects. “That applies just as much in music as it does in medicine. There’s always more to learn, and that’s what helps you improve.”

Her CMST journey has come full circle in unexpected ways. While training in neurology, she has occasionally encountered other CMST alumni in medicine, including a practicing neurologist who also studied at the school. These moments underscore the long-reaching impact of the CMST community.

Now, as both a resident physician and music teacher, Catherine finds that returning to CMST helps her stay grounded and she sees CMST as a meaningful counterbalance to the pressures of daily life. “Teaching at CMST helps to cope with stress away from the pressures of training and hospital life,” she says.

For Catherine, CMST remains distinct for its accessibility and community, and for its teaching philosophy. She highlights how students are given space to create, compose, and perform their own music, and how learning at CMST feels more like a conversation between teacher and student than a traditional top-down model.

“There are a lot of people at CMST who helped me when I was studying. And now I want to be that person for others”.