McMaster University’s Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization (BDC) Program recently celebrated its 10th anniversary with a day-long student experience showcase.
The BDC Engage Symposium brought together over 100 students, faculty, staff, and community and industry partners to learn about the program’s history and students.
“The event really showcased the outstanding work that our students do, both at the undergraduate and graduate level,” says Sara Andres, program director for BDC and a member of the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research (IIDR) at McMaster.
The program, which trains students to approach discovery-based research with business and entrepreneurship in mind, facilitates experiential learning opportunities through which students meaningfully connect with industry and community organizations.
These connections allow for on-the-job skill development and often catalyze work opportunities for students immediately after they graduate, says Andres, an associate professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences.
Case in point: The symposium’s keynote speaker Henry Hu, one of McMaster’s very first BDC graduates. Hu is the chief operating officer at Enhanced Medical Nutrition – the company where he completed his BDC internship nearly a decade ago.
Hu spoke about life after the BDC program, reflecting on his personal ups and downs and encouraging students to embrace the turbulence of professional development.
“It was an honour to return to McMaster and share my journey with the BDC community,” says Hu. “I wanted students to see that career paths are rarely linear, but with curiosity, resilience and a supportive network, they can create real impact.”
Hu’s talk was book-ended by remarks from what Andres calls “the program’s Mount Rushmore” – founder Eric Brown, past director Andrew McArthur, and department chair Brian Coombes.
The trio, all members of the IIDR, spoke about the program’s unconventional mix of business and science, which has produced a long line of graduates who are thriving at a range of health science organizations.
“It was special to not only reflect on the program’s origins, but also to celebrate the successes and growth of the program over the past decade,” Andres says.
The event closed with talks and poster presentations from graduate and undergraduate BDC students, who reflected on thesis work, internship experiences and transitioning into the workplace.
“Seeing our learners progress from students to professionals is genuinely so rewarding and exciting, and this event really captured that growth,” Andres says.