Black Futures Month: Meet two Emily Stowe Scholars

Women’s College Hospital Foundation is proud to share the stories of two remarkable Emily Stowe Scholars, Nya Blades and Salva Niwe. Their experiences and insights highlight the impact of the program and their vision for a more inclusive future in healthcare. Both Nya and Salva participated in the program during the summers of 2023 and 2024. They reflected on their time at Women’s, why initiatives like the Emily Stowe Scholars Program are important, and their hopes for the future. 

Meet Nya Blades and Salva Niwe

Tell us about yourself – What are your academic goals and aspirations?

SALVA: I’m someone who’s very interested in health equity and the social determinants of health, and I want to combine these interests in my career. In the future, I would love to work as a primary care physician, specifically working with underserved populations. I’m glad that I was able to work at Women’s College Hospital, because the health equity aspect is so evident in everything they do.  

NYA: I want to be a clinician researcher, potentially in psychiatry, gynecology or physiatry. I aspire to do research as well as have my own practice where I focus on serving equity deserving-populations. Especially since working at Women’s College Hospital, I’ve seen the importance of listening to your patients. I think that doctors are some of the best people to bridge gaps within the medical system, because they’re working hands-on with their patients, seeing which areas are under-researched and what issues can be fixed. 

How did the Emily Stowe Scholars Program support your academic and personal growth?

NYA:  The program taught me a lot about what research looks like in a professional setting and how members of a team work together. It helped me step outside of my comfort zone, to communicate and share my opinions, to learn how to contribute as a good team member. It also helped me prepare for university. I spoke with doctors and research coordinators, and they shared so many tips on managing your time well in university and preparing for the MCAT – it really helped me grow.  

SALVA: It allowed me to see what a career in a field I’m interested in could look like. Something that I was able to benefit from were the networking sessions. We connected with different physicians and staff to learn more about them and really understand what their work looks like. That was something that I felt was very impactful, because it allowed me to see exactly what it takes to do the type of work that I want to do. 

How do you believe the values of Emily Stowe (feminism, social justice, equality) are relevant today? 

NYA: I think those values are becoming more and more important every day, because people are recognizing that there are communities that are not receiving the same benefits as others and how much this is holding them back. It’s relevant because, while there are organizations that are focusing on social justice issues, there are spaces and organizations that aren’t willing to adapt – they are really being left behind, and it’s impacting everyone as a result. 

SALVA: These values are needed everywhere. When trying to solve issues and better support those who are affected, you will definitely consider topics such as social justice and equity. The Emily Stowe Scholars Program puts these topics at the forefront, so once we’re out in our careers, we are better prepared to confront some of these larger issues. 

What are your hopes for the future of women’s leadership and equity?  

SALVA: I hope to be able to support those who have historically not been supported, like equity-deserving populations. Women and minority groups alike need to make use of the power of collaboration. Therefore, my hope is that we use our strengths and assets to come together and bring the change that we need.  

NYA: I hope to see more women in positions of power, specifically, in the medical field and other careers where women are previously excluded, like engineering or business. My hope is also that, for women that are currently in positions of power, they’re focused on uplifting others and being mentors for other women, so we can all succeed.  

Through the Emily Stowe Scholars Program, we support students from diverse backgrounds – Black, Indigenous, racialized, and beyond – who are pursuing careers in medicine and health research, to close the gap felt by scholars in marginalized communities. By providing these opportunities, we are investing in a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system for all. Together, these efforts are paving the way for stronger, healthier communities and a brighter future for Black women in healthcare. 

Click here to donate to the Emily Stowe Scholars Program. 

Nya Blades is a first-year biology major at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey and Division 1 track and field athlete. 

Salva Niwe is a fourth-year health sciences student at the University of Waterloo.