Algoma University Students Shine at National Health-Care Conference

Delegates earn top finishes in case challenges and research poster competition

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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For the first time, Algoma University sent 21 students from its Sault Ste. Marie and Brampton campuses to the 21st annual Canadian Undergraduate Conference on Health Care (CUCOH) at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. The students participated in case challenges, research presentations, and other conference activities, with several earning top finishes, including a first-place award in the national research poster competition.

Why it matters

Algoma University's participation in the prestigious national health-care conference reflects the institution's commitment to providing experiential learning opportunities, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and supporting students as they explore pathways in health care, research, leadership, and community impact. The conference also allowed Algoma University students to bring a northern perspective to the conversation around addressing pressing health-care challenges and bridging the gap in health outcomes between northern and southern regions.

The details

At CUCOH, Algoma University delegates competed in case challenges, with Jacob Kajnar earning first place in the 'Urban Capacity vs Rural Constraints: A Comparative Systems Analysis of ED Wait Times in Canada' case. Shrishti Gupta secured second place, and Navdeep Kaur and Tanvi Malik earned third place in the 'Cultural Safety vs Service Delivery: A Co-Developed Reintegration and Wellness Program for Indigenous Youth' case. In addition, Kajnar was awarded first place in the national research poster competition, which featured more than 40 undergraduate researchers from institutions across Canada.

  • The 21st annual Canadian Undergraduate Conference on Health Care (CUCOH) was held recently at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.

The players

Algoma University

A public university located in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, with a focus on experiential learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and supporting students in exploring pathways in health care, research, leadership, and community impact.

Jacob Kajnar

A fourth-year Environmental Science student at Algoma University who earned first place in the 'Urban Capacity vs Rural Constraints: A Comparative Systems Analysis of ED Wait Times in Canada' case challenge and first place in the national research poster competition at CUCOH.

Shrishti Gupta

An Algoma University student who secured second place in the 'Cultural Safety vs Service Delivery: A Co-Developed Reintegration and Wellness Program for Indigenous Youth' case challenge at CUCOH.

Navdeep Kaur

An Algoma University student who, along with Tanvi Malik, earned third place in the 'Cultural Safety vs Service Delivery: A Co-Developed Reintegration and Wellness Program for Indigenous Youth' case challenge at CUCOH.

Tanvi Malik

An Algoma University student who, along with Navdeep Kaur, earned third place in the 'Cultural Safety vs Service Delivery: A Co-Developed Reintegration and Wellness Program for Indigenous Youth' case challenge at CUCOH.

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What they’re saying

“Opportunities like CUCOH are incredibly valuable for undergraduate students, particularly those exploring health-related careers from diverse academic pathways. The conference allowed our students to engage with complex health-care issues, build confidence as emerging scholars, and represent Algoma University within a national academic community. I was proud to support their participation and see the impact this experience had on their learning and professional growth.”

— Dr. Nikki Shaw, Algoma University Biology Professor and Faculty Advisor (sootoday.com)

“Bringing a group of Algoma University students to the Canadian Undergraduate Conference on Health Care was an incredible experience. As Algoma U's first time attending the conference, we were proud to bring a northern perspective to the conversation. Conferences like these are important for fostering collaboration across regions, which is essential to addressing today's most pressing health-care challenges and bridging the gap in health outcomes between northern and southern regions.”

— Emilie Vezina, President of the Algoma University Health Science Club and a fourth-year Biology student specializing in Health Science (sootoday.com)

The takeaway

Algoma University's strong performance at the prestigious Canadian Undergraduate Conference on Health Care demonstrates the institution's commitment to providing its students with valuable experiential learning opportunities and supporting them as they explore pathways in health care, research, and community impact. The university's participation also highlights the importance of fostering collaboration across regions to address pressing health-care challenges and bridge the gap in health outcomes between northern and southern areas.