When Zaeem Qureshi (Respiratory Therapy, ’25) was born premature in Pakistan, the hospital lacked some neonatal resources and had no respiratory therapists to assist. He was sent home after just one week, but against the odds and through loving care – as well as a makeshift homemade incubator – his family, in particular his mother and great-grandmother, would guide him to health.
“Hearing this story recounted over the years, it became my goal to make a difference and help make people feel safe when they are at their most vulnerable,” he says.
Zaeem has always held a passion for science and healthcare. For the graduating respiratory therapy student, and this year’s Michener valedictorian, that interest was sparked by his mother who worked as an anesthesiologist in Pakistan.
He recalls the time he watched her comfort a patient during a surgery from the gallery. “I remember how the patient gave my mother thanks and prayers for all that she was doing for him,” Zaeem says. “That was such an inspirational moment for me.”
After his family arrived in Canada, Zaeem’s brother spent time in the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, which provided Zaeem more familiarity with hospital environments as he visited frequently. In later years, he would come back and volunteer at SickKids as well.
That sense of purpose stayed with him as the pull towards healthcare grew stronger. It drove him to complete a BSc in biomedical sciences from the University of Waterloo. As he weighed his options, he was introduced to respiratory therapy and its patient-centered work, and to Michener.
“I love interacting with people and helping any way I can, so the more I learned about the field, the more it aligned with who I am,” he says. “And studying at Michener just made sense—it’s part of UHN (University Health Network), has a great reputation, and the small class sizes meant I would get more hands-on experience.”
Over his final year, Zaeem has found great success – he was elected student council president, named valedictorian and received Michener’s prestigious Presidents Award, among other accolades.
And following graduation this summer, he will return to SickKids—this time as a respiratory therapist in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), coming full circle to provide the vital support and care that he once needed.
“This is special, to get to care for premature babies like I once was,” he says. “I am proud to be a Michener graduate, and I am excited step into my career with confidence and compassion.”