On the last day of Women’s History Month 2022, we’d excited to share the spotlight on our Family Practice Enhanced Skills Category 1 Resident: Dr. Cloé Solanki. Keep reading to learn more about her.
Dr. Cloé Solanki with a toque in the foreground with a beautiful ocean and sunset view in the background.
1. Favourite part about your residency experience so far:
My favourite part of my palliative medicine training has been getting the opportunity to care for patients in a holistic way. There’s so much more to a patient than their disease, and in palliative care we explore the whole person including the social, psychological and spiritual aspects of their life to guide our care. I see how much my patients benefit from this approach to care, and I find it very rewarding as a care provider.
2. Favourite song:
That’s a tough one, so many to choose from! Let’s go with this funky romantic tune: “They Sent You” by Kai Straw.
3.Favourite past-time activities:
I love birdwatching, hiking, dancing, kayaking and playing board games.
4. Favourite community spot:
Well, it’s not really a restaurant, but my favourite place to get food in my community is at the Riley Park Farmer’s Market. I get to support local farmers and businesses while doing my grocery shopping – how great is that! There are also always delicious treats for sale at the market. The pakoras are my favourite. You will find me there pretty much every Saturday.
5. A book or article you would recommend:
I would recommend ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ by Delia Owens. It’s a beautifully written story that highlights the wonder of nature. I think it’s a bestseller for good reason.
6. As its International Women’s month, who is a woman that inspires you?
The most inspiring woman that I know is my mom. I can’t think of a more caring person in the world. She supported me throughout all my endeavours. Whether it was driving me to early morning dance recitals or helping me practice for medical school interviews – she was up for it. She gracefully balanced her role as a mother with an amazing career as a grade 1 teacher, from which she just recently retired (congrats mom!). I strive to be as resilient and loving as she is every day.
7. What are you most looking forward to in your career ahead?
I look forward to learning every day from my colleagues and my patients. One of the most unique aspects of our careers in medicine is that we get to be lifelong learners…it doesn’t stop after residency!