Dominique Chudd strives to make a difference in the lives of others, and as of Oct. 17, they are one degree closer to meeting that reality.
Chudd, who grew up in Gimli, was named University of Winnipeg’s valedictorian for the fall class of 2025.
“I was in shock when they first asked to nominate me and I was simply just excited I had the opportunity to be nominated,” Chudd said. “I figured this was just a nomination and nothing much would come out of it, but when I was actually offered the opportunity to be valedictorian I was even more shocked.”
They used their speech as an opportunity to amplify minority voices quoting Ness Wynrush, a black, Winnipeg-based artist and community organizer and hip hop artist, MF DOOM, in their speech. It was important for Chudd to use this time to share that all voices and backgrounds matter, while addressing their peers on behalf of the entire school.
Chudd with Dr. Scott Oake, who was bestowed an Honorary Doctorate of Laws during convocation
They recently completed a Master of Arts in Cultural Studies in the Texts and Cultures stream before beginning a Master of Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Manitoba this September.
“In high school I was having difficulties deciding what I wanted to do as a career because I had a lot of different things I enjoyed like sports, band, sciences, English classes and other extra curriculars,” they explained. “I’ve always been into advocacy work, supporting communities, and supporting people who are under-privileged so I guess I thought something in health care would be helpful.”
They described their post-secondary schooling experience as multidisciplinary, now graduated with a Bachelor of Science, a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s degree.
Entering their hopeful final two years of studies, Chudd is training to become a physician assistant. Their interest in health care began in high school after completing an Interlake-Eastern Health Regional Authority internship with Gimli paramedics in Grade 11. It wasn’t until Gimli hired their first physician’s assistant that Chudd discovered this career route.
As a physician assistant, they’ll be able to provide treatment, perform diagnostics, take patient histories, and conduct physical exams while still enjoying flexibility within the field.
“Medicine is a great way to integrate my multiple interests in terms of humanities and caring for the community and the sciences,” they noted.
Chudd hopes to one day return to Gimli to give back to the community that supported them. Their family’s long history in health and emergency services has also inspired their career choice as their grandmother, Joan Chudd, was a nurse, their mom, Corrine Chudd, is a dental hygienist, and their dad, Mike Chudd, is the chief of the Gimli Fire Department.
“In terms of community care, wellbeing and reacting to an emergency situation, I have been inspired by my family members to pursue that too,” they said. “The ability to sustain my studies has come from the support of my partner, family, friends and community–– I wouldn’t have had a lot of my opportunities if it wasn’t for them. Growing up in a small town and seeing how a community can come together gave me the ability to see how much a community matters and I want it to be a relationship based in reciprocity. My needs have been met in this community now I want the opportunity to reinvest them back into it as well.”
Chudd also appreciated how their cultural studies background complemented their interest in health care. Their studies allowed them to explore how western medical systems were built and how those structures continue to affect patients today.
“Culture studies looks at culture as a field of our society in which power is tested and negotiated,” they explained. “It uses our culture to look at ideas of what is considered sick, what is considered not sick and how that’s politicized while we look at the root causes of medical discrimination. It can show us how we can support those who are underprivileged, such as people who are discriminated due to their race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality and more, who often face discrimination while receiving care. We really just want to understand why that discrimination continues to occur and part of it is due to structural systems and cultural ideas that we inherited from the past which informs much of how we function as individuals and communities.”
Throughout their eight years of university studies, they noted it was their passion for learning that has kept them motivated and discovering how they were able to connect certain aspects of their degrees like a puzzle. When thinking back to their first-year self, they have one piece of advice–– it will all work out in the end.
“There were times where it felt like I was trying so hard but didn’t seem to be getting anywhere. But now that I have perspective and I look back on that a lot of those times where I felt like I wasn’t getting anywhere, all the work I was putting in really was launching me to where I am at now.”
They remind themselves –– and others –– that progress takes time and that discomfort can be part of the process.
“There’s a lesson to be learned in all your situations that will be applicable to where you’re wanting to go,” they added.
