Meet the Team – Little Medical School

Layal Bou Abdo BSN, MSN

President

Boasting more than 15 years in healthcare, she embarked as a registered nurse and advanced to Director of Nursing positions, steering hospital projects encompassing operations and commissioning. As the Passionate Owner and Director of Operations at Little Medical School-Ottawa, she fosters young minds, kindling curiosity and learning through enjoyable means. Her dedication to healthcare education fuels her quest for a constructive community influence. Her unwavering commitment to Little Medical School mirrors her aspiration to ignite the ambitions of budding healthcare professionals.

"My daughter inspired me with her curiosity to understand the human body; this has opened our eyes to Little Medical School".

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Wissam Attieh, MSc, PMP

Managing Director

Wissam has more than 15 years of experience in the healthcare industry. As a Biomedical Engineer, he believes experimenting is the best way to learn.

My favourite quote is: "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn". The LMS concept is based on fun experiments, and this is what we wanted to bring to our community.

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Noorin Waldriff

Operations Manager

Noorin, a dedicated mother to an inquisitive 5-year-old, brings a diverse background of working with children in various settings. As a former entrepreneur, her strong business mindset complements her passion for nurturing young minds. She's delivered interactive programs that spark curiosity and creativity, fostering a love for learning. Beyond her professional journey, Noorin values family time, enjoys staying active, and embraces creative pursuits with her son. Her enthusiasm for health education aligns with her commitment to holistic growth. Join Noorin on this exciting learning adventure as we inspire and explore together.

Alexandra O'brien

Instructor

Alexandra, currently in her fourth year at the University of Ottawa, embarked on her academic journey in Biology. Fueled by curiosity and a deep passion for understanding both science and human dynamics, she finds joy in the pursuit of knowledge. Beyond her academic pursuits, Alexandra enjoys immersing herself in the world of music and engaging in the mental challenges presented by puzzles.

Angélique Cléroux

Instructor

Angélique recently earned her degree in Biochemistry from the University of Ottawa and aspires to become a doctor. She has experience tutoring students from elementary to university levels and working in a family medicine clinic. Her hobbies include reading, playing soccer, hiking, and skiing. She is thrilled to combine her passion for medicine and science with her love of teaching.

Ashi Kodituwakku

Instructor

Ashi is a fourth-year Biology student at the University of Ottawa. She is passionate about the life sciences and teaching them to children! This is Ashi’s second year with LMSO and she is so excited to continue teaching her favourite course Little Doctor School!

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Ashley Lessard

Instructor

Ashley recently graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Health Sciences. She is passionate about sharing her love of science and enjoys working with children. Ashley is thrilled to be joining Little Medical School Ottawa and looks forward to inspiring the next generation of young learners!

Ava Jungjohann

Instructor

Ava is a fourth-year Health Science student at the University of Ottawa. She has experience tutoring children of all ages and loves sharing her passion for science and medicine. Ava is very excited to be working with LMSO and is eager to make a positive impact by promoting curiosity, and fostering a love for learning in science and health-related fields.

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Caryn D'Silva

Instructor

Caryn is a third-year Health Sciences student in the Integrative Biosciences program at uOttawa. Her passion for science has always driven her, and she is excited to share this enthusiasm with the next generation. Caryn loves working with kids and has experience leading a youth group as well as volunteering with Little Medical School Ottawa (LMSO). In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in allied healthcare. Outside of her studies, Caryn enjoys experimenting with new recipes, photography, and spending time with her dog, Bruno.

Emma Valcourt Landry

Instructor

Emma is a third-year Sciences de la Santé student at the University of Ottawa with dreams of becoming a pediatrician for Doctors without Borders. Alongside her role at the LMS, she is a passionate dance teacher, works as a research assistant and volunteers at the Roger Neilson Children's Hospice. In her free time, she loves bouldering, spending time outdoors, listening to her favourite music and backpacking the world.

Iman Irfan

Instructor

Iman is a third-year Health Sciences student at the University of Ottawa with aspirations of pursuing a medical career. With experience as a camp counsellor in Toronto, she brings strong leadership and a passion for working with youth. In her free time, Iman enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, and playing sports — especially badminton. She is excited to join Little Medical School Ottawa and looks forward to sharing her knowledge of health sciences and medicine with young learners.

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Janice Henderson

Instructor

Janice is a full-time elementary teacher, a volunteer medical first responder, and she loves science so much that she has been squeezing in time to work with LMSO since 2019. She’s really excited to be able to help run a few wilderness medicine camps this summer, especially since she is an expert in survival!

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Jason Ma

Instructor

Jason is a second-year Health Science student with aspirations of becoming a paediatrician, passionate about working with children and supporting their growth and development. Enjoys volleyball, music, and volunteering in free time.

Kayla Skaff

Instructor

Kayla is a second-year student at the University of Ottawa pursuing an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences. She loves turning big medical ideas into fun, hands-on learning for kids. With years of experience working with young children, she brings energy, creativity, and lots of encouragement to every class. She is passionate about helping students explore how their bodies work and is excited to spark curiosity and confidence as an instructor with Little Medical School Ottawa.

Lauren Grey

Instructor

Lauren holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Western University and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Windsor. With a strong background in research and extensive experience teaching children of all ages, she is passionate about making STEM education engaging and accessible. Outside the classroom, Lauren enjoys rock climbing, baking, and spending time with her cat, Pepper.

Mia Klassen

Instructor

Mia is in her fourth year of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa and hopes to become a doctor specializing in pediatrics. She is currently conducting a research project on the heart in the uOttawa Faculty of Medicine! Mia loves teaching and working with children and is extremely excited to be working at LMSO!

Nayomi Thambiaiah

Instructor

Nayomi is a third-year Biomedical Sciences student at the University of Ottawa. She has several years of experience in tutoring, where she combines her passion for medicine with her passion for guiding young minds. Nayomi is excited to be starting her second year with LMSO!

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Neal Rai Singh

Instructor

Neal Rai Singh is an Honours Bachelor of Biomedical Science student at the University of Ottawa. While he currently volunteers in cardiology research at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, much of his experience comes from several years of coaching and supervising youth soccer. He is fluent in English, French, and Hindi, and uses the communication skills he developed as a coach to help students break down and understand complex topics. Neal enjoys balancing his academic focus in science with a hands-on, practical approach to teaching and leadership.

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Sally Adil

Instructor

Sally is a fourth year Biomedical Sciences student at the University of Ottawa. She is passionate about science and enjoys sharing her knowledge with students eager to learn. When not instructing, she enjoys reading. This is her third year with LMSO!

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Sherine Azzi

Instructor

Sherine is a second-year Health Sciences student at the University of Ottawa with aspirations of becoming a pediatrician. She has experience as a camp counsellor and has volunteered in a hospital setting. Sherine loves working with children and has always had a strong passion for medicine. She is excited to be part of Little Medical School Ottawa and looks forward to inspiring future healthcare leaders.

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Yassmeen Eid

Instructor

Yassmeen is currently finishing her third year as a Biomedical Sciences student at the University of Ottawa. She is a competitive soccer coach and player who has a strong passion for sports and physical activity, including gym training, track and field, and rock climbing. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, playing different instruments, and spending time with her three cats. She is excited to begin her role as an instructor with LMSO and looks forward to inspiring students through hands-on learning.

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