Mature student Bonnie Cremo recently completed her first year of Dalhousie Medical School – another step on her long-standing dream of becoming a physician. Her journey was not the typical straight line of a young 20-something who goes from high school to university to medical school.

Ms. Cremo started her family at a youthful age; she was expecting her first child when she graduated high school. While this put her career in medicine on the back burner, it did not deter her from her ambition of attending medical school at Dalhousie University’s School of Medicine.

Career in education
“I decided that I would still work toward one day studying medicine, and in the meantime, and in the interest of my growing family, I decided to study education,” said Ms. Cremo.

She received her Bachelor of Education and Master of Education from St. Francis Xavier University, enabling her to embark on her teaching career. In 2011, Ms. Cremo began teaching Grade 9 at Allison Bernard Memorial High School, in her home community of Eskasoni First Nation, Cape Breton. She taught there for 12 years while raising her four children – three sons and a daughter. Clifford Jr. is 21, Cassie is 16, Maddox is nine and Paxxton is five.

During those years, she helped her mother navigate many medical appointments, procedures and aftercare requirements. “I’ve always had a deep interest in how the body works,” said Ms. Cremo – an interest that led to her mother relying on her for explanations about her medical experiences.

Changing course
When her children were older, Ms. Cremo felt the time was right to apply for medical school. She was supported by friends who urged her not to give up on her dream of becoming a physician and drew inspiration from several cousins who had studied nursing.

Finally, she had a champion in her daughter, Cassie, who helped her to make the leap to apply for medical school. “She was and still is my biggest supporter,” said Ms. Cremo. “She urged me to take the steps to apply to Dal. She is a go-getter, and I’ve learned and borrowed strength from her several times throughout the process.”

Supportive home life
She also credits the support of her high-school sweetheart, now husband, Clifford, who takes care of their children and home responsibilities. “He stays back home in Cape Breton caring for our four children. He recruits help from my dad, Bear, and other members of our families, friends and community members as needed, particularly since all our children take part in organized sports and getting them to their events can be challenging,” she said.

Her two oldest children also pitch in to help with their younger siblings. “Clifford Jr. and his father share responsibilities in getting the children to where they must be, and Cassie helps keep her brothers in line,” she said with a laugh.

Ms. Cremo says that as an adult learner, she has found the workload challenging, but she has strategies for keeping her head above water. “I keep afloat by giving myself grace in completing prioritized tasks to the best of my ability and by putting off other tasks for another time, or day,” she said.

She also finds solace in her fellow learners who have shared experiences and understand what she is going through. “Speaking with my peers also keeps me grounded, as I am reminded that I am not alone in challenging times,” she said.

Planning for the future
She says she experiences standout moments every other day in the Tupper Building. “I am in awe that I have come so far in making my dream a reality and honouring those, past and present, who have supported me along the way.”

Ms. Cremo’s plan is to practise rural family medicine in Cape Breton after graduating medical school and completing her residency. “I aspire to one day practise medicine in the Mi’kmaq language,” she said.

Ultimately, she says, she hopes her journey shows others that it’s never too late to follow your dreams and that her story inspires future learners, no matter their age, to choose a career in medicine.

*This blog post is an excerpt of a longer article that appeared in the September 2024 issue of doctorsNS magazine. 

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