When Mohammad Goudarzi-Rad first joined Bloomberg Nursing as an international PhD student, he was paired with a mentor from the Faculty’s student-led Peer-to-Peer Mentorship program. The support he received was life-changing he says, and has played a huge part in why he has become an active volunteer at the Faculty and in U of T campus life.
Goudarzi-Rad is a recipient of a 2026 U of T Student Leadership Award, an award given by the U of T Alumni Association in recognition of students who contribute positively to improving campus life for their fellow students through volunteer work.
Paying it forward
Goudarzi-Rad is now a peer mentor himself, and the coordinator of the Peer-to-Peer Mentorship program at Bloomberg Nursing. The goal of the program, is to provide peer support for new PhD students as they transition into the program, fostering a sense of connection and providing guidance on the resources they might need to successfully navigate through the program.
“Now it is my turn to support other students, and continue this chain of volunteer work that is especially crucial for PhD students who are starting their journey,” says Goudarzi-Rad. “I am grateful for this recognition from U of T, because volunteering takes a lot of time and commitment, but it is worth it to build a sense of community for students.”
This year, the Peer-to-Peer mentorship program at Bloomberg Nursing has matched seven mentees who are in their first or second year of the PhD, with upper year mentors who have similar research interests or methods.
Supporting all students at U of T is worth it
Goudarzi-Rad is an avid believer in being involved in campus life, and he has several volunteer positions across the university.
In addition to coordinating the peer mentorship program, Goudarzi-Rad has also been involved in the Faculty’s Graduate Nurses’ Student Society (GNSS) as a PhD representative, planning social events for graduate nursing students to create a sense of community.
A former professional soccer player in Iran, Goudarzi-Rad missed playing his favourite sport, and soon created a team from scratch to play in the U of T intramural league. He says they have been three-time champions already.
Goudarzi-Rad also serves as a Residence Advisor (RA) at University Family Housing, where he also lives with his family. His main role is to support new families arriving at the residence by orienting them to U of T and implementing educational and social programs.
“To me volunteering is really about paying it forward. Yes, it involves a lot of energy and commitment, especially when you are juggling family life and your academic work, but to support students here at U of T is definitely worth it,” says Goudarzi-Rad.