Winegard Medal winner already accepted to top international medical schools
Justin Tang might be the youngest person in the University of Guelph’s class of 2026, but he’s not letting that slow him down.
At just 19 years old, he’s graduating with a Bachelor of Science and setting his sights the world’s top medical schools.
“When I started university, I didn’t have a specific end goal in reach,” Tang says. “So, I started from where I was. I looked for opportunities, got involved in things I cared about and kept building one step at a time.”
Tang isn’t one to do things halfway. Graduating with a 98% average, he’s also leaving U of G with the William C. Winegard Medal, the highest honour an undergraduate student can receive.
His hard work has paid off. Tang has already secured offers from leading international medical schools such as Johns Hopkins, Yale, Duke, Mayo Clinic and Columbia, with merit aid up to $200,000, along with admission to multiple Canadian medical and dental schools.
The most impressive part of his post-secondary journey? He did it all in three years.
“What pushed me most was the process itself,” Tang says of his time at U of G. “As I got more involved in research, volunteering, teaching and work, I met more people, learned more about myself and became even more interested in medicine. The more I did, the more reasons I found to keep going.”
If his academic credentials weren’t enough, he’s also made an impact in the research world. Throughout his accelerated time at U of G, Tang published three abstracts and 15 peer reviewed papers. His research spans topics ranging from food science and nutrition to cancer biology and molecular medicine.
“Each opportunity became a stepping stone to the next,” he explains. “All of these experiences, though different on the surface, converged around discovery, connection and human well-being. That has reinforced my commitment to health care.”
Creating opportunities for U of G students
Dr. John Dawson, associate dean, academic in the College of Biological Science, says Tang’s success showcases what U of G students can achieve through their education here.
“We’re incredibly proud of him,” Dawson says. “It highlights the opportunities students here at U of G have to do things like this. Justin put in a lot of work and energy, but he’s done all of that within the systems we have here in Guelph.”
Those systems include programs offering a breadth of experience for students hoping to pursue careers in medicine and dentistry, aided by U of G’s Human Anatomy Lab, physiology and immunology courses and interdisciplinary research.
“U of G has maintained hands-on experiences for undergraduate students that they need to move on and be successful,” Dawson says.
Dawson hopes current grads and future students will see Tang as inspiration to work towards their own futures.
“Seeing him succeed in this way is just amazing. That’s why we’re here, to support these students and see them thrive and achieve their goals,” Dawson says. “I hope he shows other students that they can also do hard things.”
Mentorship, faculty driving success
Tang had several mentors throughout his U of G program, including Drs. Maria Corrandini and Clara Cho and Chinaza, a post-doctoral researcher in the lab.
“Working with them helped me see what research can look like in a really meaningful way and grow as an independent researcher,” he says. “I’ve also had many professors who were kind, encouraging and made a real difference in my experience.
“I think what stands out most is that the best faculty and staff made me feel like they genuinely care about students as people, not just as grades.”
Several professors made an impact on Tang’s time at U of G, including Drs. Justine Keathley, Linda Hunter, Enoka Wijekoon, and Jeremy Balka. He also noted receiving support from his guidance counsellor, Kelly Lucas.
Tang, who came to U of G thanks to a Board of Governors scholarship and the opportunity to live at home, was able to focus on asynchronous courses or ones with flexible attendance, freeing up his time to research, work and volunteer.
“U of G gave me confidence that you can create your own path,” he says. “My university experience wasn’t always traditional, but it taught me how to make choices that worked for me and how to pursue opportunities that aligned with my goals.”
As he prepares to make a decision on which offer to accept, Tang says he’ll carry the relationships built at U of G into his future.
“Some of the friends I made early in my degree are still close friends now, and I hope they’ll be lifelong friends,” he says. “They’ve supported me, challenged me and helped me grow a lot as a person. University can be stressful but having people around you who genuinely want to see you succeed makes such a difference.”
Discover more about the inspiring journeys of our graduates and how the University of Guelph shaped their paths