Justin Paris, a young pioneer in cancer research and healthcare innovation | News

“RAISED BY a single mother in Bower Banks, I know what sacrifice looks like. This award validated every late night, every obstacle, and every moment of doubt. It reminded me that I carry not only my dreams, but the dreams of my community, and those dreams are valid, powerful, and worthy of recognition on a national stage,” 21-year-old Justin Paris told The Gleaner after receiving the 2024 Prime Minister’s National Youth Award for Excellence in innovation in science and technology on Saturday, May 31.

“I had a dream of becoming a doctor and making a difference in the world. My mom was strict, academically. I remember staying up until 1 a.m. memorising timetables at nine years old. She enrolled me in extra classes, summer school, and even Sunday school to give me every possible advantage.”

Born and raised in the Bower Banks community in Kingston, Paris attended Mavisville Preparatory School, Harbour View Primary School, Kingston College, and George Washington Carver High School for the Health Sciences in Springfield Gardens, New York, from which he graduated as valedictorian. He subsequently received acceptance offers from over 40 universities, including Yale, Princeton, and Cornell, where he is now a senior on the pre-medical track with a focus on oncology and healthcare innovation, a Cornell First-Generation Pre-Professional Scholar, and a resident advisor.

“Growing up, I was always top of my class … Migrating to the US after graduation was one of the hardest parts of my journey, but I knew I had to make sacrifices to achieve my dreams. I became fascinated with the brain at an early age and soon realised that neurosurgery was my calling. I committed my summers to attending Harvard medical internships and other clinical opportunities. These experiences reaffirmed my passion and gave me firsthand exposure to the world of medicine,” Paris shared with The Gleaner.

Paris is now an active oncology researcher at Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine in Hanover, New Hampshire, and Columbia University’s Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center. As a pioneer in cancer research and healthcare innovation, he has contributed to developing and co-authoring a published study on an FDA-approved theranostic approach to prostate cancer, which merges diagnostics and therapy for precision treatment.

At Dartmouth and Columbia, he focuses on identifying biomarkers, improving drug-delivery systems, and developing targeted therapies to enhance treatment for underserved populations. Ranked number one in the College Scholars Programme, Paris has a Certificate of Excellence in Oncology, a Certificate of Achievement in Cancer Research from Yale School of Medicine, and has received the Horizon Award for Innovation in Science and Genetic Research. Forever active, Paris is also involved in student leadership.

He is co-president of the Caribbean Students Association at Cornell University and co-founder and president of the Jamaican Students Association (the first-ever Ivy League Jamaican students association). The Jamaican Students Association was established to celebrate and promote Jamaican culture through cultural festivals, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, and to foster a strong sense of belonging and cultural pride among Jamaican students, and to collaborate with other cultural organisations across campus.

Paris is also the founder and president of MedIn Black, a nonprofit organisation supporting black and marginalised students in medicine. What had started as a small mentoring initiative at Cornell University has grown into a nationally and internationally recognised programme. It has partnered with institutions like Harvard, Dartmouth, and UCLA to deliver medical school tours, internships, admissions panels, and MCAT prep workshops.

“We are now preparing to expand to other countries, beginning with Jamaica, through a series of grants and scholarship pipelines. We have already developed a multicountry expansion plan, and scholarships will soon be launched in Jamaica. MedIn Black isn’t just a programme. It’s a movement to reimagine access, equity, and excellence in healthcare education worldwide,” he disclosed.

The services and programmes that MedIn Black offers include elderly age home partnerships, preliminary medical workshops, clinical research exposure, suture workshops, medical internships, shadowing programmes, medical school application assistance, medical school tours, and public health campaigns on cancer and cancer survivorship programmes.

“Winning the Prime Minister’s National Youth Award for Excellence was one of the most profound honours of my life. It meant being seen not just for what I’ve accomplished, but for what I’ve overcome. This award is not just a personal victory. It is a symbol that the work we’re doing is meaningful,” Hanson said in reacting to his national recognition.

“It says the investment in cancer research, the relentless advocacy through MedIn Black, and the vision to build something greater than myself is being recognised at the highest level. It proves that when you root your work in service, purpose, and perseverance, the world pays attention. And it pushes me to continue breaking barriers, creating change, and lighting the path for others.” And, what does the future bode?

“I plan to attend medical school to become a neurosurgeon, with a long-term vision of returning to Jamaica to contribute to the advancement of our healthcare infrastructure. I am also fully committed to expanding MedIn Black globally,” he told The Gleaner.

“We are preparing to launch in multiple countries, beginning in Jamaica, where we will implement a new wave of scholarships and partnerships designed to elevate students into healthcare careers. I envision MedIn Black transforming into an international coalition of leaders committed to health equity and access.”