Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Shawna Pandya, a physician whose career has taken her from the Canadian wilderness to simulated Mars missions and beyond. Her story is one of lifelong passion, tireless dedication, and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in extreme environment medicine.
A Childhood Spent Outdoors
For Shawna, the journey began in the great outdoors of Canada. “My parents were avid campers, they were taking us to the Rockies amidst the grizzly bears… when we were two,” she shares, highlighting the role her outdoorsy upbringing played in shaping her future path. From Girl Guides to outdoor education, Shawna’s childhood was filled with experiences that would lay the foundation for her future career.
The Pull of Space Medicine
While Shawna’s love for the outdoors was strong, it was her fascination with space that truly captured her imagination. “I have been a lifelong space nerd. I grew up wanting to be an astronaut,” she shares. Inspired by the first Canadian woman in space, Dr. Roberta Bondar, Shawna set her sights on becoming a physician and eventually, an astronaut.
Finding Her Path
Shawna’s medical journey took a few twists and turns, from an initial interest in neurosurgery to a switch to family medicine. “Somewhere about three years into this program, I realised this wasn’t it and switched to family medicine. And that was just a whole new world,” she reflects. This change would open up new opportunities and allow her to pursue her passions more fully.
Medicine in the Great White North
Today, Shawna’s medical practice is deeply rooted in the rural communities of Canada. “95% of my work is in rural communities in rural Canada,” she explains. Working in these remote settings has honed her clinical acumen and resourcefulness. “If you need a medevac, they may or may not be able to fly because of the weather… so you really learn to hone that clinical acumen and leverage resources and leverage your teams in small resource-limited settings.”
Simulating Space on Earth
Shawna’s expertise has also taken her to analog environments that simulate the challenges of space here on Earth. She has served as crew medical officer and commander on a simulated Mars mission and two underwater missions. “The mindset of being a crew medical officer is you’re very much being preventative, you’re very much learning to know your crew, getting them to trust you, learning about their medical concerns ahead of time,” she shares, underscoring the unique challenges of providing care in isolated, high-stakes environments.
Lessons from Conflict Zones
In 2022, Shawna took her skills to Ukraine, working with a Canadian organisation to provide medical care in a conflict zone. “There was a lot of primary care, a lot less emergency medicine. And it was really that small group dynamics that was the biggest success criteria,” she reflects, highlighting the importance of teamwork and adaptability in high-stress situations.
Advice for Aspiring Extreme Environment Medics
For those looking to follow in her footsteps, Shawna has sage advice: “You can be hard on yourself in a way that’s destructive or in a way that’s constructive… if you’re not doing it all, maybe sometimes that self-talk looks like I’m not enough, rather than “what’s my next move?” She emphasises the importance of self-compassion and staying focused on the journey ahead.
Through her groundbreaking work and tireless dedication, Shawna Pandya is not only advancing the field of extreme environment medicine but also inspiring a new generation of physicians to dream big and push the limits of what’s possible.
Her story is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and a willingness to embrace the unknown.
→ Learn more about Shawna’s experiences by listening to the Diversity Podcast Special now.
→ Kick-start your career in expedition medicine by joining one of our courses.
→ Meet Shawna at The 2024 World Extreme Medicine Conference.