This article is part of a series focusing on the grads of the Dalhousie Class of 2025. Spring Convocation takes place May 30 and from June 9-19 in Halifax and Truro. Read all our profilesĚýhere in one placeĚýas they are published.
“There’s no way I’ll be able to do this.”
It’s a sentiment Dr. Ariel Provo sometimes hears at the start of a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) student tutoring session. But by the end, students are usually surprised at how far they’ve come, expressing: “That wasn’t as bad as I thought.”
It’s a moment that happens frequently—and one that reminds the new grad why she shows up, week after week.
From the basketball court and classroom
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Raised in Lake Echo, Nova Scotia, Dr. Provo has deep ties to the African Nova Scotian communities of East Preston, North Preston, and Halifax, which helped shape her strong sense of belonging. Her early interest in medicine was sparked by a cousin she deeply admired, whose own dreams of becoming a doctor were shaped — and ultimately limited — by significant health challenges, and socioeconomic and systemic barriers. Paired with her love of science and math, it wasn’t long before she too began imagining herself in a white coat.
“I remember thinking, why not pursue a career where I get to study and learn the things I love?” recalls Dr. Provo. “From that point on, I set my sights on medicine and worked toward making it happen.”
She enrolled in Dalhousie’s highly competitive medical sciences program—where she balanced a demanding academic schedule with varsity basketball. The program’s broad curriculum gave her a strong foundation for medical school and by the time she entered Dalhousie Medicine, she had already been introduced to many of the core topics.
Still, the transition to medical school came with challenges that tested both her resilience and identity. On the day of registration, Dr. Provo tore her ACL and meniscus—an injury that abruptly halted her active lifestyle and left her feeling disconnected from herself. Compounding that isolation was the ongoing pandemic, which forced portions of pre-clerkship learning online.
“It was a really difficult time,” she says. “I wasn’t moving my body, I was stuck at home, and I felt really cut off from everything that made me feel like me.”
But slowly, she found her way back to herself—discovering new ways to stay engaged and active through yoga, spin classes, Pilates, and even inner-tube water polo.
The power of representation
Throughout her studies, Dr. Provo remained committed to giving back through mentorship, particularly with Imhotep’s Legacy Academy (ILA), a program supporting African Nova Scotian students in Grades 6–12 through STEM education and leadership development. Since 2020, she has served as an after-school and virtual program mentor, French coordinator, and tutor, providing one-on-one support in subjects ranging from biology and psychology to math and French.
“Watching my students grow and succeed has been incredibly rewarding,” she says. “No matter how busy school or life got, I prioritized tutoring because I saw the real impact it had, and I care deeply about my students' success.”
No matter how busy school or life got, I prioritized tutoring because I saw the real impact it had
Her tutoring allowed her to see firsthand the shift that happens when Black students feel supported and represented. They begin to believe they belong—a feeling that can be foreign to them when it comes to careers in STEM and medicine, where they continue to face systemic barriers, including limited representation, financial constraints, and implicit bias within academic and professional spaces.
“So many navigate these fields without role models who share their experiences, which can lead to feelings of isolation and self-doubt,” she says. “Representation matters—bringing in Black professionals as guest speakers, hiring diverse faculty, and ensuring Black students see themselves reflected in the curriculum can make a significant difference.”ĚýĚý
Looking ahead — and giving back
This summer, Dr. Provo will begin her residency in anesthesiology here at Dalhousie, a specialty that perfectly blends her love of physiology, technical precision, and the dynamic pace of clinical medicine.
“I’m beyond excited and relieved to be staying in Halifax,” she says. “This is home, and I want to build my life and career here.”
Mentorship and outreach remain key priorities for her. She plans to stay actively involved with programs like PLANS and the Black Learners Admission Committee, with a continued focus on supporting and encouraging Black youth to pursue opportunities in STEM and health care.
“I believe it’s essential to engage our youth and provide them with the foundation and inspiration to see medicine as a possibility within their reach,” she says. “Hearing African Nova Scotian students say they want to be neurosurgeons, pediatricians, or obstetricians, gives me hope that they will go on to do great things and that Black patients will be well cared for by providers who come from their own communities.”
For Dr. Provo, the path to medicine has been about more than just becoming a doctor. It has been about creating change, opening doors, and making sure others, who follow in her footsteps, feel supported as they walk through them.