16 Applications: PSYC100 Alumni in Medicine
By Julia Cressman, Riley J.T. Bonar, and Meghan E. Norris
As we talk about biology in the context of psychological science, we are thrilled to introduce a PSYC100 alumnus who actively is applying this content in her day-to-day work!
Introducing, Dr. Julia Cressman!
Dr. Julia Cressman is a family doctor who graduated from Queen’s in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Life Science (major) and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (minor)! Julia says she always had a keen interest in the human body and mind since she was a child. Her pursuit of studies related to science of the body continued to propel her current career as a family doctor. Now, a typical day in the life of Julia involves arriving at the office for her first appointment of the day at 8:30. Then, she sees patients every 15-30 minutes depending on the concern, where she addresses both physical and mental ailments. Being able to recognize where patients are at emotionally and being able to communicate effectively are critical for ensuring that she provides the best care!
By taking PSYC 100, you join a vast community that contains members who have graduated and had a variety of experiences! We caught up with Julia and asked what her favourite memory from PSYC 100 was. Julia told us that she loved the real time surveys of the class. She said it was really interesting to see psychological influence in real time and that it also forces you to confront your own biases and how they may influence your own behaviour. Dr. Cressman also offered some advice about careers to students currently taking PSYC 100 and said that it is important to keep an open mind! This is a time to allow subjects to inspire you and find out what makes you curious.
If you are interested in learning more about Julia’s career, you can check out the Ontario College of Family Physicians website!
A former group of students in Queen’s Psychology created a free online resource that overviews career pathways students in psychology often ask about. We share it here in case you are looking for more information created by students, for students.
References:
Beacom, C. H., Clarke, K., Graham, E., Stepanov, L., & Norris, M. E. (2025). The Canadian student guide to applying psychology in varied career paths. eCampusOntario. https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/applyingpsychology/
Ontario College of Family Physicians. (n.d.). Ontario College of Family Physicians. https://ontariofamilyphysicians.ca/
How to cite this resource:
Cressman, J., Bonar, R. J. T., & Norris, M. E. (2026). Applications: PSYC 100 alumni in medicine. In PSYC 100: Principles of psychology. eCampusOntario. https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/testbookje/chapter/applications-psyc100-alumni-in-medicine/
