A filmmaker, singer and trained teacher, Brad Rostas, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry Class of 2016, can best be described as a Renaissance man. Recently, he took his artistic abilities and talent and applied it to a whole new landscape – the production of Schulich’s annual admissions video.
Appropriately named, The Applicant, the short film captures the fears, dreams and hopes of a prospective medical student. The video was developed for and shown during the school’s interview weekends.
So, how does a budding filmmaker find a home at Schulich? Rostas’ journey has been somewhat unorthodox – to say the least.
Growing up, he had an interest in the arts and attended arts-focused elementary and secondary schools. At Western, he studied Political Science and Science and went on to earn a bachelor of education. He then fulfilled a life-long dream and was accepted into film school in California. Meanwhile, during the summers, he toured Europe with his a cappella singing group Six Vocal Ensemble. When he wasn’t busy, he managed to cut two albums and audition for the Sing Off, an NBC television program featuring a competition between a cappella singing groups.
It was then Rostas began considering medicine as an option for a career. Inspired by his older brother, an anesthesiologist, he began the long hours of studying and preparation for his MCAT.
Now in his first year, he will admit it took a few months to adjust to the schedule and find a new balance in his life.
For Rostas, finding that balance includes serving as his class’ president, playing on the school’s hockey team, taking part in intramurals, helping out with Tachycardia and soaking up all Schulich has to offer. He believes the school’s culture, as well as the camaraderie that exists between his classmates, helped to make his transition and settling in much easier.
“You have to be self motivated to keep your head above water,” Rostas said. “There is a lot of work, but its work that you don’t mind doing. And you need to stand back and really take in the magnitude of what they are learning and the impact it can have.”
Joining the team to create the admission weekend video was just another great way for Rostas to get involved with the school. A collective decision to do something different – and not ‘bash’ other schools – helped to create a cohesive vision for the video amongst all the team members. Together, more than 100 actors, 20 crew members and some very supportive faculty took part in the video.
In all, it took approximately 150 hours to create, and not surprisingly went viral the minute it hit YouTube.
Rostas is proud of the video and what the whole team has accomplished. Now he is looking forward to the summer when he hopes to be completing an elective in either emergency medicine or anesthesia.