Get to know the staff behind the division of Emergency Medicine

Behind the scenes of the Department of Medicine’s (DoM) Emergency Medicine division is a dedicated team keeping everything running smoothly. Charu Raveendran, Carolyn Laidlaw and Jas Xue work closely together to support the division’s many operations.

Charu and Carolyn, both Program Coordinators, provide essential administrative and operational support across the division. Charu supports the Emergency Medicine and Occupational Medicine divisions through scheduling, academic day planning, resident coordination, event logistics, and helping faculty and residents navigate processes and policies.

After earning her Honours Bachelor of Science at the University of Toronto (U of T) Scarborough, Charu held several administrative roles across U of T and at St. Michael’s Hospital. Motivated by her interest in academic environments and her love of working with learners, she joined the DoM in July 2025.

“The DoM has a strong sense of community and I wanted to be in a place where I could grow long term, support meaningful work, and be part of a team that genuinely cares about its programs,” she says.

In her previous role with the internal medicine program at U of T, Charu felt especially proud of her work managing the full resident schedule during a peak period.

“It was a lot to manage but I was able to keep everything organized and support a large group of residents while learning the program quickly,” she says.

Now working with residents, faculty and coordinators across multiple sites, Charu enjoys the variety her role offers.

“No two days are the same,” she says. “The challenging part is juggling competing deadlines during busy seasons, but I’ve learned to stay organized and keep things moving.”

Outside of work, Charu enjoys reading fantasy and thrillers, cooking, road trips and spending time with her dog. She is grateful to be part of the team as she continues learning and contributing wherever she can.

Carolyn supports the division’s Program Director and residents throughout their five-year training program, while also supporting the competence committee, the Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS) process and exams.

She studied Anthropology at U of T and began her career in the university’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, followed by roles with Rotman Executive Programs and the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, where she progressed from student advisor to academic scheduling and faculty support.

Seeking a new challenge, Carolyn transitioned to the DoM in October 2022.

“Medicine is very different from the undergraduate and graduate departments I was familiar with,” Carolyn says. “Emergency Medicine residents always have interesting stories about the types of patients they encounter daily.”

She is particularly proud of her work moving the CaRMS process to the Plank platform, which has streamlined many aspects of recruitment as the division continues to grow. Outside of work, Carolyn enjoys reading and spending time with her three children, and she likes taking on craft projects – though she admits many remain unfinished.

Working alongside them is Jas Xue, the division’s Executive Assistant, who supports the director, faculty and fellows while managing financial responsibilities and coordinating events.

Motivated by a desire to work in medicine following the COVID-19 pandemic, Jas joined the team in March 2022 after completing her Master of Education at U of T and gaining experience with the Department of Statistical Sciences.

She particularly enjoys event planning and takes pride in organizing the Annual Research Academic Day, which brings together more than 100 experts to share their research. Outside of work, Jas enjoys listening to music and cosplaying, finding creative ways to unwind and recharge.