Meet Alumna Sally Al-Mufty

Supporting Patients Through Education and Advocacy

As Patient Education Consultant with the Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Foundation (LDSF) Canada, Sally Al-Mufty has built a career that connects science, counselling, and advocacy. In this role, she creates and delivers educational resources for patients and families across the country, often at a difficult moment following a diagnosis. She provides post-diagnostic support, helping families understand how to navigate the healthcare system and published management guidelines. She also works with clinicians and researchers on national initiatives that improve access to care, build educational tools, and strengthen patient support.

“No two days are the same,” Sally says. “A typical day might involve coordinating meetings and events, tailoring patient resources, or answering questions from families, clinicians, and researchers.” The role, she explains, has allowed her to apply the skills she developed in the MSc Genetic Counselling program — translating complex information, providing psychosocial support, and empowering patients.

Looking back, she identifies her graduate research project as the experience that shaped her most. Working with LDSF Canada, she studied the diagnostic experiences of Loeys-Dietz patients across the country. Conducting interviews and translating those findings into recommendations gave patients a platform to share their voices and helped highlight both the strengths and gaps within the healthcare system. That project, she says, reinforced the importance of patient-centred approaches and directly led to her ongoing collaboration with the foundation.

Sally’s favourite part of her current work, she says, is simple: “It is the people.” She values being part of a dedicated, collaborative team and connecting with patients and families during moments of uncertainty. “Even small efforts like providing clarity in a difficult moment or connecting someone with the right resource can make a profound difference,” she reflects. “The team is innovative, passionate, and committed to improving patient care — and I’m proud to contribute to that mission.”

To students just starting out, Sally’s advice is to stay curious and flexible. “Every experience, whether it is a class project, a clinical rotation, a volunteer role, or even something that feels outside your field, teaches skills that are transferable and help shape your professional identity,” she says. “You may not see the connection at the time, but later you will realize how each experience contributes to your growth. Everything you do matters.”

When she reflects on her time at U of T, it is the community of her classmates that stands out most. Graduate school can be intense, she notes, but having peers who truly understood the journey made all the difference. Together, they supported one another through challenges, celebrated successes, and built friendships that have lasted well beyond the program. She also highlights the leadership of the genetic counselling program, saying the mentorship and ongoing support she received have been remarkable and continue to make an impact.