Joan Tu is a medical student at the University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine. She is interested in maternal care, pediatrics, masculinities, mental health, and the effects of social factors on health. Prior to starting medical school, she was a stay-at-home mom with two young children and an activist, raising awareness to advance knowledge on interpersonal violence.

Joan has a Master of Arts in Linguistics and a Bachelor of Commerce. Her MA thesis about the influences of texting on language garnered international media attention in 2012. Professionally, she has worked in utilities, real estate, and personal finance. She brings a diversity of experience and interests to the profession of medicine in her role as a medical student.