HF Alum in Science

Graduation year:  2012

Colleges attended after HF:  Harvard College and studied Applied Mathematics with a focus in Electrical Engineering 

Present position:  Venture for America Fellow, Analyst at Search Discovery.  I'm currently a part of a two-year entrepreneurial fellowship called Venture for America (VFA). VFA is a fellowship program that connects recent graduates with entrepreneurial interests to jobs at early stage companies in order to better prepare fellows to start their own companies (if they so choose). As a part of this fellowship, I'm working at a company called Search Discovery in Atlanta, Georgia. Search Discovery is a digital intelligence agency which basically means that we help companies gather and interpret their web data. My job consists of everything from helping companies track users on their website to creating data visualizations to help my clients better understand their data so that they can make well-informed business decisions.

Advice for current students:  "Your comfort zone is a beautiful place but nothing grows there." This is a quote that I've really taken to heart being at my current job because it has been very challenging, but along with being challenging it has also very rewarding. Since I've been working here for a little more than a year, I can reflect on how much I've grown thus appreciate the difficult moments along the way and how they were catalysts for my growth. So my advice is to do the things that are hard. Do things that may be a bit scary. Just because it's challenging, doesn't mean you shouldn't be doing it. 

Graduation year:  1993

Colleges attended after HF:  Harvard (S.B. Engineering, Ph.D. Biophysics, M.D.) 

Present position:  Physician Scientist, Cardiology, University of Chicago 

Advice/comments for current students:  on twitter: @alenghat lab website: alenghatlab.org 

Graduation year:  2007

Colleges attended after HF:  Hampton University, Cellular and Molecular Biology,  minor, Leadership Studies, Boston University School of Medicine, M.D.

Present position:  Orthopaedic Surgery Resident (2nd year)

Advice for current students:  Stay on top of your studies and be well rounded!  Join different groups, go to different conferences, enjoy your free meals and free room and board at home while you can!

Graduation year:  1996

Colleges attended after HF:  Harvard College (AB, sociology), Harvard Medical School (MD), Harvard School of Public Health (MPH) 

Present position:  Infectious diseases physician and global health researcher 

Graduation year:  2007

Colleges attended after HF:  The University of Chicago (biology and psychology double major, honors in psychology); The University of Chicago Urban Teacher Education Program (Masters in the Arts of Teaching) 

Present position:  Science teacher at Kenwood Academy

Advice for current students:  Don't limit yourself based on what you think you should be or what others want you to be. 

Graduation year:  1971

Colleges attended after HF:  University of Michigan, B.S. in mathematics, Stanford University, M.S. and Ph.D. in statistics.

Present position:  National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.  Senior program officer for the Committee on National Statistics, currently serving as co-study director/study director for the Panel on Research Methodologies and Statistical Approaches to Understanding Driver Fatigue Factors in Motor Carrier Safety and Driver Health.  

Graduation Year:  2007

Colleges attended after HF:  University of Notre Dame (undergrad), and Northwestern University Medical School

Present position:  Medical Doctor completing her pediatric residency

Advice for current students:  Study hard, get good grades, be serious about your school work.  You are forming habits now that will stay with you. 

Additional comments to add:  I remember all of my science teachers and I can't thank all of you enough for investing your time in me!

Graduation year:  1975

Colleges attended after HF:  Emory University, DePauw University, University of Chicago, U of Illinois, Northwestern University - Orthodontics 

Present position:  Orthodontist: practicing, teaching; Land Developer 

Advice for current students:  Take the time to use your insight to explore what fulfills you. Follow that lead, no matter what anyone else thinks...its your own path to fulfilling your purpose. 

Graduation year:  1978

Colleges attended after HF:  University of Notre Dame

Present position:  MD Ophthalmologist 

Advice for current students:  Follow your interest and find a career aligned with your interest 

Graduation year:  1969

Colleges attended after HF:  Washington University St. Louis (MD)

Present position:  Pediatrician 

Advice for current students:  Be curious

Additional comments:  Follow your passion

Graduation year:  1962

Colleges attended after HF:  Purdue University, Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chemistry

Present position:  45 years at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Supervisory Senior Scientist

Advice for current students:  Take as many AP classes as possible

Graduation year:  1964

Colleges attended after HF: U of I Urbana, BS Psychology, U of I College of Medicine, MD

Present position:  Family physician

Advice for current students:  If you like science, consider going into medicine

Graduation year:  1976

Colleges attended after HF: University of Illinois - BS, MS - Speech Language Pathology,  California State University MA Educational Leadership 

Present position:  SLP (speech language pathologist) in a high school. Also worked in these settings: hospital, home health agency, private practice and a state diagnostic center. Science and psychology were very important to me in my career - especially anatomy and the physiology of the brain. 

Advice for current students:  Believe in yourself. You have abilities, and capabilities you will realize as you take on challenges. 

Additional comments:  In high school, I was told that girls didn't like science, so I took a more basic level chemistry class -- rather than the college prep level. I still regret that decision. By the time I got to college - I noticed how learning was my right - I was paying for it, so if school got tough, I just met with professors. They liked going the extra step for a student who wanted to learn.  Education is not as important as love and family, but darn close.

Graduation year:  1975

Colleges attended after HF:  Eastern Illinois, Illinois Dental, OSU dental 

Present position:  Dentist- Prostodontic Specialist 

Advice for current students:  You can be what you want if you work harder than you think you can. Reach beyond what you think is possible. 

Graduation year:  1984

Colleges attended after HF:  University of Illinois Champaign  & Rush University (MD)

Present position :  Physician

Advice for current students:  High school matters! Study!!!!! 

Graduation year:  1993

Colleges attended after HF:  University of Illinois at Chicago - BSN of Nursing 

Present position:  Chief Flight Nurse and Administrative Director of the air medical transport team at University of Chicago, UCAN 

Advice to current students:  Do not let anything stand in the way of your dreams, I have wanted to be a flight nurse since 6th grade, and I am doing exactly what I set out to do, but even more. 

Graduation year:  2009

Colleges attended after HF:  University of Iowa

Present position:  Graduate student at The Chicago School of Psychology for school psychology 

Advice for current students:  Get involved in as many activities as you can and don’t be afraid to try new things 

Graduation year:  2005

Colleges attended after HF:  George Washington University - 7 Year Integrated BA/MD Program 

Present position:  Ophthalmologist (completing surgical retina fellowship) 

Advice for current students:  Time management skills and planning are the key to academic success 

Additional comments:  Follow your passion and you will be more likely to be a standout in your field 

Graduation year:  1979

Colleges attended after HF:  University of Illinois, BS & MS Civil Engineering 

Present position:  Chief civil engineer at a mid-sized engineering company in Chicago 

Advice for current students:  Study; Work hard; Look people in the eye and listen more than you talk; Be kind; Smile; Breathe; Tune out the noise and learn to live with yourself 

Additional comments:  Laughter can be magic 

Graduation year:  2007

Colleges attended after HF:  University of IL CU-Speech and Hearing Science, NIU-M.S. in Speech Pathology

Present Position:  Speech pathologist for adults in skilled nursing, hospitals, and rehabilitation.  Currently managing a home health company as a general manager and director of rehab. 

Advice for current students:  Get a practical degree where you will get a specific job out of school.  Too many people seem to get lax degrees and then can't pay their student loans

Additional comments to add:  Good luck

Graduation year:  2005

Colleges attended after HF:  Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, B.S. Healthcare Management  M.S.  Public Health

Present position:  Diversity and Inclusion Professional-Human Resources

Advice for current students:  STEM careers are the way of the future.  Find a career that translates into multiple sectors.

Additional comments to add:  Stay encouraged and be a life-long learner.  Many of today's careers want you to be interdisciplinary in your approached because it makes for a more balanced professional. 

Graduation year:  1978

Colleges attended after HF:  Western IL University/Purdue University 

Present position:  Equipment Engineer Design for Wireless Cellular Carrier 

Advice for current students:  Never give up your dream!!! Always work hard in improving yourself. Don't be afraid of the challenges 

Graduation year:  1984

Colleges attended after HF:  MIT, received a bachelor's degree in Physics with Electrical Engineering. For graduate school, I went to Stanford and received a PhD in Physics in 1996.

Present position:  I am currently a scientist at Fermilab. As a graduate student I worked at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, on particle physics detectors and data analysis. I had a postdoc at CERN where I worked on OPAL, a particle detector on the LEP accelerator, for its high-energy phase. I started working on the CDF experiment at Fermilab in 2002, and now work in neutrino physics. 

Advice for current students:  Work hard on STEM topics for sure, but do not neglect communication and collaboration skills. So be sure to also put effort into English and History classes. Writing and public speaking are important parts of most STEM professionals' jobs. 

Graduation year:  1968

Colleges attended after HF: University of Illinois, University of Chicago Medical School (MD), Yale University 

Present position:  Professor of Radiology and Orthopaedic Surgery, Yale University 

Advice for current students:  There is something to learn every day.

Graduation year:  2005

Colleges attended after HF:  University of Illinois. College of ACES - Animal Science - BS. College of Veterinary Medicine - DVM 

Present position:  Associate Emergency Veterinarian at The Heart of Texas Veterinary Speciality Center 

Advice for current students:  You don’t have to have your whole like planned out at this point in time. However, work hard, learning how to properly study and time manage gets harder to learn the older you get! 

Graduation year:  2003

Colleges attended after HF:  Duke University - Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois - Medicine, Mayo Clinic- Orthopedic Surgery Residency, Harvard - Complex Hip and Knee Reconstruction Fellowship

Present position:  Orthopedic Surgeon Practicing Hip and Knee Reconstruction in Crown Point, IN 

Advice for current students:  Learn to solve problems systematically, and direct your efforts at helping others. Fixing things is fun and people are the most interesting and rewarding things to fix. 

Graduation year:  1993

Colleges attended after HF:  Stanford University, BS, Biological  Sciences, BA, Economics

Present position:  Associate Professor of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 

Advice for current students:  Have fun in high school, but work hard to do your best in everything you do inside and outside the classroom. Push yourself to do at least one thing that you find hard but you know is good for you. 

Graduation year:  1968

Colleges attended after HF:  Northern Ill. Univ. (B.S.) Governors State (M.A.) Loyola Stritch School of Medicine (MD)

Present postion:  Retired Emergency & Flight Physician 

Advice for current students:  Don't under estimate yourself. I applied to 8 med schools and did not get in. I got my M.A. and taught H.S. for 4 years. I re-applied to Med School & was accepted. 

Additional comments:  Don't just get a job. Strive for something that will stimulate and challenge you for years to come. 

Graduation year:  2010

Colleges attended after HF:  Harvard College, Chemistry and Physics

Present position:  Production editor for Chemical and Engineering News, a magazine published by  the American Chemical Society.

Advice for current students:  First, there's no substitute for hard work. That said, there are a few things that can make the difference between reaching your goals and not: 1) Don't be afraid to ask questions because that's when you start asking good ones; 2) hold onto mentors and teachers that will help you and vouch for you when opportunities arise. Small effort from a mentor who is more established in a field can be much more valuable than maximum effort on your part. 

Graduation year:  1997

Colleges attended after HF:  Xavier University of Louisiana-Pharmacy 

Present position:  Managed Care Pharmacist

Advice for current students:  Do internships and explore areas you think you're interested as early as possible 

Graduation year:  2010

Colleges attended after HF:  Butler university majored in Biological sciences and Spanish literature 

Present position:  In medical school for homeopathic medicine. 

Advice for current students:  Don’t get discouraged! It’s ok to lose the battle...keep your eyes on winning the war. Look at the big picture and remember this too shall pass. 

Graduation year:  1998

Colleges attended after HF:  Scripps College, Claremont, CA; International Relations and French double major 

Present position:  Geriatrician, Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine 

Advice to current students:  It's ok to take your time in college to figure out what you want to do. It's never too late to change career paths once you figure it out 

Graduation year:  2004

Colleges attended after HF:  Attended Purdue University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology and Physiology Attended Brown University and graduated with a Masters in Biology 

Present position:  Worked at Pfizer Inc as a Senior Scientist in Cambridge, MA for 8 years focusing on early drug discovery research in Obesity and Diabetes. Currently employed as a Scientist II at AbbVie Inc in North Chicago, IL focusing on early drug discovery research in Oncology. 

Advice for current students:  Pursue what you are passionate about, even if it doesn’t come easy to you. I struggled and never received an A in my high school AP Biology class, but I knew it was a subject I was passionate about. Many years later I graduated with multiple biology degrees and honors in research. Decide what classes you most enjoy and focus on that area in the future. Find a job you love and you will never work a day in your life. 

Graduation year:  2010

Colleges attended after HF:  Prairie State College and Governor's State University, Bachelors of Science in biology with a chemistry minor

Present Position:  Currently a high school science teacher as well as a cellist 

Advice for current students:  Take written notes instead of digital notes. Writing helps you to interact with the information more. Color code notes, if it helps - I used to mark something teachers said would be on a test in red. Ask questions when you don't understand something! Also, develop good study habits and techniques now, as a high school student. That way you don't have to figure it all out when stressed out in college. 

Additional comments to add:  Good luck

Graduation year:  2007

Colleges attended after HF:  DePaul University in Chicago, Industrial/Organizational Psychology.  MD at Avalon University School of Medicine, 2016 graduate. Psychiatry Residency Program at Rosalind Franklin University Medical School. 

Present position:  Currently in Psychiatry residency at Rosalind Franklin University Medical School 

Advice to current students:  The goal of pursuing a career in science can be long and arduous. From an early age, you must be dedicated, focused and meticulous in attaining good grades, participating in extra-curricular activities and researching what kind of live you will have in that career. Most careers in science will require a college degree at minimum, but some may even require a graduate degree. The timeline from when you start as a student and when you finish may range from 4-12 years. In regards to saving time, AP classes are a great way to expose yourself to the difficulty of college science classes and can peak your interest in a specific facet of the field. By taking AP classes and sitting for the exams, your scores on the AP tests can save you valuable time and money while allowing you to pursue a double major or a minor in another area of interest. Since you will be a student for a significant portion of your 20s, it is important to also consider the financial burden of pursuing your desired degree. College debt and graduate school debt can be astronomical depending on which PH.D or M.D. program you choose. It is important to follow your passion, but thinking about a having financial security after completing your degree is important to consider as well. I would also recommend pursuing study-abroad opportunities during your time in college or graduate school. Traveling during your younger years will provide you with a rich appreciation of the differences between our culture and other cultures in the world which in turn will make you more holistic in how you approach various people and situations in life. These aspects of pursuing a career in science are important to consider, but when you find your niche everything will fall into place. I would like to end my advice by stating that honest truth about a career in science is like that old cliché, “Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life!” 

Additional comments:  Please feel free to reach out regarding the path to a career as a physician 

Graduation year:  1974

Colleges attended after HF: University of Wisconsin-Madison then Chicago Medical school, followed by Oregon Health and Science University for residency, and then the National Cancer Institute for Fellowship (MD, FACS)

Present position:  professor and vice chair of Surgery at Oregon health sciences university 

Advice for current students:  Understand how little you really know and that we all have life-long learning. Develop good habits now and learn to question and seek out new answers to complex problems 

Additional comments:  Follow your heart and treat others the way you want to be treated. 

Graduation year:  2014

Colleges attended after HF:  University of Iowa, studying nursing

Present position:  Currently finishing senior year of nursing school and conducting research on Interventions for Taste Alteration in patients receiving chemotherapy.   Also working as a nursing assistant in at the Veterans Hospital. 

Advice for current students:  Experience all that high school offer and especially experience all that college has to offer. College is such a special and amazing time that is full of opportunities. The world is practically at your fingertips in college- there are so many opportunities and experiences you can do. Don’t be afraid to reach out and network with others that have the same interests as you. This small piece of advice is what has opened so many doors for me for when I graduate this May. 

Additional comments:  Take full advantage of the science department at HF! HF truly has a phenomenal science program in comparison with other schools. I realized this especially when sharing my high school experiences with my current colleagues at Iowa. HF prepared me well for college and gave me a one up on colleagues of mine as a lot of material that was new and difficult for most was old and review for me. I would not have succeeded as much as I have in my nursing program if I didn’t have the rigorous and enriching education that I got from the HF science department. 

Graduation year:  1989

Colleges attended after HF:  Michigan State University(BS); University of Illinois(DDS); Northwestern University(MS-Periodontics & Oral Biology); Illinois Masonic Medical Center(Dental Anesthesiology residency) 

Present position:  I am a practicing Periodontist & Dental Anesthesiologist 

Advice for current students:  Never ever give up. Persistence and grit means more than talent. Be a continuous student through out your life.Be healthy. A healthy body equates to a healthy mind. Travel the world. It will help you appreciate how great of a country the United States is. Last but not least, appreciate and spend time with your parents. They are truly the only people in this world that love you unconditionally. 

Graduation year:  2008

Colleges attended after HF:  Butler University in Indianapolis,  BA in International Studies and Spanish. 

Present position:  After graduation, I pursued a career in the public health field because I wanted to combine my passion for HIV+ folks, prevention, and working with diverse populations. Now I work at an STD clinic as a Field Operations Supervisor. We perform testing, counsel new positive STDs and HIV, and investigate new interesting topics like antimicrobial resistant gonorrhea and PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). 

Advice for current students:  (1) Take risks. Right now, you've got the biggest safety net you'll ever have. Enroll in a tough class, start a new club, take a knee, be friends with the friendless kid. (2) Learn a language. Spanish is the one skill I have directly applied to all jobs I've ever had. (3) Take science seriously. It's hard, but it teaches you to problem solve. I didn't go to college for the sciences, so my high school experience is what gets me through my current position! 

Graduation year:  2008

Colleges attended after HF:  University of Oregon

Present position:  Microbiologist

Advice for current students:  Choose topics that interest you, even if you heard they'd be difficult. Discuss with friends and professors; don't keep your problems quiet. 

Graduation year:  1985

Colleges attended after HF:  Purdue University Aerospace Engineering 

Present position:  Project Manager at NASA Langley Research Center 

Advice for current students:  Study hard, play hard, and find your passion and work really hard to make your dreams come true 

Additional comments:  Proud to be an H-F graduate 

Graduation year:  1999

Colleges attended after HF:  DePaul University - Biology, Environmental Science, minor in Chem. Graduate School (MS and PhD) at Northwestern University, Plant Biology and Conservation 

Present position:  Project Manager for Chicago Park District's Department of Cultural and Natural Resources. I manage the design, planning, public input, bid process, budget and implementation of the restoration of natural areas within public parks including high profile projects such as Northerly Island, Jackson Park, and Big Marsh. 

Advice for current students:  What is difficult now will be easier later

Additional comments:  My experiences in AP Bio with Shari Choen were brutally hard, but amazing. Through my sophmore year in college, I felt like I barely needed to pay attention to lectures because she taught us all of that information, but in a more fun, engaging way. She also taught valuable test taking strategies for essay questions and those skills stayed with me through college and graduate school and were tremendously helpful not only in taking the AP test (I scored a 5), but helped me understand how to demonstrate scientific knowledge in a clear but brief paragraphs.

Graduation year:  1973

Colleges attended after HF:  Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill 2 years, Fundamental science major; Loyola University of Chicago graduated 2 years, BS degree; Loyola Stritch School of Medicine graduated M.D. 1980 

Present position:  After being an employee of various hospital systems, now am owner of a private pediatric practice serving primarily a Medicaid population. 

Advice for current students:  Although I enjoy the practice of pediatrics, the business of medicine has changed drastically. I would not advise anyone to go into medicine. Do something that you love doing because you will be doing it for a very long time. 

Graduation year:  2006

Colleges attended after HF:  Northwestern University for undergrad-biomedical engineering, Chicago Medical School- Doctor of medicine 

Present position:  Currently a 3rd year internal medicine resident physician at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. I am currently applying for fellowship positions in cardiology with the ultimate goal to become an interventional cardiologist.

Advice for current students:  Work hard and smart in life. High school is extremely important and it sets the foundation for the rest of your academic career. 

Graduation Year:  1982

Colleges attended after HF:  Western Michigan University, Food Marketing/Business; PCOM:  Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

Present position:  Director of Chicago Holistic Medicine, Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

Advice for current students:  Work hard, follow your dreams

Additional comments:  Just do it!

Graduation year:  1976

Colleges attended after HF:  University of Illinois (B.S. biology); Idaho State University (M.S. Zoology, D.A. Biological Sciences) 

Present position:  I have been teaching Biology (mostly Human Anatomy and Physiology) at the college level for 30 years. I was a faculty member, then chair of an academic department and now I am the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy. 

Advice for current students:  Stay curious and learn about as many different things as you can. You never know when things will come in handy. If you are a generalist it is easier to follow unexpected opportunities that might lead you in unanticipated directions. 

Additional comments:  Don't forget to have some fun, too. I really enjoyed my experiences backstage at theatre productions. 

Graduation Year:  2012

Colleges attended after HF:  Prairie State College

Present position:  NSF REU: PRECS

 Graduation year:  2010

Colleges attended after HF:  studied biology at Illinois State University,  Heartland Community College, and then studied nursing at Methodist College.

Present position:  completing BSN, December of 2017

Advice for current students:  This journey has not been easy, but it has been worth it.  My passion for science has never failed me.  There are many avenues to choose from in the field of science.  Find something you love and you'll never work a day in your life!

Graduation year:  1972

Colleges attended after HF:  Purdue University, BS Biology, Loyola Stritch School of Medicine, MD

Present postion:  Senior Pathologist and Chief, Cardiovascular Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston Massachusetts, Associate Professor of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, Former Director,  Pathology Residency Program, Brigham and Woman's Hospital (14 years)

Advice for current students interested in STEM: Do it!  It has been an interesting and exciting career and I'm so glad I followed the path I did.  Don't let other people (often people who don't know what they're talking about) scare you off.  You don't have to a star in every aspect of STEM to be successful.  I struggled more with calculus            than biology and chemistry but got through it (and never use it in my current career).

Additional comments:  I was pretty much a science - and likely premed - major - when I entered high school.  The AP science and math classes were exceptional.  I was able to test out of the entire year of college freshman biology.  AP scores in chemistry and calculus put me in more advanced classes.   Teachers I remember as outstanding:    Larry Reynolds - AP Biology,  Robert Sheets - Chemistry,  John Wayne - Math.  I also must give credit to the teachers that taught me to speak and write (equally as important as STEM in what I do):  Barry Kautz          (English/Speech Team) and Maralee Garrison (English).  What you do outside of STEM is equally important.  I spent a lot amount of time at H-F involved in Speech Team (Barry Kautz) and Viking Choir (Walter Rodby).

Graduation year:  2010

Colleges attended after HF:  University of Rochester, Rochester, NY studied Biomedical Engineering with a concentration in Signals and Systems 

Present position:  Currently working in research at Northwestern University Prosthetics and Orthotics Center 

Advice for current students:  Don't be afraid to reach out. Reach out for help, when you feel like you cant handle everything. Even if it is just a small task like not understanding one lesson. Reach out to people to help them. If you see a friend upset or struggling don't wait for them to ask for help. If you notice do something. Reach out for new opportunities. Connections at internships and through mentors will be not only teach you things you will need to know for the rest of your life, but also help you get there. My best jobs were made possible because I reached out to old mentors and people I worked with to find new and interesting job postings. 

Graduation year:  1979

Colleges attended after HF:  Indiana University- Music/biology, Chemistry 

Present position:  Physician-scientist 

Advice for current students:  There are many pathways to a successful career