ALUMNI IN THE NEWS

What is your current position? How long have you been in this position? Can you give us a brief overview of what it is you do in your work?

I matriculated as an MD/PhD trainee at Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland Clinic) in July 2021. As a physician-scientist, I hope to bridge medicine and research to advance standards of care. I have been a research assistant at Stony Brook University since 2011, advancing from an undergraduate researcher to a senior research scientist. In the past 10 years, I explored various fields. I worked as a clinical research assistant, running clinical trials in surgery and analyzing clinical data to evaluate patient outcomes. I then transitioned to a basic science laboratory, studying the molecular mechanisms of cancer biology and novel therapeutics to target end-stage cancer. Most recently, I transitioned to an infectious diseases laboratory. With a focus on microbiology and immunology, I have been studying how pathogens interact with our immune system (including COVID-19)!

What skills do you need to do the work you just described?

In medicine, compassion is key. As healthcare professionals, our goal is to help people navigate health-related obstacles in their lives. My experiences working with disabled individuals as an adapted aquatics instructor really opened my eyes to the power of empathy and kindness.

In research, curiosity and perseverance are crucial. As we often venture into the unknown, research is rife with trial and error. Even as we gain experience and perspective, learning never stops. The scientific community is constantly sharing novel findings. With a curious and open mind, scientific research can be very rewarding!

Finally, communication is an essential skill. Whether it's talking to patients to help them understand what they're going through or sharing scientific findings with the public, the ability to saliently convey information is critical.

Please describe any experiences at Westlake High School that influenced your career decision?

AP Biology with Mr. Smith, AP Calculus with Mr. Hovdestad, AP European History with Mr. Sheehan, and band with Mr. Capano all shaped my career decision. Westlake High School gave me a very well-rounded education. Band class gave me the opportunity to explore my creative side and exercise teamwork. Turns out, research requires a lot of creativity and teamwork! Mr. Sheehan's use of the Socratic method in AP European History really shaped how I analyze and interrogate problems. As research is hypothesis-driven, the ability to question our reality and source materials is really important. With Mr. Smith and Mr. Hovdestad, I learned to delve beneath the surface, whether it was understanding what governs the plasma membrane in a cell or how derivation and integration apply to our physical world.

What might someone be surprised to know about you?

I love the performing arts! I've continued to play clarinet as a member of the Stony Brook Wind Ensemble. Given my brief training as a dancer in high school, I also have a profound appreciation of classical ballet.

What advice do you have for students interested in going into your field?

Dream big and work hard! STEM can seem daunting. But if you're curious and passionate, there are plenty of resources and mentors to teach you the necessary skills and perspective for you to succeed.