Jacques Calixte, an alumnus of our VCRT program and one of its very first Fellows, is blazing a trail in the medical field. Now a medical student at Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Jacques serves as Class President for the Class of 2028. His leadership and dedication continue to inspire those around him.

Jacques credits his time in the VCRT program, under the guidance of Dr. Ashby, as a pivotal step in his journey toward medicine. The program helped him build a foundation for success that has carried him through a variety of groundbreaking projects, including:

• Leading a Disabilities Review in Cardiovascular Clinical Trials with Stanford CVI and Morehouse SOM.

• Co-organizing an Orthopedics and PM&R Workshop as part of Columbia’s PM&R Series.

• Investigating cardiovascular disease burden and NIH funding patterns with Stanford CVI.

• Co-authoring a book on navigating medical school alongside peers from across the nation.

We are immensely proud of Jacques’ achievements and are excited to see how he continues to push boundaries in the medical field. He exemplifies the values of the VCRT program and inspires the next generation of Fellows.