Profiles

“After graduating from college, I interviewed for a variety of positions in marketing and public relations, and I was hired by Lehman Brothers as an event coordinator. I hosted events at some of New York City’s most upscale restaurants, traveled widely and stayed in many premier hotels. Despite all of the great perks in my job, I was unsatisfied and didn’t like the direction my life was headed. In thinking about what I really wanted out of life, I realized I wanted to make a significant impact on the world around me and give back to my community.”

“I consider myself very lucky. Despite being born into an illiterate and poor family in Nepal, I have been able to study and work at some of the best institutions in the world, with some of the most successful people in the world. Although I felt I was contributing to society as a health policy researcher, I decided to pursue medicine because I was disappointed by the distance between my statistical analysis and the people I wanted to help. ”

“I was first inspired to pursue medicine while working as a veterinary assistant. A few years ago, however, a much more compelling reason to pursue medicine arose—I was a liver donor for my sister who has a rare metabolic disorder. My sister, who also received a kidney donation from my father, is doing very well thanks to an amazing team of doctors, nurses, and medical students. This experience inspired me on many levels and although my decision was a complicated one, organ donation played a significant role in my decision to pursue a career in medicine.”

“Gazing into the rising sun after a 20-hour day of work at an intense investment bank can make anyone question their motivations. For me, I knew that I was more than capable of handling this type of work but what did I really accomplish in those 20 hours? What impact had I made? I didn't have to look very far to see the transformational power that medicine possesses. Nephrological medicine and research gave my mother a renewed life after 9 years of renal failure. Orthopedic medical techniques allowed both my brother and me to recover from the same wrist injury and resume successful athletic careers. Through medicine, I hope to apply the work ethic that brought me success in banking to a more rewarding career and change the lives of other people just as medicine had done for me.”

"For the past 30 years, creativity through music has been my motivation. Although that is still true, I decided to pursue a career in medicine to learn how the human body’s biological response to creativity can heal."

"The study of abnormal behaviors has always fascinated me, which made the field of clinical psychology seem like the perfect fit for my interests. When I began to study mental disorders and meet with clients in therapy, however, my lack of scientific knowledge regarding basic biological functions frustrated me. Many of my cases involved chronic physical ailments, and I wanted to understand their development and role in a person's sense of wellbeing. I decided to pursue a career in medicine to understand the biological approach to defining and treating mental disorders and continue my study of health and healing."