Profiles

"A few years after Hurricane Katrina, I was down in New Orleans to shoot the season finale of a television series I was producing, which focused on the ongoing effort to rebuild homes and to celebrate the return of Mardi Gras. One man who shared his story of survival had been living with his family in a FEMA trailer on his front lawn for more than two years. He spoke solemnly about his weak arms and shortness of breath, which prevented him from performing simple construction tasks on his damaged home. Although I was proud we could rebuild his home and provide renewed hope, I was also frustrated, knowing that in my current role I could not restore his health. I decided that instead of just sharing people's stories, I wanted to do something to ensure that they are healthy enough to live them."

"I have always been interested in helping professions, and I initially entered college with the intention of pursuing medicine. When I began my studies, however, I realized I had never considered other options.  Outside of the health professions, many fields appealed to me, which included journalism, public policy, and international development.

"After a few years in the workforce, I gained a better understanding of myself and the elements most important to me in my career pursuits.  I realized what was most important was being empowered to tangibly help others and to help combat health disparities in our communities."

"Growing up, I was always interested in science, but I was also interested in writing. As a reporter, I felt like what I was doing had an impact on my readers, but I wanted to make a different contribution to the world. After I had an accident that required surgery, I got a first-hand look at how medical care can change a patient's life. This experience combined with my love of math and science caused me to pursue a career in medicine."
 

"I was part of an exclusive opera performance training program and for two years struggled to hone my technique and compete with top young opera singers for future opportunities. I was miserable and I realized that fighting for the spotlight was not going to fulfill me, even if I did end up "making it". After volunteering as an SAT tutor for underserved New York City students and in a hospital emergency room, I realized that a life of service would give me the fulfillment I was seeking."

"I have always loved animals and known that I want to help them. I was just not sure how. While volunteering at a local animal shelter the summer after my junior year of college, I realized that my answer was a career in veterinary medicine. Since I’ve been in the Postbac Premed Program, I have volunteered as a veterinary assistant at a New York City animal hospital, served as the VIDA campus representative and worked on a farm. I also co-founded the University’s Postbaccalaureate Preveterinary Association. I love working with other preveterinary students, and I am excited about the start of my career in veterinary medicine."

"During my senior year at Tufts University, I took a public policy and health ethics class that required us to read, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks." Although I was immediately captured by the humanistic side of the story, it was ultimately the science behind Henrietta's "immortal" cells that inspired me to pursue a career in healthcare. Not only did the story ignite my interest in medicine, but also my desire to ensure that healthcare is accessible to all people, regardless of their socioeconomic background."

"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."