School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Degree: Doctor of Medicine and Master’s of Public Health
Home: I’m originally a New Yorker but have called New Hampshire, Washington, D.C., and now Boston home
What is the most significant thing you’ve learned at TUSM?
How important collaboration in medicine is. Working in groups in the hospital, I realized that there is a reason why individual members of a medical team hone a skill in a specific area or type of care. It’s powerful to work with social workers, case managers, and others who have specialized skill sets that compliment yours. That was also the case in studying for preclinical exams or doing research projects—working with others enriches the experience.
Med school can feel very isolating at times, but the collaboration that happens starting in the first two years, when you’re with your cohort, and continuing into the next two years, when you start hospital clerkships, makes a big difference. Working with people you respect and trust provides some of the social energy you need, gives you a sense of connection, and makes the whole experience more fun.
Best adjective to describe you?
Passionate. I rarely have just a loose interest in things—if there’s something I want to know well and commit to, I will put a lot of time and energy into it. That’s true whether it’s an academic subject or a personal hobby. I think that’s a strength of mine—but sometimes, it does cause me to overextend myself. If there are multiple commitments I'm excited about, I want to pursue each of them 100 percent.
Has one of those challenges been working on two degrees at once?
The word “challenge” is not what comes to mind. It’s been wonderful, fun, fulfilling, and intellectually stimulating. To me, working toward the master’s degree in public health has been a highlight of med school. Within a cohort of 200 med students, I’m also a member of a group of 17 people who have the same interests and who are electing to take time out of their medical degrees to have conversations about topics like global health, maternal health, environmental health, root causes of trauma, or systemic racism. Through that group, I’ve been able to create some wonderful friendships and find intellectual fulfillment.
What’s next?
A general surgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital—but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that I’m also getting married. Without my partner, I would not have been able to achieve everything I have.
