Imagining the Future of Medicine at the White Coat Ceremony

What drew you to Icahn Mount Sinai?

I chose to come to Mount Sinai because of the emphasis on patient-centered medicine, clinically meaningful research, and sustained commitment to serving a diverse patient population. Mount Sinai is uniquely positioned on the border of the Upper East Side and East Harlem, and thus serves a wide range of patient populations. After living, learning, and working in Manhattan since I began college at Columbia University in 2018, I have come to understand the strengths and weaknesses of health care in New York City, and the need for culturally sensitive and community-guided medicine. Training at an institution that understands the need for culturally sensitive and equitable health care will allow me to best serve my future patients.

What drew you to medicine?

I decided to pursue medicine in the interest of combining cooperativity, lifelong learning, health advocacy, and scientific discovery in my career path. In my eyes, being curious is an unspoken requirement for being in the medical field. This emphasis on asking questions and working alongside others to solve problems is what inspires me about medicine, and I look forward to engaging with this structure to enact change in both clinical medicine and access to health care resources, the latter being a right we must fiercely protect. As an MD-PhD candidate, I feel strongly that science and medicine are intertwined. There is an extraordinary power in connecting these spheres to improve patient care and drive forward clinically relevant research, which I hope to embrace as a future physician-scientist. Lastly, I credit my draw to medicine to my mother, who showed me that being a physician is far more than solving clinical problems, but rather an integration of expertise with empathic communication, trust, and humanism.

What are you looking forward to at medical school?

I am looking forward to exploring different specialties and remaining open to any and all opportunities that come my way. Since beginning this journey in July, it has been eye-opening to learn about the wide breadth of medical specialties and their respective applications in policy, health equity, research, and innovation. I hope to continue to surprise myself and fearlessly accept the challenges that come my way.

What’s a fun fact about yourself?

Prior to medical school, I was a member of Team USA’s synchronized figure skating team from 2016 to 2020. This provided me with the opportunity to travel the world with my teammates and devote myself to the sport that I loved. After retiring in 2020, I began coaching skating with the organization Figure Skating in Harlem and have enjoyed passing on my love for skating to my students as I transition from competitor to instructor.

What drew you to Icahn Mount Sinai?

To me, it really came down to the incredible faculty, mentors, physicians, and community at Mount Sinai. I wanted a place where I wasn’t afraid to reach out with “dumb” questions and I felt that at Mount Sinai I could surround myself with people who not only excel in their fields, but are also approachable and willing to invest in my personal and professional development. And, of course, I feel incredibly lucky to attend a medical school in New York City where I can experience the amazing cultures, music, activities, and food.

What drew you to medicine?

There were many reasons why I wanted to pursue medicine, but I remember a moment I had with a tutee that shifted my perspective when it came to medicine. I had been working with a boy from Myanmar for a few months, and one day, he opened up to me about his experiences in a refugee camp, describing how he had lost many family members due to a lack of access to basic medical care. He also told me that if I were a doctor, he’d want me to treat him. That kind of innocence and hope took me aback. In that moment, I realized that medicine is not just about having a bunch of knowledge or technical skills, but also encompasses trust, compassion, and dedication that I hope to provide to the patients I care for.

What are you looking forward to at medical school?

Although it’s a bit cliché, I am really looking forward to learning—whether that be lectures, stories from my peers, the different floors of the hospital, or even the best cafeteria food. I know the accumulation of these experiences will help me be more present in my day-to-day life while shaping the type of person I aspire to be.

What’s a fun fact about yourself?

I was born on Christmas, which the internet told me is the rarest birthday, besides February 29.

What drew you to Icahn Mount Sinai?

Icahn Mount Sinai was an easy pick for me because it’s right in the heart of New York City, surrounded by a diverse community that mirrors my background. Plus, I love that they encourage students to be involved in research, advocacy, and health care innovation. I want to be in a place that not only teaches me how to be a great doctor but also pushes me to think outside the box.

What drew you to medicine?

Well, it wasn’t just about the cool white coat! I’ve always been fascinated by the human body and how it works, but my interest really sparked when I lost a friend to sickle cell disease. I realized then that I wanted to be someone who could make a difference in people’s lives, especially in communities that look like mine. Medicine felt like the perfect blend of science, empathy, and a good dose of humanity.

What are you looking forward to at medical school?

I can’t wait to get into the clinical settings and apply everything I’ve been learning. Also, I’m excited about the chance to join cool research projects and make some lifelong friends who also have a passion for medicine.

What’s a fun fact about yourself?

I can solve a Rubik’s Cube in under a minute! It started as a random challenge, but now it’s my favorite way to impress people and keep my brain sharp.

What drew you to Icahn Mount Sinai?

I chose Icahn Mount Sinai for its prime location in New York City, and because its welcoming and supportive environment cultivates a strong sense of community among students. Being in the heart of such a diverse and dynamic city provides unparalleled opportunities to engage with a wide variety of patient populations, deepening my understanding of the health care disparities faced by different communities and patient demographics. Additionally, the access to numerous hospitals, renowned research institutions, and a vibrant medical community makes Mount Sinai the ideal place for my growth as a clinician and future leader in medicine.

What drew you to medicine?

My motivation to become a physician stems from my belief that medicine offers us an opportunity to forge meaningful connections with patients while providing care with respect and humility. Over the next four years, I am excited to grow alongside our class, both as a person and provider, as we work together to advance patient-centered care and improve the human condition.

What are you looking forward to at medical school?

I am looking forward to learning from both my peers and patients, gaining diverse perspectives that will help me grow into a compassionate, well-rounded physician. Classes like anatomy have been fascinating because they offer a tangible connection between textbook knowledge and the human body, revealing the intricate design and functionality of structures that let us do incredible things.

What’s a fun fact about yourself?

I grew up playing the harp!