Profiles of Elmira College Alumni

What are you doing now?
I am a first year PhD student at Boston University School of Medicine in the Biomedical Neuroscience and Pharmacology departments. I will be taking classes and doing research for two years, and then concentrating on research and writing my thesis. Currently I am doing work in a Pharmacology lab studying the effect of a certain receptor that seems to have major implications on the study of ALS as well as Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s. (I can't talk about it, until it is published)

What would you like to be doing in 5 years? 10 years?
I would like to be working for the NIH (National Institutes of Health) or at a University as a clinical researcher for a lab that focuses on neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's. I either would like to study the mechanisms behind these diseases or work with patients and testing new drugs.

What are your fondest memories of your days at Elmira College?
My fondest memories are of the people that I had the pleasure to work with and form friendships with over my four years; professors, administrators, and other students. Anything that involved traditions: Candlelight, Mountain Day, SINGING!!!

Which class, club, activity, individual, organization or team do you believe best prepared you for your career?
I was very involved and couldn't pick just one. I think all of them helped me to evolve from a naive freshman into a responsible adult. It’s quite remarkable how much people grow and change over four years.

Did you take advantage of Elmira College’s Term III or Junior Year Abroad travel opportunities? If so, how did that experience affect you?
I definitely did! I went to the UK my freshman year, and Russia my junior year. Both were amazing experiences, although very different. I think being exposed to different cultures is very important to really appreciate everything that we have here in the US. Russia definitely changed my perspective and I grew a lot spending time in a country where they don't speak much English and their experiences are very different than ours.

What advice would you give students about preparing for graduate school or careers?
Your undergraduate time goes by faster than you think. Start researching jobs and schools early, because a lot of times what you think you want to do isn't actually what you thought. I definitely changed my mind a few times! Don't sell yourself short, go for a job or a school you might not think you will get into... you just might surprise yourself.

What did you do during your time at EC?
I played Men’s Varsity Basketball for four years and was an Orientation Leader for three years. I was also inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.

What have been the highlights of your career?
The highlight of my career is being the Director of Emergency Medicine at my hospital. I have been given the privilege of leading a team of incredible physicians who care for and impact the lives of people in our community each day.

Which experience best prepared you for your career?
Both the athletic and academic departments at EC helped prepare me for my career as an Emergency Medicine physician. The coaching staff trained me in responsibility, teamwork, and discipline. As a scholar-athlete, I had to balance a full schedule and develop solid time management skills, which proved to be crucial as I transitioned into my postgraduate education. The science faculty, particularly Dr. Larry Stephens and Dr. Pierre Bouthyette, shaped my critical thinking and drive for self-study. I did not fully appreciate the lessons I learned from them until I had graduated and found myself competing with and excelling against Ivy League educated students in medical school.