DocDreams

From moving to the US at age 10 without any knowledge of English to becoming a Fulbright scholar after college, William’s story is marked by adaptability, maturity and focus. William was born in the Central African Republic, to a father with a passion for education and teaching who overcame polio in his left leg and a loving mother who read him fables as a child. An attempted coup in 2001 set in motion his father’s plan to take his two sons to the US. Fast forward to high school and college, with the help of invested mentors, William cultivated his natural scientific abilities with the dream of becoming a physician. However, after a formative return to the Central African Republic in college, he realized he wanted to eventually combine medicine and management to bring improved healthcare to areas like where he was born.

Born to an American mother and an Austrian father, Sophia spent the early part of her childhood between the two countries. Her bicultural experience even influenced her teachers in Colorado who adopted Austrian arithmetic techniques she’d learned overseas. During our conversation, she shares stories about her love of science and medicine and projects she pursued since her teenage years to her time at CU Boulder. She also offers evidence-based advice on why each of us should aim to get quality sleep! As a medical student at HMS, Sophia’s enthralled by the early opportunities to immerse herself in patients' stories and sees the application of science to alleviate suffering as her purpose for entering medicine. 

After leaving India with his parents, Maaz lived in Kentucky for a few years before moving to Illinois. His interest in medicine began when he lost a childhood friend to a heart condition and he would later attend Duke with a focus on becoming a doctor. His story is anything but a straight shot into the medical field, however. Over the years, he’s had to reflect on how he wants to make an impact on others, what it means to be a family man, and how to put his faith to practice. He hopes to become a physician working at the intersection of health administration and biotech. 

If I’ve ever come across a person who knows what he wants and how to go after it, it’s Jalen. During our conversation, he opens up about moving from D.C. to Florida at an early age and how this experience changed his educational trajectory. He also shares valuable lessons he’s learned through difficult times during his years at Dartmouth College and what initially inspired him to become a physician. His story is one of resilience and a reminder to us all that we should never take “no” for an answer when it comes to chasing our dreams. 

Yanet shares stories from her childhood in Cuba and her family’s unbelievable journey to the U.S. She learned English just after arriving in Florida and quickly became one of the top performing students in her high school. Her scholastic achievements secured her admission to Harvard College and the memories of her parents’ challenges with medical care fueled her desire to pursue medicine. She hopes to become a doctor who's deeply invested in her patients and goes to great lengths to make them feel heard. 

Born to Indian parents who emigrated to Canada, Rubee shares what it felt like to grow up in two different Canadian cities and to attend high school in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She credits her introduction to dental medicine to a serendipitous networking event while a student at UMass Amherst. As HSDM’s class president, she’s led initiatives to expose children from underserved local schools to the health fields. She currently plans on pursuing a career at the intersection of administrative leadership and education within dentistry. 

A native of Bridgeport West Virginia, Mitchell recounts growing up in a large family with parents who were involved in public service. His desire to give back to his country led him to attend the U.S. Naval academy where he served in leadership roles and broadened his worldview during a trip to Ghana. Mitchell’s motivations for entering the field of medicine are deeply personal and his commitment to serving military families is unwavering. 

Terrance’s story is LITERALLY one in a million! Born in Accra Ghana, he moved with his family to the United States after they've won a visa lottery and settled in North Carolina. At his parents’ urging, he was able to secure a spot at an accelerated high school program where he witnessed first-hand the vast inequities that exists within the American educational system. He attributes much of his personal growth to his experiences at Williams College where he studied neuroscience and his time abroad in the UK. His mission in medicine is to direct the power and privilege of established institutions toward addressing injustice. 

King breaks down his early childhood experiences in Hong Kong and how moving to Oregon affected the dynamics of his family. His life story is full of interesting facts like receiving a golf caddy scholarship in high school and interning in the House of Commons in the UK. He credits his social and intellectual transformation to the University of Notre Dame where he studied sociology and international development. He’s still crafting his path in medicine but hopes to be at the forefront of understanding the global structures shaping healthcare. 

Her name is Lashyra, but she’s made it a point for all to call her Lash. In this episode, Harvard Medical School's student council president Lash Nolen reflects on growing up in Compton, being a student at Loyola Marymount University, and her transformative experiences as a Fulbright scholar in Spain and health coach in Chicago. During our conversation, she also gives her insights on the health implications of racism in America and her efforts to address these problems through community engagement and storytelling. 

Genuine, thoughtful, and honest, Jordan is someone I have a lot of respect for and always look forward to speaking with. In this conversation, we discuss his life growing up in Auburn NY, his love for track and field, and early experiences in a dental clinic. He also shares a touching story of how he came to HSDM and offers a candid perspective on race and representation in dental medicine at Harvard. After graduation, he hopes to open a private practice with his older brother (super cool). 

Chai shares what it was like growing up in California with a mother who emigrated from Guatemala and a father with a lifelong illness. From an early age, he learned to persevere through adversity as he earned awards for his scholarship and athletic endeavors while caring for his younger siblings. At Stanford, he was a focused student who had his sights on medical school but never forgot the community from which he came. In medical school, Chai exhibits great courage and confidence everyday by stepping up to tackle difficult problems presented in class. 

Quiet and humble, Chris’s demeanor belies his extraordinary life journey. Raised in Cambridge MA, he describes his struggles in high school and experiences in the Marines thereafter. A fateful accident turned his sights to the world of medicine and led him to enroll at UMass Amherst where he juggled final exams and raising a child. In this episode, he reflects on many life events and the duty of the physician to patients. 

Oftentimes, when we don’t know a person too well, we resort to calling them “nice.” Logan is different in the sense that the more you get to know her, the more you realize how kind this already friendly person is. In this episode, Logan opens up to share a heartfelt account about growing up in North Carolina, her transformative years at Duke, and her dedication to studying childhood development. Those listening should prepare to experience strong emotions throughout this episode. 

Born in Colombia, Gus moved to Florida at a young age where he had to mature quickly. He reveals the setbacks of his childhood and high school years and his strategy for successfully navigating the premed curriculum at the University of South Florida. One of the most genuine people you’ll meet, Gus is incredibly generous with sharing his time with others and has a deep commitment to learning the art of medicine. 

Julianna breaks down her early experiences in a tight-knit school system that valued community service and finding an identity while attending the University of Southern California. Through the mentors she met at USC, she found an interest in learning the French language and eventually went to Senegal on a Fulbright scholarship to work with families of children with disabilities. Passionate about teaching and research, she hopes to integrate her work in medicine with advocacy. 

When I sat with Trevor to have this conversation back in March, I felt a brief sense of normalcy though everything in our world was changing. Born in a small town in California, Trevor shares the importance of family and the close ties he formed with people in his community. Moreover, he reflects on shadowing physicians back in grade school and the effect of these experiences on his interest in medicine. Brilliant and humble, he’s a fantastic classmate who never fails to lend a hand to his colleagues.

A native of Athol, MA, Bradley is truly one of a kind. Here, he shares stories about his hometown, his time as captain of the Brandeis baseball team, and adversities he’s had to overcome on his path to Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Dedicated to serving people and focused on his craft, he will become a great oral surgeon. 

Born in a household with two doctors as parents, Brendan had to do some soul searching to convince himself that attending medical school was the right decision. His travels to India and Peru fostered an interest in global health disparities. A fearless and outspoken advocate, he’s passionate about upholding our communities’ values of justice and fairness. 

In this conversation, Victor breaks down why New Yorkers are “so cool” and talks about the transformative experience of attending Howard University. Introspective and curious, he’s always in the midst of exploring different facets of humanity by writing short stories. As a full-fledged physician, he hopes to combine his love of literature with an expertise in health policy, working in North America and Africa.