A career in science and medicine

My brother had a health scare when I was younger that prompted me to become interested in learning about medicine and the brain. I fell in love with research along the way. During college, I had experiences in wet labs, exploring gut neurobiology, cancer, and spinal cord injury. I participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program at Mayo Clinic and spent a year in Mayo’s Postbaccalaureate Research and Education Program. These experiences solidified my decision to come to Mayo for M.D.-Ph.D. training.

The Medical Scientist Training Program begins with two years of M.D. training. Students then complete four years of Ph.D. research and defend a dissertation before returning to complete the final two years of the medical degree. When I was considering the program, I thought about the significant length of training, the skills I'd be acquiring, and the potential to have a career in both science and medicine. I saw the Ph.D. as a singular opportunity to dive deep into science. I knew graduate training would teach me how to ask and answer questions about the brain and its response to disease.

Questions and curiosity

My Ph.D. research is exploring the neuronal response to the development and progression of brain cancer. The project developed somewhat organically in lab with the input of my mentor, John Fryer, Ph.D., and was based on my interests in cancer biology and neuroscience. The culture of collaboration and helpful community have been crucial components of my Mayo graduate school experience so far. In my career, I hope to be able to seamlessly integrate treating patients as a neurosurgeon and leading a research team that will bring innovative treatments to the operating room and clinic.

Robust student life

I love student life in Phoenix and also have enjoyed living in Rochester. Mayo Clinic is a national school, so it’s possible to choose a Ph.D. mentor and a lab on the campus in Arizona, Florida, or Minnesota. I'm originally from Arizona, so being near home for my Ph.D. has allowed me to be close to family for a large portion of my graduate training. I love going to the Phoenix Symphony, jazz clubs in the area, and local football games. I also play piano and am restoring a 1933 Buick LaSalle with my dad. My advice to others considering a Ph.D.: Grad school is what you make of it. The more opportunities you take advantage of, the more people you meet, and the more solid work that you do, the more fun and productive your Ph.D. training will be.