Have you experienced any exciting breakthroughs/moments during your time in this program?
“I think my biggest breakthrough was realizing how much my research years had fostered an immense amount of okayness with failing and getting back up. I learned this resilience through several rounds of a particular immunohistochemistry experiment that kept giving me a hard time. Finally, almost a year in, I successfully performed it. Then, I went on to teach it to someone else in our lab. This grit and perseverance would not have been possible without the reassurance of my mentors in my lab, in our MD/PhD program, and my friends within the medical school.”
How has this program fostered a sense of community and collaboration among students and faculty?
“The UF MD/PhD program has always been my home. As a student who had no prior connections to Florida, the faculty in the directorate have served as my mentors in life, learning, and serving my community. When I was struggling to adjust to medical school, Dr. Fredenburg took the time to take me out for coffee and listen to my problems. When I was having a tough time with the logistics of transitioning to graduate school, Dr. Segal was quick to reply to every email and check up on me personally during monthly meetings. This program does not just care about who you are as a scientist, but as a person first, and that has always allowed me to feel deeply connected to the community of both UF and Gainesville at large.”
Can you describe any unique aspects or special features of the program that you appreciate?
“I think one of the best things this program offers is our Wellness Committee and the different events they host for MD/PhD students. As we all move through the program at different paces and face various challenges, it is so nice to get to connect with one another at a brewery or go to a potluck and see friendly faces and eat yummy food. I also appreciate how these events connect all the students from different years; the ones further along in the program will give me words of wisdom about the current struggles I’m having and as I get further along, I can pass my experiences down to those who are tackling similar issues.”