Class of 2007

Biology major

Bioethics & Theatre minor

Much of my undergraduate career was spent in various lectures, which gave me a solid foundation of knowledge. Experiential learning moved this knowledge from my head and put it to work with my hands. Through microbiology research with Dr. Castignetti, I used my understanding of science to design experiments of my own, observe scientific principles at work, and make discoveries that could not be made through classroom learning alone. In Nicaragua, I used lessons from my service learning course and Bioethics courses to engage with my team and our hosts in discussions about the ethics and value of medical volunteerism. We talked about whether we were doing more harm than good or if we were the servants or the ones being served. These questions, which I had answered myself in homework assignments, became more nuanced and complex when applied to this real-life situation.

Four years of working with Dr. Castignetti allowed me to develop the critical thinking tools necessary for scholarly research and technical expertise in a variety of lab skills. My fellowships required me to participate in poster presentations, and this helped me learn how to disseminate my scientific work in written, visual, and oral form. These are all valuable lessons I needed to be a better scientist and a participating member of the academic community. My time in Nicaragua and in the global health service learning course showed me that community service, both local and global, is not a top-down relationship, where one person serves a community in need. Rather, it is a two-way relationship, where one person is invited into a community by another person and they both affect change together. I was effective in Nicaragua only with the help of Nicaraguan community partners. They invited me into their community, showed me what they needed, and taught me how to help them. Local translators taught me how to ask questions to take medical histories. Local doctors taught me how to instruct patients with the correct dosages for their medication and take vitals. Local masons taught me how to mix concrete and lay bricks for new latrines. The people of Nicaragua were the real agents of change, and I was just a set of willing, inexperienced hands.

I attribute a great deal of my current professional life and community engagement to the tangible, hands-on learning experience I had through the opportunities provided by the Center for Experiential Learning. I am now a rising third year medical student at the University of Chicago. I work in a lab studying the effect of antibiotic use on the gut development of preterm infants. Every day, I use the same scientific principles and techniques I learned during my LUROP fellowships. The lessons I learned in Nicaragua and my service learning course about the nature of service and community intervention inform how I participate in community service work on the south side. Whether teaching nutrition classes or volunteering at health fairs, I am aware that I am an outsider and must listen and learn in order to be an effective servant. These lessons also inform how I interact with patients. I am in the early years of my medical training and am still just a set of willing, inexperienced hands. It’s a privilege to be invited into a patient’s room, to talk with them, and to learn from them about what they need and how I and their medical team can help.