Why did you choose PRIME?
"Entering college, I was a mechanical engineering major at the University of Rochester. At the time, my close friend had a relapse of ALL (Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia) and I witnessed him going through the CAR-Ts treatment. His provider at the time was very smart and helpful. I was inspired by the life-changing impact medical providers were able to make and decided to pursue medicine. The PRIME program at CWRU was a perfect choice since it allowed me to make the transition into the medical field from an engineering background."
What are your future plans upon graduation?
"I am currently working as a CAR-T Operations Associate at Legend Biotech which is in conjunction with Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Johnson and Johnson. I perform cell culture, purification, aseptic processing, and cryopreservation to support the development of CAR-T cell therapy for multiple myeloma patients. "
What is your favorite memory at CWRU?
"The PRIME program was amazing. My professors were very nice and accommodating, especially professor Athar Khalil who helped me find my research opportunity. There were many opportunities to get hands-on experience since CWRU is located near big hospitals. I volunteered at University Hospitals (UH) and MetroHealth and got involved in the Cancer Evolution Lab doing lung cancer research at the BME department. These experiences were so valuable, especially for one without a previous background in medical school and helped me get the job I have now.
One of my favorite memories during the program was when we had a graduate group outing at Cedar Point."