Going into Explorers, I felt divided between my interests. I loved to interact with other people and wanted to pursue a career that would allow me to do that: a career such as medicine. At the same time, though, I felt a deep attraction to the academic and scientific field of research. At Fred Hutch, I learned this isn’t a compromise I will have to make. Instead, these two interests will only help me to grow further as a person and reach even more people through my work. Particularly, guest lectures by the exceptional Scientists and Researchers that work at the SCAA or Fred Hutch captivated my mind, and the speakers fascinated me with their unique perspectives on the Scientific world.
One specific memorable experience that I had at Fred Hutch was having a guest speaker talk to us about his work at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. His organization, now part of Fred Hutch, handles the transfer and storage of bone marrow samples. What I found really interesting about this seminar was how integrated Science can be with medicine at Fred Hutch. Also, it was fascinating to see how new advances in technology had provided Fred Hutch with the ability to save even more lives. The speaker’s work has come a long way since the research on bone marrow transplants to cure cancer was pioneered by Dr. E. Donnall Thomas, who himself was a part of the history behind Fred Hutch.
At Fred Hutch, I also got the amazing opportunity to meet one of my idols: Dr. Anthony Fauci. Just his entrance into the room made my heart beat with excitement, and seeing him answer our questions in person was astounding. His work navigating through the covid crisis and the wave of misinformation during the past few years is a great accomplishment. Therefore, having him talk to us as like-minded peers and answer topical questions about the state of Science and medicine was an experience that I will treasure forever. Dr. Fauci also left me with some words about perseverance and determination that left me hopeful for the future and ready for whatever will come next in my Scientific pathway.
Another speaker who really stood out to me was Dr. Raabya Rossenkhan. Her work in HIV and giving back to her community is something that I will always hope to replicate in my own journey. Despite her struggles and the intensity of jumping into a completely new field, Dr. Rossenkhan kept on trudging through, and she taught us that if we genuinely love Science, the road we take to get to our dreams will feel exciting. Also, learning about how she came from a background that contained many cultures and languages felt so relatable to me because I juggle my identities too. Her work inspires me to bring my own perspectives to the world, no matter how unique they may be.
In the future, I want to keep myself immersed in the Scientific world, and after being in Fred Hutch and meeting all of these dedicated scientists endeavoring to further our knowledge, I have never felt more confident in that pursuit. Ever since I first heard of the word research, I have always wanted to pursue it. And at Fred Hutch, learning through experiences like the guest lectures by Jeff, Dr. Raabya Rossenkhan, or even Dr. Anthony Fauci, the field of research seems even more open and attainable than before. So, for the new cohort of explorers, I hope that you guys will continue to receive such excellent guidance and a foray into the world of research, Science, and medicine.
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