This week, Columbia University Irving Medical Center celebrates the graduating Class of 2025 with commencement ceremonies for all four schools. We spoke to five graduates from programs at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons about how they chose their career path, memorable educational moments, and how their time at Columbia impacted them. Read their stories below.
Ani Bernardi, MS in Nutrition
Why did you decide to pursue a degree in nutrition?
I was interested in learning about how nutrition can be used in the prevention, treatment, and recovery of chronic diseases. I was first exposed to nutrition as a tool in medicine through an undergraduate clinical research project. I spoke to patients with diabetes about using lifestyle modifications to manage their blood sugar levels. The health benefits I witnessed through this experience instilled in me how essential patients' diets and nutrition education can be in combating health issues. As someone who is on the premedical track, I wanted to gain a background in nutrition that I could utilize in my future as a physician to provide comprehensive care to patients.
What is your most memorable educational moment at VP&S?
My most memorable educational moment at VP&S was our final presentations in Introduction to Public Health Nutrition. My group presented on diabetes in older Latino populations; other topics ranged from gestational diabetes in low-income individuals to iron-deficiency anemia in female adolescents. Seeing the wide variety of presentations highlighting how nutrition is intertwined with medicine and public health further encouraged me to become educated in nutrition and incorporate it into my future career. This educational moment deepened my understanding of the social determinants of health and inspired me to advocate for nutritional interventions as part of comprehensive treatment plans.
What's next after graduation, and how has your time at Columbia prepared you?
Through my master's program, I've had the opportunity to conduct my clinical thesis project under mentors Dr. Alpana Shukla and Dr. Sarah Schmitz at the Comprehensive Weight Control Center, gaining firsthand experience in clinical trials, data collection, and patient interaction. After graduation, I will be working as an assistant research coordinator in the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Weill Cornell Medicine while applying to medical school. I feel well prepared to carry the skills developed during my thesis into this role. In addition, my coursework emphasized the value of interprofessional collaboration in delivering well-rounded patient-centered care, which I look forward to employing in my future health care career.
Calen Burns, MS in Genetic Counseling
Why did you decide to pursue a degree in genetic counseling?
My decision to pursue a career in genetic counseling was born from a desire to meet and support people, particularly during moments involving complex emotion. Inextricable from conversations about genetics are experiences of loss, grief, adaptation, and family dynamics. Despite the genuine care providers have for their patients, our systems do not allow time to meaningfully engage in the emotional complexity tied to a patient's health concerns. With training in both genetics and counseling, this field provides a unique opportunity to explore the entirety of someone's lived experience and provide more holistic support. The ability to partner with individuals and their families is what drives my work as a genetic counselor.
What is your most memorable educational moment at VP&S?
Each aspect of my graduate training at Columbia has been incredibly meaningful, but the countless hours of clinical experience are among the most memorable educational moments to me. I recall a specific case from early in my training involving predictive genetic testing for a neurodegenerative condition. Witnessing and navigating the different experiences and emotions the patient and their partner had about undergoing testing was incredibly difficult. I recall leaving that appointment with a newfound appreciation for the intensity of our work, and with the reassurance that it was the exact sort of meaningful conversation I want to be a part of throughout my career. My main goal is to work with patients and their families in a clinical setting. I will continue to remember and reflect on the stories and experiences of the patients I've had the opportunity to partner with.
What's next after graduation, and how has your time at Columbia prepared you?
While the last 21 months have been full of exciting experiences and growth, they have also been a time of real challenge and overwhelm. After graduation, I plan to take some much-needed time to relax and reconnect with loved ones and hobbies that have taken a back seat during my graduate training. During that time, I will begin studying for our certification exam in August and seeking jobs that align with the professional goals Columbia has helped me discover. Columbia's diversity of clinical opportunities has given me the opportunity to see patients in a variety of unique specialties such as ophthalmology, neurology, and inpatient genetics. These experiences have helped illuminate the type of genetic counselor I want to become and will ensure I am well-prepared to find opportunities that will allow me to excel.
Shelby Dorsaint, MS in Occupational Therapy
Why did you decide to pursue a degree in occupational therapy?
My decision to pursue a degree in occupational therapy was deeply influenced by a personal experience, witnessing my mother regain function after having a stroke. As a child, I didn't fully understand why she struggled with tasks she once did with ease. Once she began rehabilitation with her occupational therapist's help, she became the mother I knew prior to the stroke. This impact truly inspired me, and I aspire to make a similar difference to my clients as a future occupational therapist.
What is your most memorable educational moment at VP&S?
One of my most memorable educational moments at VP&S was leading my classmates to the New York State Association of Occupational Therapy Advocacy Day in Albany, NY. We advocated before legislators and key staff on issues such as early intervention reimbursements, mental health budgeting, and limiting co-payments. Meetings ended with expressed support for the bills, and even praise for our professionalism. This experience showed me that even early in our careers, we can drive meaningful change in our profession.
What's next after graduation, and how has your time at Columbia prepared you?
After graduation, I plan to work with the geriatric population. I hope to continue leading and advocating for marginalized communities and progress within the occupational therapy profession. Columbia has equipped me with the clinical skills, evidence-based knowledge, and leadership qualities necessary to be a strong occupational therapist.
Kenechukwu B. Egbuonu, MD
Why did you decide to pursue a degree in medicine?
I decided to pursue a degree in medicine to help people in communities like the one I come from. Growing up, I was fortunate to have positive experiences with physicians, however, I knew this was not the case for many. As the child of two Nigerian immigrants living in a community near Dallas where most residents were underrepresented minorities, I saw firsthand how difficult navigating the American health care system can be for immigrant populations and the mistrust and fear that prevented members of the community from getting the care they need. I wanted to help bridge this gap as someone who comes from the community and understands these obstacles, and I believed pursuing medicine would be the best way to do so.
What is your most memorable educational moment at VP&S?
My most memorable educational moment at VP&S was during a series of patient encounters at the Columbia Harlem Homeless Medical Partnership (CHHMP). The patient came to clinic with an incredibly sensitive urological issue and informed us that his previous visits at other hospitals had not gone well. Through multiple visits over the course of the next few weeks, we were able to build a rapport with him and connect him with the care that he needed. These encounters highlighted just how powerful a positive patient-physician relationship can be and started me on the path of seriously considering urology as a career path (which I later committed to fully during urology week during MCY!).
What's next after graduation, and how has your time at Columbia prepared you?
I matched into a urology residency at Temple University/Fox Chase Cancer Center, so I'll be heading to Philadelphia shortly after graduation! I believe my time at Columbia has prepared me to learn from patients from all walks of life and fostered a sense of independence. Through my exposure to the patients in the hospital, the Washington Heights community, and through the CHHMP free clinic, I was able to not only increase my clinical knowledge, but I was better able to meet patients where they are to provide holistic care. Also, as a result of training here, I always have it in my mind what I could be doing to push patient care forward. I believe these skills will serve me anywhere!
Patricia Ho, MD, PhD
Why did you decide to pursue a degree in medicine?
Growing up, I always gravitated towards biology in school-I loved learning how living things miraculously develop and function as well as they do. As I got older, I discovered I also found joy in working closely with people, and in college I had the opportunity to shadow an oncologist. I was deeply influenced by the close relationships he had with his patients, and his practice continues to serve as a model for how I interact with and build trust with patients. Ultimately, the MD-PhD program was the perfect way to merge both my passions for science and people.
What is your most memorable educational moment at VP&S?
My most memorable moments have probably been from my times on the medicine floors, both as an MCY and sub-I student. Columbia students get thrown into the deep end (in a good way) on these rotations: the patients are medically complex, students are given the independence to propose ideas for their patients' care, and all the attendings are passionate about teaching and practicing evidence-based medicine. Especially since I had only recently returned to medical school after my PhD, it felt like a nonstop few months of learning all of medicine all at once, and upon reflection it's shocking how much my clinical skills and knowledge base had improved by the end of my rotations.
What's next after graduation, and how has your time at Columbia prepared you?
I'll be doing a preliminary medicine year at Montefiore New Rochelle and then moving on to dermatology residency at Mount Sinai in their research track. I have one medicine sub-I under my belt where I was truly practicing as an intern for the most part, and also just finished an amazing primary care rotation at the Bronx VA, so I feel ready to apply the skills and knowledge I've acquired when I start as an intern next month! I was also lucky to have a wonderful PhD experience in Benjamin Izar's lab and am excited to continue pursuing my research interests in T-cell immunology at Sinai.
