If you’re planning to apply to Ph.D. programs this fall, hopefully you’ve — at the very least — thought about starting to write a personal statement. For many students this is one of the most daunting aspects of the application process; however, having a strong personal statement can really set you apart amid a thick(...)
A Day in the Life
From Classrooms to Clinics: A Former High School Teacher’s Reflections on Medicine
Posted by | A Day in the LifeThe term “doctor” can be traced to its Latin root, docēre, which means “to teach.” And indeed, teaching is ubiquitous in medicine; the residency system that trains physicians is grounded in intensive teaching and learning. Moreover, educating patients about their conditions is a primary objective for every doctor. But five years ago, I was involved(...)
From Prison Cells to PhD: Words Matter
Posted by | A Day in the LifeI have people contacting me from all over the country. A pastor called me after an interview I had with CBS and told me, "you still look, talk, and smell like a convict." Wow. What does a “convict” smell like? He continued, "You need Jesus in your life. Back in my day, people were ashamed(...)
Everyday Antibiotics May Reveal New Therapies to Treat Your Breast Cancer
Posted by | A Day in the Life, Perspectives in ResearchNew therapies to treat metastatic breast cancer may lie within one of the most commonly used agents in health care across the world: antibiotics. Sonal Chaudhari, a second-year medical student at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, recently spent her summer working under Richard Jones, director of the Bone Marrow Transplant Program, co-director of the(...)
The Unsung Heroes of Johns Hopkins Core Facilities
Posted by | A Day in the LifeWhen we think about the great research and scientific breakthroughs that come out of Johns Hopkins, we often focus on the principal investigators and members of their labs. But there is another very strong force of progress at Johns Hopkins that flies under the radar — the core facilities. Johns Hopkins boasts a large array(...)
The Mystery Behind the Jargon
Posted by | A Day in the LifeScience is a complex language. It has its own vocabulary and corresponding slang, both of which take time to learn and understand. In the lab we speak this language as fluidly and comfortably as if we were raised with it as our native tongue. For some students with parents who work in science, this may(...)
From Prison Cells to Ph.D.: Felony Disenfranchisement and My Voting Rights
Posted by | A Day in the Life“From Prison Cell to Ph.D.” is a series following the journey of Dr. Stanley Andrisse, who was convicted of 2 felony drug charges and sentenced to 10 years in Missouri prison. He is now a postdoctoral scientist in pediatric endocrinology and trainee leader at Johns Hopkins Medicine. I once waited at the polls for three long hours(...)
Quick Tips for Applying to Graduate School
Posted by | A Day in the LifeTwo years into graduate school at Johns Hopkins, it’s still hard to believe that I’m here. After a year of undergraduate research at the University of San Diego and a summer at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, I remember entering my senior year of college more positive than ever that a Ph.D. program in the biomedical(...)
When It Hits Too Close to Home
Posted by | A Day in the LifeI am equal parts excited and filled with dread as I open the door. The operating room is abuzz with activity, everyone hurriedly working to complete their duties during the operation. I focus on keeping out of the way of the ordered disorder, and avert my eyes from the patient on the operating table. I(...)
Who Are the Best Teachers in the Hospital?
Posted by | A Day in the LifeDisclaimer: To avoid breaching patient confidentiality per hospital policy, names and circumstances have been altered. However, the spirit of the interaction with patients was preserved as best as possible. As I sit here typing at 3:23 a.m., my sandpaper eyes can just barely focus on a keystroke before looking yearningly at my bed. But, in(...)