Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Journey To Becoming A Speech-Language Pathologist: Advice To My Undergraduate Self, Lauren M. Stephens

Pre-Health Day

Growing up I always had an interest in the medical/science area and really enjoyed working with children. Initially, I wanted to become a Pharmacist however, after experiencing it first hand as a summer job I decided that was not the career for me. I had come to a realization that I wanted something to combine my interest in the Sciences and my love for working with children. Plus, math was never my strong suit and surviving chemistry courses didn’t sound very realistic. Therefore, I pursued a degree in Elementary Education and in doing so I discovered about Speech-Language Pathology. My …

Inspiration Makes Your Dreams A Reality, Betsy Kreymer

Pre-Health Day

Ask yourself, “Why do you want to be a physical therapist?” That’s your inspiration! I knew I wanted to be a physical therapist when I was treated for an ankle injury sustained from competitive gymnastics in rural England. I was 11 years old. Making that dream a reality included moving around the globe before landing (and sticking!) a cheerleading scholarship to Nova Southeastern University.

I graduated as president of the Athletic Training Students’ Organization and with a lot of hands-on experience. I continued on at NSU in the DPT program during which I was elected vice president of my class. …

My Journey To Optometry How Chiropractic Changed My Life: My Journey From Business Owner To Chiropractor Advice To My Future Colleagues, Hector L. Andino Rivera Ii

Pre-Health Day

Raised in a family of doctors, I never had the idea of becoming one. When I started undergraduate school in Puerto Rico, I studied business administration because I wanted to be my own boss and that was my focus. I achieved that degree in 5 years and by my 4th year I had my own business. After working in retail for 14+ and being in business for 6+ years, I visited Life University and that forever changed my life. I decided to go to chiropractic school and with that came many challenges, but that adjustment I received and the response …

Road Less Traveled: My Journey To Becoming A Research Associate, Carlos Almirola

Pre-Health Day

didn’t arrive in Public Health through conventional means. My father is a physician and I grew up thinking medicine was in my future. Towards the end of my undergrad I started to learn about other careers and eventually came across Public Health. I saw the importance of helping avoid problematic health issues in our community through early intervention. My Public Health training when combined with my background in Biology opened new doors I never knew existed. Grad School gave me the opportunity to have involvement with different community health initiatives in Baptist Congregational Health, UM Docs Program, and as well …

My Journey To Optometry, Michael Bacigalupi

Pre-Health Day

Dr. Michael Bacigalupi grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His father was a letter carrier for the US Postal Service and his mother was an office manager for a local optometrist. He decided at a young age that he wanted to become an optometrist and has never regretted this decision. He is proud of his career and hopes to inspire others to consider the profession of optometry. Dr. Bacigalupi earned an Associate of Arts degree in Chemistry from Schreiner University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Optometry from the University of Houston. In 1993, he graduated magna cum laude …

My Journey: From The Nsu College Classroom To The Dermatology Office Exam Room, Dana A. Haimo

Pre-Health Day

I was introduced to the Physician Assistant profession as a high school sophomore during a pre-medical program. I always desired to be in the medical field as I enjoyed science, problem solving, and interacting with others. I decided to learn more about what a PA does and if I could see myself becoming one. I began shadowing my now supervising physician in 2004. At the time, he had a physician assistant working with him, so I had the opportunity to observe their interaction, learn dermatologic terminology and procedures, and strengthen my interpersonal communication skills. I knew I could see myself …

Freshman At Farquhar To Pharmacy Professor: Thereality Of The Journey And Tips For Success, Nicholas Carris

Pre-Health Day

The path to becoming a healthcare provider is a commitment to lifelong learning, constant hard work, and a career that is not about you. Every class you take, everything you learn, every experience you engage in is preparing you to be a competent and compassionate healthcare provider, so that one day you can walk into the room of a desperate patient and help them. The pay is average at best, especially considering the years of training. People will be angry at you when you are doing your best to help them. People will be angry when you do not want …

My Journey To Becoming A Dentist, Zuhdiyah M. Darojat

Pre-Health Day

As a practicing general dentist and pretty recent graduate, I understand that GPAs and test scores are important, but are definitely not defining factors in being a good dentist, especially clinically. I know first hand because I was one of those students. Without the perfect grades and test scores, one may think that getting accepted into dental school and becoming a dentist is impossible, but the opposite is true. In my opinion, a successful dentist is measured by qualities including good communication and technical abilities, humility, passion, decisiveness, understanding, care, persistence, and the pursuit of excellence. My goal is to …

My Path To Medicine, Inaki Bent

Pre-Health Day

Dr. Bent is a Miami native who has worked in Primary Care since 2013. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University and a Master of Biomedical Science from Barry University. He went on to Nova Southeastern University and received a Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine and a Master of Business Administration degree in 2010. He completed his residency training in Internal Medicine at Jackson Memorial Hospital-University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. After completing residency, Dr. Bent joined Unihealth of South Florida-Carmel Barrau, M.D and Associates as an Associate Physician in Internal Medicine. He is a member …

Keynote Speech, Richard E. Dodge, Nick Carris

Pre-Health Day

No abstract provided.

My Path From Farquhar Collefe Of Arts And Science To The Field Of Medicine, Crystal Romero

Pre-Health Day

As an undergraduate student in the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences I was confident that I wanted to be a physician; however, I was also intrigued by the field of Public Health. Consequently, I pursued a Master’s degree concentrating in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Personally, I saw the attainment of this degree as a means of developing a skill set for future practice as a physician. Public health concentrates on community health needs, while medicine focuses more on the needs of an individual patient. During this time I worked on a project at the Broward County Health Department that allowed …

The Path I Took From The Farquhar College Of Arts And Sciences To The Field Of Medicine, David Cevallos

Pre-Health Day

The path to Medicine is a long journey with many twist and turns. It is a route that would test you physically, mentally, and socially, but knowing how to balance your life will help you reach your goals. I was a former student of Nova Southeastern University already knowing what I needed to do to reach my goals. I was studying in the field of Biology to prepare myself to apply to Medical School. In addition, I attended various organizations like the Pre-Medical Society, while also volunteering at an Emergency Department. I then took the MCAT and applied to various …

Being A Medical Scribe From The Perspective Of An Undergraduate Student, Monica Perez

Pre-Health Day

Getting into graduate school can be a very tough and exciting experience all at the same time. Part of this long and challenging process is gaining a great education and also the valuable clinical hours that will help to become a more competitive applicant. I am currently an undergraduate student with a major in biology at Barry University planning on going to PA school. I was given the opportunity to become a Medical Scribe with PhysAssist Scribes about 2 years ago and this is what has helped me become more confident about my journey to graduate school. This break out …

My Path From Undergrad To Dentistry, Yanina Cox

Pre-Health Day

Coming from a large family of dentists, I have always known that I wanted to be a dentist myself. It was important for me to attend a college where I would be able to have the education that would make me a competitive candidate for dental school.

I began undergrad at NSU in 2003, majoring in Biology, and graduated in 2006 with my Bachelor’s in Science. I was involved in several extracurricular activities and had a student job on campus. In 2007, I began my journey as a dental student at Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, where I …

My Journey Through The Pharmacy Profession, Jennifer Gershman

Pre-Health Day

You can definitely say the pharmacy profession runs in my family, as both my father and sister are pharmacists. My father inspired me to pursue a career in pharmacy, through his dedication to the profession. Pharmacists play such an important role in patient care, and I wanted to make a positive impact on the community. I completed the Dual Admissions Pharmacy program and then went on to receive my Doctor of Pharmacy degree at NSU. Postdoctoral training was the path for me, so I completed a Drug Information Residency. This residency inspired me through my role as a teacher, mentor, …

From A B.A. In Speech Language Pathology To Becoming An Occupational Therapist; Change Is Good!, Kailtkin Dudziec

Pre-Health Day

Everyone thinks college is a time for you to pick a career and decide what you are going to do with the rest of your life. This is true in a way, but it is also a time for you to find yourself and decide who you want to be as a person in the future. Day 1 of my undergrad career consisted of my switching majors from elementary education to speech-language pathology. Going through some of the pre-requisite psychology classes, I also decided I wanted to be a psychology major, so I added that in my second year of …

Journey To Internal Medicine, Luke C. Williams

Pre-Health Day

My name is Dr. Williams, or as most people call me Dr. Luke. Currently, I work in South Georgia as an ED physician. The road to where I’m currently sitting and to where I started has been long, trying but mostly fun! I started my undergraduate at Valdosta State University; to say the least I was completely lost. My hometown has about 5000 people in the entire county so being at a bigger city seemed overwhelming. I had no friends really and my social life was subpar. I started out as a premed major but quickly realized that these college …

Advice To My Undegraduate Self About Pursuing A Carrer In Medicine, Daveda Maharaj

Pre-Health Day

The journey I’ve traveled, literally and figuratively, to become an anesthesiologist has been both challenging and rewarding. When I was a student at Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, I hit the ground running with ambition and goals to achieve. A minor detour teaching high school in between undergrad and med school was a huge learning experience, and I still fulfilled my career goals of becoming a physician. I’m not sure I ever imagined that this is what the “real world” would be like for a practicing anesthesiologist, but I’ve come to learn some of the best and worst ways …

Freshman At Farquhar To Pharmacy Professor: The Reality Of The Journey And Tips For Success, Nicholas Carris

Pre-Health Day

The path to becoming a healthcare provider is a commitment to lifelong learning, constant hard work, and a career that is not about you. Every class you take, everything you learn, every experience you engage in is preparing you to be a competent and compassionate healthcare provider, so that one day you can walk into the room of a desperate patient and help them. The pay is average at best, especially considering the years of training. People will be angry at you when you are doing your best to help them. People will be angry when you do not want …

How A Biology Major Lead Me Into Public Health And Working For A Non-Profit Organization, Viktoriya Yudovina

Pre-Health Day

In the beginning, I wanted to be a physician, a scholar of everything medicine. And while my greatest passion is still medical science and research, my path has taken me in a slightly different direction. Currently, I manage the Afterschool Meal Program and Summer Food Service Program for FLIPANY, a non-profit organization, whose “mission is to empower youth and their families through physical activity and nutrition education programs while raising awareness and creating policies for a healthier community”. Working in an arena of health and wellness, I am able to touch base on both my undergraduate days of biology in …

From Undergrad To Pediatric Dentist, Claudia X. Harriehausen

Pre-Health Day

I have always known that my desire to become a dentist came during my childhood. Therefore, during my undergraduate years at NSU I reinforced that desire by participating in many activities related to dentistry, such as volunteering for non-profit organizations as dental assistant, and providing oral hygiene education for underserved communities. By working with patients at that time, I learned many interpersonal aspects of dentistry that are not covered in textbooks, which enhanced my commitment and dedication to this type of work. I could not envision a more rewarding and compassionate career to spend my life by promoting the wellness …

Optomestrist And Educator, Michael Bacigalupi

Pre-Health Day

Dr. Michael Bacigalupi grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His father was a letter carrier for the US Postal Service and his mother was an office manager for a local optometrist. He decided at a young age that he wanted to become an optometrist and has never regretted this decision. He is proud of his career and hopes to inspire others to consider the profession of optometry. Dr. Bacigalupi earned an Associate of Arts degree in Chemistry from Schreiner University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Optometry from the University of Houston. In 1993, he graduated magna cum laude …

Road Less Taveled: My Journey To Becoming A Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialist, Carlos Almirola

Pre-Health Day

I didn’t arrive in Public Health through conventional means. My father is a physician and I grew up thinking medicine was in my future. Towards the end of my undergrad I started to learn about other careers and eventually came across Public Health. I saw the importance of helping avoid problematic health issues in our community through early intervention. My Public Health training when combined with my background in Biology opened new doors I never knew existed. Grad School gave me the opportunity to have involvement with different community health initiatives in Baptist Congregational Health, UM Docs Program, and as …

The Knight Who Saved The Shark, Alberto J. Panero

Pre-Health Day

Reaching one’s goals is never an individual effort. I enrolled at NSU in the year 2000, joining the Men’s soccer team and pursuing a career in sports medicine. High school was easy, managing being a student athlete did not pose many challenges. I could study for an exam the night before and do quite well on it. After getting a 68% on my first biology test in college, I quickly realized this method would no longer work. Developing a new study strategy and keeping up with the demands of being a full time athlete and social life was not easy. …

The Journey To Becoming A Dentist: Advice To My Undergraduate Self, Katherine Lorenzo-Machado

Pre-Health Day

Growing up with a few family members who were dentists, I was always exposed to the profession. When I started undergraduate school at FIU, I knew that was what I wanted to be, and focused most of my time on getting there. Juggling undergraduate school, working at different dental offices, and studying for my DAT while maintaining my social life with family and friends was tough, but I was able to achieve that and get my undergraduate degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry in 3 years. I went straight from undergraduate school to dental school, which made some …

My Career Journey, Cecelia Rokusek

Pre-Health Day

Dr. Rokusek currently serves as Assistant Dean for Research and Innovation, Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Prior to joining Nova, Dr. Rokusek served as Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of South Dakota, School of Medicine. She served as Professor and Dean of Education at Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota and Dean of Health Professions at Governors State University in Illinois and at Florida Gulf University in Ft. Myers, Fl serving as the first dean to bring all of the 5 health professions program in the newly established university to …

The Path To Optometry, Mari Holderby

Pre-Health Day

The path to optometry, although at times challenging, is extremely rewarding. I personally had my eyes set on becoming an optometrist since I was 16 years old, when I attended a Dual Enrollment program called College Academy at Broward College. I had graduated high school with an Associate of Arts degree, and therefore by the time I attended Farquhar, I knew what my long-term goals were. I was lucky enough to be accepted into the Dual Admission program for optometry, in which I had a guaranteed seat in NSU’s optometry school once I completed my three years at Farquhar. It …

From Undergrad To Ph. D., My Lessons, Ivan Jozic

Pre-Health Day

Although the road to becoming a scientist is often riddled with many hurdles, the rewards of self-discovery and potential to revolutionize the world, are priceless. It is said that a PhD is pursued by those who are driven to do something original and those who are have the passion to discover the unknown; but also those that have dedication, persistence and resilience. My journey began at the intersection of College Ave and SW 30th St back in 2004. As with many other Biology majors, I was unsure where my career path should lead to, but I knew it had to …

From Undergrad To Audiologist, The Road Less Traveled, Ashley Lawrence

Pre-Health Day

College is a challenging yet rewarding time in life and if you stay motivated and keep your eyes on your long-term goals, you will be successful regardless of your career choice. I learned about who I was as a person throughout my college years, and I can offer some guidance on both the good choices and mistakes I made on my path to becoming a medical professional. I began undergrad at NSU in 2002, long before the days of the University Center and when the NSU mascot was still a Knight. I majored in Biology and graduated in 2006 with …

Taking The Nontraditional Route To Medical School From Nurse To Physician. Are You Sure You Want To Embark On This Journey?, Zaki Darojat

Pre-Health Day

Changing careers takes a lot of guts regardless of what career you had initially and the decision to embark on the journey of becoming a physician is a long one. I will discuss some factors that one should consider before making this leap. Medical school was not easy but it is definitely a rewarding career and I wouldn’t be happy doing anything else; However, I have colleagues who do not share the same sentiment. I hope to shed some light into the pros and cons of medicine and help you make an informed decision.