Ivan Cruse

Ivan has a keen memory of walking out of a classroom after his first chemistry midterm, wondering if he belonged at UC San Diego and whether higher education was for him. “I’ve never been a quitter, though,” he says, “and I wasn’t planning on becoming one.” Later he would earn a 4.0 GPA two quarters in a row, which is noteworthy, “considering that I attend one of the top schools in the nation where this is just a natural occurrence.”

Ivan, a native of Russia who immigrated with his mother to the U.S. in 2007, developed strategies for time management and study techniques. The increase in efficiency enabled him to pursue not only his interest in being a research assistant in a campus laboratory, but also to earn an immersive Pathmaker Internship in a large, state-of-the-art hospital. He has worked in various departments, assisting with taking patient vitals, observing IV procedures and providing wound care using sophisticated technologies such as ultrasonography. “I love this internship because it allows me to apply the different concepts I have learned in my classes through my major to the real world. For example, on the acute surgery floor, I was able to explain to the patient why salty food increased blood pressure, and thus why he had to be on a low-sodium diet during his stay.”

The goal of being a doctor is locked in his sights, and he knows that the looming hurdle is acceptance to medical school. Caring for patients is what drives him, but the competitiveness is a great incentive that appeals to his nature. “No one said becoming a doctor was an easy task, and it stands to reason that the individuals saving lives and waging war on illnesses should be the brightest minds of our society. But a great doctor also has a big heart capable of care and empathy toward his patients. I strive to become one of those talented individuals who make a difference every day.”