Katherine Chen

Throughout her collegiate experience, Katherine has considered herself fortunate to have come across several opportunities in her community that have contributed to her academic achievement. The Eleanor Roosevelt College Molecular and Cell Biology major noted, “I attribute much of my current success in school and extracurriculars to my participation in community organizations and my sorority. Being surrounded by empowering people pushes me to work harder and surpass expectations.”

Katherine got involved with biomedical research early on during her undergraduate years. “Juggling sorority responsibilities, full-time classes, working in a lab almost daily, and volunteering in hospitals/mobile clinics in the last few years has definitely been hard, but worth every minute.” In fact, these opportunities prepared her to take the MCAT at the beginning of her junior year with hopes of avoiding a gap year before heading to medical school.

Teaching herself to sew from a young age, Katherine’s fascination with creativity continues to this day, along with her interest in health. “From food labels, to what is inside tap water, I am especially conscious of the chemicals and different substances that humans expose themselves to. Majoring in molecular and cell biology, I have the opportunity to closely examine many biological processes and learn about what exactly goes on in the human body on a micro-level.” To some, Katherine’s artistic side may not seem to align with her career goals; however, her lifelong fascination with health and nutrition, combined with her love for handiwork is what will allow her to succeed in the world of medicine. She intends to pursue a career in surgery to combine all of her skills and interests. “My attention to detail, resourcefulness, and personal interests have never seemed more aligned in any other career path. I have had the opportunity to work with the Asian Pacific Health Foundation, a nonprofit organization in San Diego that focuses on the health and wellness of underserved populations. It has become clear that I want to utilize my skills and future degrees to serve populations that lack healthcare access; to ensure that the people that I encounter in my future don’t have to experience struggles that I, and those close to me, have experienced.”