18 AQUINAS LANDMARK | SPRING 2023 Alumni News Young Alumni Help Others Through Careers in Medicine We recently caught up some young alumni who have something in common…a passion for helping others! Dr. Amber Parker ’12, Dr. Michael Yodice ’13, and medical candidates Andrew Nguyen ’12 and Warren Carter ’16 took time out of their busy schedules to share with us where their paths to the medical field began, what inspired them to pursue medicine, and where they hope to be in the future. AMBER PARKER, MD ’12 UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE AND SCHOOL: Cornell University College of Human Ecology, BS in Human Biology, Health, and Society with a minor in Applied Exercise Science through a collaborative program with Ithaca College. MED SCHOOL: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Class of 2022 MEDICAL SPECIALTY: Orthopedics. After medical school, I was accepted into the Harvard Combined Orthopedic Residency Program where I’m currently a firstyear resident. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE A CAREER IN MEDICINE? I was first exposed to the idea of being a physician when I was younger and met my first AfricanAmerican female physician at a hair salon who took the time to talk to me about her career. I was already fond of science and anatomy after dissecting a frog in middle school, but this experience connected my interests in science and the human body to the larger field of medicine. Through various clinical experiences, I was able to see that medicine was more than anatomy and physiology, it was humanity. HOW DID AQUINAS HELP PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR CAREER? At Aquinas, I was able to take classes in anatomy and biological sciences that helped me gain some of the foundational skills I would need for college and medical school. Outside of academics, I was able to fill my time with dance and theater with Nazareth Academy Dance and a starring role in Aquinas’s production of Hairspray as Motormouth Maybelle. My experience as a dancer led me to orthopedics. As a lifelong dancer who has dedicated hours to honing my craft, I have developed a strong visuospatial awareness, along with an innate and concrete awareness of every bone, joint and muscle in my body and their functionality. WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST REWARDING ABOUT BEING IN THE MEDICAL FIELD? For me, the draw of orthopedic surgery is that via our tools, ranging from a small suture anchor to large implants, we restore that function through reconstruction. The ability to give back functionality to a patient moves beyond simply tinkering with the “nuts and bolts” of the body; as orthopedic surgeons, we are providing the opportunity of “doing life” in a way that is unique and intimately meaningful for our patients. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 15 YEARS? For the future, I look forward to being an educator in the field of medicine, mentoring young black women who hope to join the field, and of course keep on dancing. MICHAEL YODICE, MD ’13 UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE AND SCHOOL: Siena College, BA in Biology MED SCHOOL: Albany Medical College, Class of 2021 MEDICAL SPECIALTY: Internal medicine, 2nd year resident, Geisinger Medical Center WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE A CAREER IN MEDICINE? During a ski club trip in 10th grade, I fractured my collar bone and needed surgery. I was fascinated by the process of surgery and wanted to learn more about how the body works. I decided to take biology the following year and knew medicine was the right choice for me. It ended up being my favorite subject. HOW DID AQUINAS HELP PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR CAREER? I was part of an eight-year combined degree program with Siena and Albany Medical College, which focused on humanities, ethics, and social service. Aquinas not only taught me the skills to be successful academically, but instilled the values which led me to focus on service in medicine. WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST REWARDING ABOUT BEING IN THE MEDICAL FIELD? I am grateful to be part of the team treating patients in the acute setting during their hospitalization. It is truly rewarding to see patients improve after making the correct diagnosis and deciding on treatment. I also enjoy following up with these patients in clinic and working to manage their chronic conditions to prevent future hospitalizations. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 15 YEARS? I am currently preparing to apply for a fellowship and hope to be practicing as a gastroenterologist.
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