People of Science with Jon Choy

Synopsis: In this episode, we hear from Yasemin, an MD-PhD student at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine who is participating in the NIH Oxford-Cambridge (OxCam) program. She discusses her background in science and medicine, including a significant personal experience that influenced her career path, and her decision to pursue both an MD and a PhD through an MD-PhD program. Yasemin talks about the benefits of the OxCam program, including the opportunity to work with world-renowned experts and institutions in her field and learn from different cultures and ideas. She shares her current progress in the program and her future career goals, including becoming a resident in a medical residency program, finishing her residency and fellowship, and eventually becoming an independent investigator. Yasemin also discusses her personal interests, including running and traveling. Throughout the conversation, Yasemin emphasizes the importance of mentorship and guidance in the MD-PhD program and shares her appreciation for the support she has received.

Connect with Yasemin on LinkedIn

Takeaways:

• Journey: Yasemin’s parents are engineers and she has always been interested in science, particularly enjoying science courses and visiting museums. She also had a significant personal experience when her cousin was diagnosed with brain cancer, which sparked her interest in science and medicine.
• Get involved: Yasemin reached out to professors to shadow in their labs and spent summers in high school and undergraduate  gaining research experience. She also explored the fields of medicine and scientific research to determine if a career in either field was right for her.
• Exploration reveals your interests: In undergrad, Yasemin learned about the MD-PhD program and met with a current resident in the program who shared her experiences. Yasemin was motivated by the desire to merge scientific understanding with clinical practice and the opportunity to contribute to both fields. She greatly valued the mentorship and guidance provided in the MD-PhD program.
• Mentorship is invaluable: Yasemin underscored the importance of having strong mentors and guidance in the MD-PhD program, as it can be a challenging and demanding path. She also emphasized the value of seeking out help and advice from others.
• NIH Oxford-Cambridge (OxCam): Yasemin is part of an MD-PhD program that allows her to do her PhD at a different institution than where she attends medical school (UNC).  This has enabled her to spend time at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland and the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. She is in her third year of her PhD (having already completed her first two years of medical school at UNC). Yasemin has enjoyed the opportunity to work at world-renowned institutions and with experts  in her field, as well as the chance to learn from different cultures and ideas.
• Research: Yasemin’s research focuses on understanding how gene expression is regulated in cancer cells  and aims to identify new targets for cancer therapies.
• Goals: In five years, Yasemin plans to have completed her MD-PhD program and be a resident in a medical residency program, as well as possibly be involved in endocrinology or medical genetics. In ten years, she hopes to have finished her residency and fellowship, have conducted a few years of independent research as a postdoc, and eventually be an independent investigator while also continuing her clinical work.
• Hobbies: Yasemin enjoys running and has completed a half marathon; she hopes to eventually run a full marathon. She also likes to travel and try new foods.

Reflection:

Yasemin’s story highlights the importance of personal experiences and mentors in shaping our career paths. It also demonstrates the value of the MD-PhD program in allowing students to explore both research and medicine and gain a deeper understanding of their work. Yasemin’s dedication to her research and future career goals is inspiring, and it’s evident how much she appreciates the opportunities and guidance she has received.