Lauren Irizarry
Lauren Irizarry
Current Year: M4
Hometown: Frederick, Maryland
Undergrad: Swarthmore College
Advice
When it comes to deciding about schools, talk to as many current students as you can. Think about whether or not you can see yourself in their shoes. Medical school is going to be hard no matter what, but think about the kind of environment you will be most comfortable and happy in.
Life in Chicago
Cold in the winters – but great nonetheless! The city is full of fun things to do and cool neighborhoods to explore. It’s really easy to get around on public transportation. It’s busy, but not crazy and people are generally very friendly. You can also have a good quality of life for a lot cheaper than in many other big cities.
Why Feinberg?
I spent a year doing research at Northwestern University after undergrad, and during that time I fell in love with Northwestern and Chicago. When I interviewed at Feinberg, I got a great vibe from the students. They all seemed passionate and interesting, with diverse backgrounds and interests, and most importantly they seemed to be genuinely happy. I had also heard great things about how dedicated the faculty and staff are to our education, which I have found to be entirely true since I’ve been here.
Classmates
In the past year, my classmates have become great friends and resources. There is a lot of collaborative work at Northwestern, so you get to know your classmates pretty well. There is a strong sense of camaraderie and very little competition.
Experiences with patients
My main experiences with patients so far have been at the Community Health Clinic on the West side of Chicago, which serves a predominately Latino and Polish community, and in Nicaragua through a service trip run by NU-AID. Though not part of the formal curriculum, these experiences have provided me the opportunity to take an active role in patient care and to learn from upperclassmen and Northwestern Attendings.
Career Goals
I chose medicine because I love how multidisciplinary it is. It involves not only understanding basic science, but also understanding people, and how a variety of factors (genetics, environment, socioeconomic status, etc.) contribute to the health of an individual.
Involvement inside and outside of school
Inside school, I’m involved with Northwestern University-Alliance for International Development (NU-AID), the Community Health Clinic (CHC) Waiting Room Education Program, and the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA). Outside of school I play soccer in the Windy City Wanderers soccer league.
This page last updated Nov 29, 2012