Name: Patrick Tajanlangit
Hometown: Old Bridge, NJ
Undergrad: George Washington University
What brought you to Georgetown? What brings me to Georgetown is the sense that its values are not just stated, but lived — cura personalis, service, humility, and a commitment to caring for people in their full human context. Georgetown has shaped how I think about medicine as both a scientific and moral vocation, especially through its emphasis on caring for the whole person and standing with underserved communities. I came here because I wanted to become the kind of physician who is excellent, grounded, and guided by purpose.
What are your post-med school career or specialty goals?: My current specialty interests are centered around dermatology and oncology, especially where immunity, inflammation, and tissue biology shape disease behavior and treatment response. Long term, I hope to advance these fields in any meaningful way I can, whether through patient care, translational research, outcomes work, or mentorship. Ultimately, I want to become a physician who helps patients directly while also contributing, even in a small way, to better understanding and treating complex diseases!
What are you working on as a BellRinger Fellow this summer?: I am working with Dr. Geoffrey Gibney on a study that looks back at past medical records of patients with advanced melanoma treated at MedStar Georgetown with two specific immunotherapies, specifically TIL therapy and tebentafusp. The goal is to describe real-world outcomes, including treatment response, progression-free survival, overall survival, and treatment-related toxicities. We are also looking to see if a patient’s starting health stats, lab test results, scan images, or specific treatment details can help predict how well the drug will work, how long they will live, or adverse side effects.
Why are you passionate about cancer research?: I’m drawn to cancer research because it sits at the intersection of scientific complexity and deeply human stakes. In oncology, small improvements in understanding who responds to treatment, who is at risk for toxicity, or how to better match patients with therapies can directly affect survival, quality of life, and the conversations physicians have with families. What excites me about this project is that it takes therapies with strong clinical trial data and asks how they perform in real patients at our own institution, where outcomes can be more complicated and variable.
How do you plan to be involved in BellRinger this year?: I plan to volunteer!
Anything else you’d like to share with the BellRinger community?: I’m very grateful to be part of the BellRinger community and to learn from people who are united by a shared commitment to advancing cancer research and improving patients’ lives. Being supported by this community reminds me that even early in training, there are meaningful ways to contribute, serve, and grow alongside others working toward the same goal!
