Name: Rachel Zhang
Hometown: Pleasanton, CA
Undergrad: University of Pennsylvania
What brought you to Georgetown? I chose Georgetown medical school because I resonated with the emphasis on whole-person care. Shadowing a hematologist-oncologist as an undergraduate taught me the importance of compassion for the patient’s lived experience outside the clinic, particularly in their lowest moments. The invaluable role that a physician can fulfill in those moments inspired me to pursue oncology. The physicians, professors, and researchers I have met here are devoted to advancing cancer medicine while never forgetting to keep the patients we ultimately serve in mind. And I hope to carry that legacy forward.
What are your post-med school career or specialty goals?: I hope to specialize in hematology-oncology or gastrointestinal oncology.
What are you working on as a BellRinger Fellow this summer?: I am working with Dr. Louis Weiner to study how natural killer cells (a type of immune cell) breach a tumor’s defenses. We tested whether equipping these immune cells with extra “chemical scissors” on their surface helps them drill into tumors faster and destroy cancer cells more effectively. I had a great summer and was able to learn cutting edge techniques in the immuno-cancer field. Immersing myself in the immunology of cancer helped confirm that it’s the topic I can see myself devoting my entire career to.
Why are you passionate about cancer research?: I’m passionate about cancer research because I hope to help advance the treatments available to cancer patients. I’m interested in specializing in oncology, and I believe the findings made in the lab dictate options for physicians in the clinic.
How do you plan to be involved in BellRinger this year?: I am Riding 25 miles!
Anything else you’d like to share with the BellRinger community?: Thank you for sponsoring my research this summer! It kickstarted the beginning of a lifelong commitment to cancer medicine.
