VUSM Student Stories

As she approaches graduation, M4 Thao Le, Ph.D. reflects on finding her way and unlocking her passions at VUSM By Kyra Letsinger M4 MSTP student Thao Do Vy Le, Ph.D., was always ready to take risks. From a young age, when it came to new opportunities, she was not… Read More

Master of Genetic Counseling student Vanessa Smith (c/o 2025) represents VUSM through National Human Genome Research Institute program. Vanderbilt MGC student Vanessa Smith attends the ISCC-PEG annual meeting at the NIH in April 2024. Photo submitted. April 25 is National DNA Day, which the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)… Read More

M3 Gunther Wong and M4 Alison Swartz offer their peers valuable insights from their past career experiences By Kyra Letsinger In the early 2000s, former Associate Dean for Medical Student Affairs Bonnie Miller, MD, organized an unscheduled Deans’ Hour, a space in the curriculum created to provide a formal lecture… Read More

Every February, advocates and organizations from the rare diseases community meet in Washington, D.C., for Rare Disease Week. EveryLife Foundation hosts the conference that prepares attendees to meet with lawmakers and advocate for policies that impact rare diseases. This year’s Rare Disease Week resulted in 332 meetings with members of… Read More

Fourth-year couple Nina Curkovic and Sachin Aggarwal look to tackle residency together after spending their VUSM journeys side by side. By: Kyra Letsinger Nina Curkovic and Sachin Aggarwal outside EBL on the last day of their M1 year When Nina Curkovic and Sachin Aggarwal entered their first day of M1… Read More

Monce Escobar Arteaga: a young scientist making a medical career pivot After getting her undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in biology, Monserrat “Monce” Escobar Arteaga assumed she would eventually go to medical school. “As a first-generation student, going to medical school was the traditional path I… Read More

Lindsey Brigante: an imaging professional mapping a new course Lindsey Brigante had worked in medical imaging for ten years, and she was ready to take the next step. “My undergraduate degree is in diagnostic imaging, and I’ve worked as an MRI technologist and in quality control for clinical trials… Read More

Jack Yarnall: a new graduate getting the most out of a gap year Jack Yarnall had known for years that he wanted a career in medicine. His mother’s bout with cancer and his resulting experiences in a hospital setting made him especially aware of the impact… Read More

Ryan Martin: A musician changing his tune Many folks come to Nashville to break into the music business, but musician Ryan Martin came here to deepen his understanding of imaging science. Martin is a jazz guitarist with two music-related master’s degrees. While taking a neuroimaging class… Read More

The Vanderbilt MIS class of 2024 gathers at the annual VUIIS retreat at Adventure Science Center. Vanderbilt University School of Medicine’s (VUSM) newest degree program, the Master of Imaging Science (MIS) is a 12-month, 30-hour deep dive into all modalities of biomedical imaging. Students learn through didactic coursework… Read More