From Combat Medic to Medical School
Rico Pesce, MTM, Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences - Accelerated Master's Program Class of 2023
Rico Pesce, GSBMS Class of 2023, aspired to become a physician since he was a certified nurse assistant in a skilled nursing facility over a decade ago. He became a medic for the 75th Ranger Regiment in the United States Army and served on five combat deployments to Afghanistan over seven years. After his service, he completed his undergraduate education at Columbia University, where he studied computer science. During the initial wave of the pandemic and his last undergraduate summer, Pesce harnessed his military medical skills to work as a COVID tracheostomy care provider for New York-Presbyterian in New York City.
After graduating from Columbia, he earned a joint Master of Translational Medicine degree from UC Berkeley and University of California San Francisco while he applied to medical school for the first time, which was unfortunately unsuccessful. “Not getting into medical school on the first try was heartbreaking and extremely stressful," he said. “I struggled with school before the military and adjusting to college just six months after being in combat proved challenging. It took me a couple of years to learn how to learn. Despite doing well on the MCAT, I was unable to demonstrate my academic capability accurately. I knew I had to prove that I had what it takes for a rigorous medical education. I also knew that the Accelerated Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences M.S. Program (AMP) would be perfect for me to improve my candidacy.”
Rico already knew about the AMP program through his partner, Zach Thomas, M.D. ‘25, who completed the program in 2021. “After seeing the positive impact that the AMP program had on Zach’s career, I knew that it would prepare me well for medical school and allow me to demonstrate my academic aptitude,” said Pesce. I was very familiar with the campus and knew it was an ideal place to focus on school while still having access to amazing clinical opportunities and New York City. The guaranteed interview and admissions opportunities were also very attractive.”
After doing well during his first semester in the AMP program, Rico was offered admission at the Icahn SOM at Mount Sinai and the Geisel SOM at Dartmouth. He is also waiting on final admissions decisions from Georgetown and New York Medical College, where he recently interviewed. “I knew the AMP program was going to help my application, but I am truly surprised at my success in applying to medical school the second time. I was able to show that I can be successful in medical school because I was already doing it. It feels like a dream.”
Pesce has volunteered for many organizations in various capacities, including the Three Rangers Foundation, Special Operations Medic Coalition, Journal of Special Operations Medicine, Gay Men’s Health Crisis, NYU Langone Health and Westchester Medical Center. Pesce plans on becoming a physician innovator focused on creating solutions to meet the health needs of the 21st century through a patient-centered approach.