Meet the New Students of NYMC
As Students Return to the NYMC Campus, One Student from Each School Shared What Drives Their Passion and Why They Chose to Become Part of the NYMC Community
New York Medical College (NYMC) welcomed more than 400 enthusiastic first-year students for the 2021-2022 academic year, as students from the School of Medicine (SOM), School of Health Sciences and Practice (SHSP) and the Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences (GSBMS) officially became part of the NYMC community. Through welcoming events both in-person and virtual, students got acquainted with their fellow classmates and faculty in their respective schools who will act as both teachers and mentors along their academic journey at NYMC.
The SOM welcomed 211 students to the Class of 2025, as the cohort looks to continue the legacy of becoming skilled, humanistic physicians providing compassionate and competent medical care. The SHSP welcomed more than 100 students seeking degrees aimed at helping communities as well as individuals by improving health and quality of life in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.), Speech Language Pathology (SLP) and public health programs. The GSBMS welcomed more than 80 students who will pursue master’s and doctorate’s degrees to impact science in myriad ways and will learn from experienced faculty members who provide expert instruction, insightful mentorship and scientific research opportunities.
NYMC School of Medicine, Class of 2025
Name: Ankita Jain
Hometown: Gaithersburg, Maryland
Undergraduate School and Major: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Psychology
What is your dream career or specialization?
Although I am entering medical school with an open mind, my dream career will be one that allows me to collaborate with like-minded physicians in working towards our shared goal of serving marginalized patient populations, whether it be in an in-patient setting or a private practice. Furthermore, I am interested in pursuing a specialty that will afford me the freedom and flexibility to serve patients in an acute manner through surgeries and procedures as well as develop long-term relationships with patients.
What inspired you to pursue this degree?
My interest in the medical profession was inspired by my desire to pursue a career centered on healing, leading and educating. I believe the role of a physician encompasses all three of these important values.
What are you most looking forward to in your first year?
Of the many things I look forward to in my first year of medical school, I am most excited by the opportunity to begin laying the academic foundation for my future career as a physician, explore different specialties through research and shadowing, as well as interact and collaborate with classmates who share the same fervor for medicine as I do.
What played a role in you choosing NYMC?
NYMC School of Medicine stood out to me as an exceptional medical education program for many reasons, including its offering of scholarly concentrations, nutrition and culinary medicine elective, breadth of clinical-affiliated sites for rotations and unique international rotation opportunities during the fourth year.
NYMC School of Health Sciences and Practice, Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2024
Name: Sara Bonasia
Hometown: Bronx, New York
Undergraduate School and Major: St. John’s University, Biology
What is your dream career or specialization?
I want to focus on pediatric physical therapy. I want to work in a school where I can help young children and at the same time use it as an opportunity for me to teach them. Also, I eventually want to do physical therapy work in Italy again, where I previously interned at a pediatric physical therapy office in Rome.
What inspired you to pursue this degree?
I always knew that I wanted to work in health care, but I didn’t know where I’d fit in. I used to take my aunt to physical therapy and became friendly with her physical therapist who encouraged me to volunteer, which I did. I saw how engaged he was with his patients. I eventually decided to study abroad in Rome where I worked with children who required physical therapy. I noticed that physical therapy wasn’t viewed as important as it should be, so I hope to change that way of thinking over there one day and here in the United States.
What are you most looking forward to in your first year?
I’m looking forward to doing any of the hands-on work. I always look to the challenges and want to take them on. I’m also excited for neuroscience.
What played a role in you choosing NYMC?
NYMC really puts an emphasis on working as a group. Previously, I felt like I needed to work independently but what I loved most about NYMC is the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) group format where you’re never alone. There are so many incredible people around me. I could never see myself doing anything else or being anywhere else.
NYMC Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences, Integrated Ph.D. Program (IPP) Year 1
Name: Alexandra Wolf
Hometown: Washingtonville, New York
Undergraduate School and Major: Stony Brook University, Pharmacology
What is your 
dream career or specialization?
I am hopeful that one day I can be a pharmaceutical inspectorate and run my own lab, but I am also very interested in industry work and drug design. These years ahead will hopefully help me choose the right path for my future endeavors.
What inspired you to pursue this degree?
I have wanted to study drug design and interactions in the body ever since I was 12 years old, following my mother’s cancer diagnosis. I wanted to learn about what exactly was going into her body and how it could potentially help her along the way.
What are you most looking forward to in your first year?
I am really looking forward to rotating in the different labs and departments to find the right fit for me for the years ahead. I am also looking forward to meeting the other IPP students and interacting with them.
What played a role in you choosing NYMC?
I do not live too far from NYMC so I always had an interest in attending for my graduate studies. I was very excited when I was accepted since I could still be close to my friends and family, while also not being too far from my friends from undergrad in Long Island.
