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When Sandy Durosier ’16 M.S. was 11 years old, one of her close family members became very ill, and she still remembers how helpless she felt. She was awed by the doctors who expertly treated her loved one and helped them recover.

Her family member’s illness and treatment, though traumatic, sparked Durosier’s own interest in medicine. She, too, wanted to learn how to heal others.

“It cultivated my belief that healthcare should be all-inclusive,” she said. “Patients and families should be at the center of care.”

Durosier, a graduate of the University of New Haven’s master’s degree program in cellular and molecular biology, is now on her way to becoming a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Earlier this summer, she moved to Mesa, Arizona, to begin her studies at the .

‘The University of New Haven gave me the tools I needed to be successful’

As a �鶹AV, Durosier was passionate about sharing her passion for science. She and a friend, a science teacher at in New Haven, organized an event at the University for the middle school students. It included a discussion with members of the University’s �鶹AV team that taught students – many of whom would be the first in their family to attend – about the process of applying.

In addition to teaching them about careers in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, Durosier also showed students the University’s laboratories, explaining how to use pipettes and demonstrating how the equipment worked. The lab is where Durosier built her own skills, and she believes her time at the University helped prepare her for medical school.

“The University of New Haven gave me the tools I needed to be successful working in a laboratory and doing research,” she said. “I grew more confident with my research skills. I developed intellectual curiosity, an understanding of scientific inquiry, and perseverance while working on my thesis.”

‘My career goal as a physician is to listen, support, and empower’

Durosier, who officially started her medical education earlier this summer, is excited to have taken the next step toward her dream of becoming a physician. She looks forward to helping her patients get and stay well, just as the doctors helped her loved one years earlier.

“My career goal as a physician is to listen, support, and empower my patients so that I can give them the best medical care,” she said. “I will focus on promoting lifestyle changes, teaching patients about health, and integrating preventative measures. I look forward to exploring different specialties within primary care, and I will then decide what residency training I’d like to pursue.”