Student Ambassadors: Long Island

Leigha Tierney

ltierney@nyit.edu

She/her

Campus: Old Westbury
Hometown: Hoboken, NJ
Highest Education: B.S.
Undergrad/Grad School (Major): Stevens Institute of Technology (Biology)
Clubs and Activities: American Osteopathic Colleges of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians, American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians

Why did you choose NYITCOM? I chose to attend NYITCOM because of its proximity to New York City. I hope to practice as a physician in the NYC area, and I have the support of my family, relatives, and friends nearby. Throughout my undergraduate career, I also met several alumni physicians that could recommend NYITCOM from their own medical school experiences.

What is special about NYITCOM? What makes NYITCOM special to me is how warm and collaborative the student community is. While medical school is challenging, it is comforting that my classmates are a source of support, whether emotionally or academically.

What are your future plans and goals? I am currently interested in pursuing pediatrics, family medicine, or emergency medicine. Currently, I'm looking forward to exploring extracurriculars on campus that can help me learn more about different specialties before I begin rotations in third year.

Justin Weiner

jweine04@nyit.edu

Campus: Old Westbury
Hometown: Queens, NY
Highest Education: B.S.
Undergrad/Grad School (Major): Touro University
Clubs and Activities: MAIMONIDES SOCIETY

Why did you choose NYITCOM? I chose to attend NYITCOM because of their faculty, curriculum, and their passion for producing the finest osteopathic physicians. Furthermore, NYITCOM offers students opportunities for research and collaboration between faculty and students.

What is special about NYITCOM? What makes NYITCOM special to me is its well-rounded approach to medical education, by achieving academic excellence while promoting a strong sense of community between students. The school prides themselves on diversity and developing students into compassionate leaders.

What are your future plans and goals? With my medical degree, I aspire to specialize in vascular or interventional radiology. These fields allow me to utilize advance imaging techniques and minimally invasive procedures to treat patients. My ambition is to contribute in refining patient outcomes and improve quality of life through these interventions. Ultimately, I want to practice in a setting where I can collaborate with colleagues to deliver innovative research, and provide compassionate care to patients.

Tracy Xu

txu12@nyit.edu

She/Her

Campus: Old Westbury
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Highest Education: B.A.
Undergrad/Grad School (Major): University of Rochester (Biology)
Clubs and Activities: American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians, Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association

Why did you choose NYITCOM? I choose to attend NYITCOM because of its impressive reputation and research opportunities. I also loved that NYITCOM is close enough to city that you can head over to take a break from studying but is still in an area that is peaceful enough that it reminds me of home.

What is special about NYITCOM? Personally, the people and friends that I have meet at NYITCOM is what makes the school so special to me. From faculty to classmates, everyone is so supportive and their presence really makes the experience here at NYITCOM.

What are your future plans and goals? At the moment, I'm interested in specializing in Psychiatry and Pediatrics, or possibly a combination of both specialties. However, I'm open to any speciality and look forward to finding out what I love during rotations!

Natalie Zhu

nzhu06@nyit.edu

She/Her

Campus: Old Westbury
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Highest Education: B.A.
Undergrad/Grad School (Major): New York University (Biochemistry)
Clubs and Activities: Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association, Global Health Organization, ARTery, Diversity Equity & Inclusion Pen Pal Program, Student Ambassador

Why did you choose NYITCOM? Having been a lifelong New Yorker, I chose NYITCOM because it allowed me to give back to the community I grew up in. NYITCOM also has a plethora of volunteer opportunities ranging from supporting the free clinic to providing meals for families at our local food pantries. Additionally, the support system that I found proved that NYITCOM was the best fit for me and my future goals.

What is special about NYITCOM? The supportive learning environment is what I enjoyed most during my time at NYITCOM. I have met incredible students who always try to help and uplift one another, whether it is sharing resources or simply checking in on each other. I am thrilled to be in such a collaborative and welcoming community.

What are your future plans and goals? I am currently interested in pediatrics and family medicine, but I am keeping an open mind as I continue to explore many other specialties during my clinical rotations. I would love to stay in New York and give back to the community I grew up in.

Angela Zhu

azhu08@nyit.edu

She/Her/Hers

Campus: Old Westbury
Hometown: Staten Island, NY
Highest Education: B.S.
Undergrad/Grad School (Major): SUNY Cobleskill (Biotechnology)
Clubs and Activities: Rock Steady Boxing, Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association, Medical Students For Choice, American Osteopathic College of Anesthesiologists, American College of Osteopathic Obstetrics and Gynecology

Why did you choose NYITCOM? I chose to attend NYITCOM because of its location, being close to my support system at home was essential. The impressive list of opportunities for clinical clerkships was the cherry on top!

What is special about NYITCOM? NYITCOM excels on both the student life and academic fronts. There are many student organizations and constantly a variety of enriching extracurricular activities to participate in. We also have faculty who are engaging, enthusiastic about teaching, and always eager to help.

What are your future plans and goals? I am unsure about what specialty I would like to pursue, but I look forward to clinical rotations to guide me toward the specialty I am most suited for.