"Don't confuse motion with progress." - Cato T. Laurencin, MD, PhD

"One of the first words told to me upon entering the Young Innovative Investigator Program (YIIP) was this quote, and I held it true to me throughout my progression in the program.

I chose this program because of its commitment to preparing underrepresented minority students to become excellent candidates for Medical School and Physician Scientist Training Programs (MD/PhD). The support and guidance throughout this program are unmatched—from Dr. Ruano, Dr. Wu, the Cato T. Laurencin Institute staff and faculty, my M1 mentors, and especially Dr. Laurencin (The G.O.A.T.), who opened the doors of his laboratory, his heart, and his wisdom, teaching me life lessons that I'll always remember.

The Young Innovative Investigator Program (YIIP) catapulted me into my journey of becoming the physician scientist I aspire to be. Beyond the basic science exposure, I learned about the importance and steps required to translate findings from the bench to the bedside, which is the goal of physician scientists. In a sense, I was able to peek into my aspiring career from the perspective and position of a master's student. The program also permitted me to pursue my interest outside of academia by serving the community through the avenue of the Just Us Moving Program (JUMP) and the Hartford Urban League.

I will forever be grateful for the love, knowledge, support, and opportunities that I was granted throughout this program."

"These past two years in the Young Innovative Investigator Program have completely transformed my understanding of what a physician scientist is and does. The mentorship, research experience and community given by the program have been indispensable in my journey into medical school as an aspiring physician scientist. It was a challenging journey that has given me incredible opportunities such as extensive public speaking in an academic context, scientific publications, patents, and conference experiences. As I move further into my career as a physician scientist I grow thankful for the strong scientific foundation the program helped me lay.  

The support and guidance offered throughout this program have been outstanding, with direct mentorship from distinguished physicians and scientists such as Dr. Ruaño, Dr. Laurencin, and Dr. Nair, as well as the staff and faculty of the Cato T. Laurencin Institute. The YIIP experience has been unparalleled and is one I would not trade for anything."

"These past two years in the Young Innovative Investigator Program (YIIP) have been nothing short of a blessing to me. If I could go back in time, I would choose this program one thousand times over. YIIP gave me so many wonderful opportunities I cannot see myself getting elsewhere. I had the chance to conduct/publish amazing research, travel for conferences, take high-level courses, shadow doctors in the clinic, prepare for medical school, involve myself in community service projects, and do just about anything I wanted in terms of gaining meaningful experiences while pursuing a master’s degree.

I will be forever grateful to Dr. Laurencin, not only for YIIP, but also for the invaluable mentorship I have received from him and the YIIP staff that is dedicated to making a difference by providing immense support for underrepresented students in research/medicine. I appreciate the transformative nature of the program that has matured me into the scholar I am today. I feel very prepared from my experiences here to achieve my goals of becoming a physician-scientist, and when I get there, I hope to offer a similar level of guidance to the next generation of doctors and scientists."