Andrea Sanders | first-year student | Neuroscience
What has been the best part of your experience at UCSF so far?
The best part of my experience at UCSF has been the people I have been so fortunate to meet and get to know. Between classes, laboratory rotations, seminars, fellowships, internships, and campus groups, I am almost overwhelmed by the genuine, intelligent, creative, and kind people I am surrounded by each day. I feel a rich sense of connectedness at UCSF, and I owe this, in large part, to IMSD. Not only has IMSD introduced me to much of my community, but it has given me the tools necessary to transition smoothly into my graduate studies. I am well-equipped to manage my academic responsibilities while building community and establishing a supportive network.
What is one thing that surprised you about fall rotations?
One thing that surprised me about my fall rotation was the tremendous power a transdisciplinary approach to two of the nation’s greatest public health challenges ‒ chronic pain and addiction ‒ can have. I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Elyssa Margolis, a member of UCSF Pain and Addiction Research Center (PARC). Therefore, throughout the course of my rotation, I attended PARC seminars where I learned from clinicians and scientists. As much of my training has been in basic science, to hear from clinicians was relatively new to me. In doing so, I gained perspective on the same challenges that my rotation project aimed to better understand. I hope to be able to leverage this perspective ‒ and any others that may present themselves ‒ throughout my scientific career.
