Eastern Connecticut State University biology alumni Madison Greenfield ’20 and Catrina Sullivan ’22 have been accepted into medical school programs for the fall 2024 semester.

Greenfield is set to begin her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) program at the University of New England (UNE) this fall. “My goals right now are to adjust to this new part of life,” said Greenfield. “It is stressful and difficult, but it is so exciting to finally be here.”

Going for a D.O. instead of a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) means that Greenfield will get osteopathic training. “The major difference is the fundamental tenets,” said Greenfield. “DOs believe that the body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing and maintenance.

“We are taught from the beginning to treat the source of the dysfunction instead of just treating symptoms with a strong emphasis on preventative care.”

When applying to programs, Greenfield was selective, applying to nine programs and being accepted into five. “I was open to moving somewhere new but the most important thing to me was applying to programs that were a good fit for what I wanted,” said Greenfield.

Greenfield found the fit she was looking for at UNE. “I wanted a program that had a strong emphasis on competency, inter-professional collaboration and had an overall collaborative culture among students,” she said.

Having been through the application and acceptance processes, Greenfield has advice for anyone who follows in her footsteps. “Before you start applying, do your research, make sure the program is a good fit for you and that you are a good fit for the program,” she said.

“Take the time to make yourself a strong, well-rounded, competitive applicant and you will have choices.”

Greenfield developed a sense of what she wanted in an education before transferring to Eastern from Hunter College in Manhattan, a much larger school. “I was attending class in 500-person lecture halls, I did not know any of my professors by name and they definitely did not know me,” she said.

“I felt like I would get a better education at a smaller school, and I definitely did,” she said. “I had more hands-on learning opportunities in the lab and professors that I could meet with one-on-one if I had questions.”

An experience from her time at Eastern that sticks out in Greenfield’s memory is a tropical biology course, in which she traveled to the Bahamas and “got to snorkel around beautiful tropical islands while learning how to conduct field research.”

Greenfield studied genetics research under Vijay Veerappan, associate professor of biology. “(He) was my mentor throughout my time at Eastern and still, all these years later, his support and help along the way was essential for my success,” she said.

Greenfield has always been inspired by the opportunity to make a positive difference in any lives she can touch. “I have always wanted to be a part of something bigger and more important than myself and for me that has always been medicine,” she said.

Catrina Sullivan is beginning an M.D. program at the University of Connecticut. She, like Greenfield, can become a physician once she finishes her degree, despite the differences between an M.D. and a D.O. program.

Sullivan refined her research skills at Eastern, which came in handy after graduating. “I was a member of the Honors Program, which enabled me to develop a thesis project and provided me with so much guidance in doing so,” she said.

Sullivan’s Honors education provided her with highly valuable research skills. “I was able to leverage my Honors thesis into an amazing gap year job at the National Institutes of Health, where I was able to work on patient-oriented research for almost two years.

“I was exposed to amazing mentor relationships at Eastern, which are vital in the medical field and prepared me with the tools to communicate and develop professional relationships both in work and in graduate school.”

Sullivan is grateful to return to the Northeast, especially given the unpredictable landscape of graduate school applications. “I applied to medical schools all over the country because I focused on applying to programs whose admitted student stats matched my own,” she said.

She continued: “I feel immensely lucky to have been accepted at UConn, which is an exceptional institution. I really enjoyed my two years post-graduation living and working near Washington, D.C. and having that period of independence made the transition back to graduate school in the Northeast easier.

“I am close to a lot of family here, and that’s going to make seeing my family for holidays and breaks so much easier, which is really important to me. Connecticut also has incredible hospitals and clinical sites, which I am excited to have the opportunity to train at.”

Sullivan has also volunteered as a first responder, which solidified her already keen interest in entering the medical profession. “I used my time working and volunteering as an EMT to confirm that I enjoyed working and communicating with patients,” she said.

Sullivan is ready to let her curiosity carry her through her education. “As a student, especially a first-year, I am driven by how much I don’t know,” she said. “There is so much content to learn, it’s hard to believe it will ever fit in my brain.

“The goal of becoming a skilled, knowledgeable and empathetic provider for my patients is the ultimate driver.”