Brandeis Connects~Alumni Features
Jessica Rauch '12
We sat down with Jessica Rauch, a proud Brandeis alumna, who is doing amazing work as a Clinical Research Coordinator in the division of Gastroenterology at NYU Langone. While working at NYU, Jessica co-wrote a medical review paper that was published in the Translational Gastroenterology and Hepatology Journal which analyzed recent trends in colorectal cancer screening and evaluated the potential for future solutions to improve screening rates. Jessica has presented at multiple conferences such as the American College of Gastroenterology, the Korean Spine Society, and American Association of Neurological Surgeons and will be presenting at Digestive Disease Week 2024.
What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine?
A lot of my inspiration comes from growing up in San Francisco, where I questioned the health issues and inequities all around the city. Furthermore, observing my grandparents’ early experiences with Parkinson’s disease made me question what caused their disease and made me wonder how their well-being could be improved with better treatments. It was in high school when I took Biology where I first learned basic anatomy and physiology concepts, and I wanted to continue learning more.
When did you first realize you had a passion for helping others? How has your experience at Brandeis contributed to your professional career path?
When I was at Brandeis, I participated in a reading buddy program at a local elementary school. I recall spending time outside of school passionately creating flashcards and reading charts for my reading buddy. It was exhilarating to see her understand things, and I first realized I had the power to help the community around me. I realized how fulfilling it was to support other people reach their goals, and I wanted to further this. I continued to volunteer as a mentor and tutor in many communities throughout high school and college. I have also started mentoring students at a local housing shelter here in New York City. This early passion for mentorship and education was fundamental in shaping my goals in medicine. Medicine is not only about treating illness, but it is also about empowering patients with the health knowledge and tools to improve their well-being through health maintenance, diet, lifestyle, and exercise.
Was there a teacher or memory at Brandeis that helped you discover your path?
Dr. Bloom and Dr. Frank were instrumental in helping me become a more confident learner and more passionate person and student. Dr. Bloom was endlessly excited about the curriculum she was teaching, and she took the time and energy to get to know me on a deeper level. It is this enthusiasm, empathy, and curiosity that she taught me which I try to bring to my patients. I hope to continue to grow these important skills throughout my career in medicine. Dr. Frank has a unique ability to encourage learning and academic growth through her wonderful compassion and empathy. She helped me feel capable of learning math, a topic that I struggled with in elementary and middle school. She encouraged me to explore new types of learning and study techniques that I continued to use throughout high school and college, allowing me to understand my classes on a deeper level and always wanting to learn more. She fostered academic confidence in me to make me feel like I could succeed, and that was instrumental to me discovering my passions and curiosities in medicine.
Did Brandeis play a role in your Jewish identity?
My passion and interest in tikkun olam has always been a key part of my Jewish identity and how I connect to Jewish communities in new cities I’ve lived in throughout my life. My passion for tikkun olam was fostered at Brandeis through our middle school Tzedekah project and other lessons woven into our curriculum. We were taught in so many diverse ways and applications that improved upon the world around us is a fundamental Jewish value, and that always spoke to me. Tikkun Olam continues to be a priority in my life and is one of the many ways in which I am proud to be Jewish. In college, I served as Director for Tikkun Olam for UCLA Hillel, where I brought many lessons and values taught at Brandeis into the programming and events that I planned for our students.
What advice would you give to a Brandeis student who wants to pursue a career in medicine?
Stay curious and open-minded. All around you, you’ll find questions to be answered and phenomena to be discovered. Question things you don’t understand and choose to learn more when you realize you don’t know something. Prioritize open-mindedness as you navigate new experiences, meet new people, travel to new places, and embark on new paths. Providing care to people and conducting clinical research through the medical world is not just about knowing the science but doing so with empathy and compassion. Empathy and compassion are often overlooked skills but should be priorities for anyone looking forward to a career in medicine. These passions can be fostered through tikkun olam in all forms. Even though you’re still young, you can start volunteering at health centers, with younger students, at senior homes, housing shelters, or even participating in environmental efforts like beach cleanups.
On another note, something that is hard to know when we’re young is being proud of your passions, but I implore you to dive deep into the things that make you excited. Whether it’s robotics, the environment, gaming, chemistry, sports, art, you name it, keep exploring and keep doing what makes you happy. It is our uniqueness that makes us special and makes you even better suited for medicine, so keep it up!
On another note, something that is hard to know when we’re young is being proud of your passions, but I implore you to dive deep into the things that make you excited. Whether it’s robotics, the environment, gaming, chemistry, sports, art, you name it, keep exploring and keep doing what makes you happy. It is our uniqueness that makes us special and makes you even better suited for medicine, so keep it up!
