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Student and Faculty Profiles

Meet Arnie...

Class: 2008
Hometown: Fairfield, Connecticut
Undergrad: Wesleyan University
Major: Psychology; Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Program: M.D.

When I was in grade school, I was sure I was going to be an entomologist. I could spend hours outside catching bugs. Nature and science were so interesting to me. I loved dissecting frogs and cats in high school, and at that point was sure I would be a science teacher. But of course, as I grew up my interests changed. One of the things that remained steady however was my interest in science.

I attended Wesleyan University, a small liberal arts school here in Connecticut, where I double-majored in psychology and molecular biology and biochemistry. Through programs at Wesleyan, I became more and more interested in medicine, as to me it seemed a perfect blend of science, service, and person-to-person interaction. I volunteered my time in various clinical and research experiences, always looking towards the goal of gaining valuable experience in the field. I became involved in a program called Project 3000 by 2000 at Wesleyan, lead by professor J. James Donady in conjunction with the Health Center’s Health Career Opportunity Programs. As my faculty advisor, Professor Donady provided the encouragement and support to pursue an admission to medical school.

Another of the many influences in my life that sparked an interest in medicine for me was my best friend’s grandparents. In high school I founded a non-profit club dedicated to helping disadvantaged children globally, although our main focus was on improving the conditions in a set of orphanages in Romania. My friend’s grandparents, who provided contact with those orphanages, had fled Romania years earlier. While in communist Romania, they were the state’s chief cardiologist and pulmonologist. Their tales of heroic political defiance and passion for medicine was something that I couldn’t easily ignore and certainly won’t forget.

After college, I took a year off from school and joined the working world while collecting my thoughts on where I wanted to be and how certain I was that I wanted to make the commitment to medicine. After looking at a number of schools, I made the choice to attend the UConn School of Medicine.

The choice wasn’t an easy one, as so many schools have so much to offer. However, I felt UConn was the way to go for a number of reasons. First, the location is ideal for me. I had a brother in college in Boston, and a large cohort of my college friends settled in New York. Of course, being from Connecticut, remaining close to my family was also a draw. Second, while looking at schools, I was impressed by the laid-back, non-competitive atmosphere here. I knew UConn students did well on the boards, and the graduates placed well in the match, so I was pleased to see how relaxed an atmosphere I found here. I knew that a place that offered solid preparation for a difficult career, all the while maintaining a relaxed, accepting, and supportive atmosphere was a rare find. Plus, the curriculum here offered more clinical experience than any of the schools I looked at. Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that cost played a factor in my decision. I figured; if I could get a first class education leading me to the same degree as any other medical school, why pay more for it? Now that I’m here, I’m sure I made the right choice.

While here at UConn, I’ve become involved in a number of different activities. Currently, I’m the president of the Medical and Dental Student Government. In addition, last year a number of students and I started a few intramural sports teams. We play soccer, softball, basketball, and touch football, but my sport of choice is hockey. Our hockey team plays at the nearby Connecticut International Skating Center. We have games once or twice a week, and have a ton of fun while keeping in shape and beating up on our friendly cross-town rivals at UConn Law.