Student Spotlight: Jesse Fajnzylber

Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in Boston and did my undergraduate degree in chemistry at Amherst College. I'm currently in my fifth year at CCLCM and will be graduating in May. Right now, I’m in the process of applying for internal medicine residencies.

Why did you choose to attend CCLCM?

Research is central to my academic and career interests. I think the beauty of the CCLCM curriculum is that instead of an MD/PhD, where the MD and the PhD portions are separated, our entire program is rooted in physician research. My peers share a deep interest in changing the world through research. Our small program size means that we get individualized mentorship and research opportunities that just aren’t possible at larger institutions.

What research have you been involved in as a medical student?

There have been three major arcs to my research experience as a medical student. The first was conducting research on C. diff, or Clostridioides difficile, under the supervision of Dr. Abhishek Deshpande. That work taught me about biostatistical and epidemiological analysis, including how to conduct meta-analyses and other kinds of clinical research.

My next major experience was a bladder cancer research project under Dr. Tim Chan, with whom I did my research year. We identified a cohort of patients, collected tumor samples and offered genomic sequencing to them. This was my first foray into applied bioinformatics research. It was exciting to use my academic background in the field to help further knowledge of possible genetic signals of bladder cancer.

A final experience, which is ongoing, is working under Dr. Taylor Brooks. We’re doing research on lymphomas, which is a topic I hope to pursue as an oncologist. All these opportunities have prepared me for a successful career as a physician researcher. I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned as I move forward in my career.

Outside of your busy academic and research schedules, what extracurriculars do you pursue?

I’ve been a member of the Build a Culture of Antiracism Action Group since my first year at CCLCM. We’ve helped make the school even more inclusive and advised faculty on how best to use their influence to mitigate bias. A classmate, Rachel Schafer (’25), and I created a book club during first year centering on cultural humility in medicine. I’ve also served on the admissions committee since second year. I love meeting future applicants and helping to shape the future of CCLCM.

Outside of school, I’m a big runner. I’ve been running competitively since high school. Since 2021, I’ve run the Berlin Marathon, Boston Marathon, California International Marathon, Erie Marathon and Valencia Marathon. I’ll be doing the Boston Marathon again this spring. I just recently passed 10,000 miles of running since beginning medical school!

What advice would you give new medical students?

It’s important to discover what you’re passionate about. I attribute my success to focusing on areas that naturally interest me. New medical students often have an urge to do as much as possible. Sometimes, though, less is more. Focus on a few things with all your heart rather than participating in everything just to check off boxes. Learn what you want to do and throw your whole self into it.