What to do with a health sciences degree? URI alumni in medicine tell their stories

Virtual panel discussion sponsored by the College of Health Sciences, URI Pre-Health Advising

An education in the health sciences gives students multiple options as they pursue a career in health and health care after leaving the University of Rhode Island. Clinical practice? Research? Education? The choices are myriad.

While a career decision can seem overwhelming for any soon-to-be graduate, there are people to turn to for help, most notably, those who have already walked the path. Students have a chance to hear first-hand from URI graduates about the different stages of a career in medicine, from pre-med all the way through residency and practice, during a virtual panel discussion on Oct. 25 at 5 p.m. Learn from our panelists about their varied pathways into the field and how they got there!

Register for the virtual panel discussion here

Panelists include:

John Christy, ’16, MD. — Dr. Christy graduated summa cum laude from URI in 2016 after completing the Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. During his time at URI, Dr. Christy was a research assistant in the organic chemistry laboratory of Professor Brenton DeBoef. He worked for a year as a research consultant in the medical device industry before beginning his studies at New York Medical College. Along with his medical studies, Dr. Christy was involved in research focused on cardiac arrhythmia and heart failure. Upon completing his medical degree earlier this year, Dr. Christy returned to Rhode Island to join the Internal Medicine residency program at Kent Hospital and the Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

Richard Lisi, ’18 — Richard Lisi completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology, graduating summa cum laude from URI in 2018 with election to Phi Beta Kappa. In 2019, Richard began his medical studies at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School of Rutgers University, where he is pursuing a dual MD/MBA degree (he is currently completing the MBA portion of his program at the Stern School of Business at New York University). His goal is to pursue an eclectic mix of medicine, technology, and finance via a career in healthcare venture capital. He wants to focus on empowering early-stage health technology startups that can improve access to the health care system.

Jeff Ross, MD, DPM, ’75 — Jeffrey A. Ross is a podiatrist in Houston, Texas, specializing in Diabetic Foot Amputation Prevention and Limb Salvage. He is an associate professor in the Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Ross graduated with his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree in 1979 from New York College of Podiatric Medicine. He later fulfilled a two-year residency with the Harris County Podiatric Residency Program, Podiatric Medicine and Surgery from 1979-1981. Dr. Ross pursued additional podiatric training by completing a fellowship in Ein Kerem, Israel in December of 1988, with the American College of Foot Surgeons. Seeking to expand his knowledge base even further, Dr. Ross graduated with his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Health Sciences, Antigua School of Medicine in 2003.