Gavin
Wiltshire
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Research Interest: Pharmacoengineering and tissue engineering
“I hope to use my position as an MD-PHD to effectively understand the common ailments people are facing and work to find better solutions so that their right to life isn't determined by their socioeconomic status.
What attracted you to the CSS program and Carolina?
I became interested in the CSS program because of the structure and guidance it seemed to provide that would guarantee me success while also providing me with the tools and resources to be flexible in my career path. Also, the opportunity to be surrounded and supported by other minority students who have similar experiences to mine with goals and aspirations to change the world made CSS more attractive than the other options I had. In addition, the scholarship was very attractive as it would enable me to be flexible in what I do over the summer, whether that be research or impactful volunteering, without the need to sacrifice time and effort in order to afford college.
What are you most looking forward to experiencing at Carolina over the next four years?
I am most looking forward to having the responsibility to make my own decisions and own connections with people. Really challenging myself to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible during my time here and being able to look back proud of what I achieved and how it has set up my future to be a changemaker in my field and the world.
What research topic(s) are you interested in exploring and why?
Right now what most interests me in terms of research is pharmacoengineering and tissue engineering. I am super interested in the development of medicines and devices that enable the drugs to be more effective. I believe these discoveries can be leveraged to make common drugs and medications more cost-effective and therefore cheaper and more accessible to those that truly need it.
What is one thing you hope to accomplish in your future STEM career?
I hope to use my position as an MD-PHD to effectively understand the common ailments people are facing and work to find better solutions so that their right to life isn’t determined by their socioeconomic status. I also hope to become part of (or start my own) board that exposes young students in lower-income schools to a career in STEM and provide tools or guidance so they can achieve it.