Alexander Rompala, Current MD Candidate
BU Major and Graduation Date:
Physics, May 2016
Current School & Class Year:
SUNY Downstate Medical School, Class of 2022
Preferred Pronouns:
He/Him
Hometown:
Poughquag, New York
What school are you attending and what you are studying? Why did you choose to apply to this school? What do you think makes your school unique?
I am currently a fourth-year medical student at SUNY Downstate Medical School in Brooklyn, New York. While applying I hoped to attend a medical school in New York City due to the diverse population and comprehensive clinical exposure. My school is specifically well known for early clinical training on the wards that begins in your first year. By the time Downstate students graduate, they have seen a wide range of medical conditions and have received years of hands-on training in the main trauma hospitals of Brooklyn.
Is there a specialization and/or specific population you are interested in? Why? How did you get into it and/or learn more about it?
I applied for residency in Orthopedics. Entering medical school, I was fascinated by the field of surgery, and more specifically orthopedics. I had the opportunity to shadow an Orthopedic Surgeon while applying to medical school and I instantly fell in love with the field. This was particularly useful to know before starting medical school because I knew that as soon as I began my first year that I needed to get involved in research within the Orthopedics department.
What are one or two of your favorite experiences/activities and why?
Throughout my time at SUNY Downstate I’ve gotten very involved on campus. I began doing research for the Orthopedics Department within my first two months of starting school. I was trained in statistics and quickly became involved in multiple attending surgeons’ research. This was a great way to connect with surgeons within the department while also publishing research and building my CV. Once I became confident in my skills, I began coordinating research for other students while also teaching statistics classes.
Did you take gap years?
I took two gap years because I switched to premed during the summer between my junior and senior years of undergrad. This put me at a disadvantage because I was behind on the biology class curriculum, however, I had already taken most physics and chemistry requirements. After graduating I took two remaining premed course requirements over the summer and then began working full time as a research technician in an Alzhimer’s research lab at MGH and Harvard.
What was your favorite BU course and why?
One of my favorite classes at Boston University was biochemistry. At the time I had a strong background in physics and chemistry, and I was interested in applying these fields to the human body. The BU premed biochemistry class that I took was tailored specifically for those interested in medicine and I found this helpful.
Were you involved in any clubs/groups at BU?
I was the founding treasurer of the BU Fishing Club. Three friends and I set out to create a club on campus that would allow students attending a city university to come together to share fishing knowledge from around the globe and to escape from school stresses and a busy city life. After extensive planning, paperwork, and meetings with BU representatives, our club charter was approved. We built a club that received funding from BU to purchase freshwater fishing gear for local fishing, while also chartering deep sea fishing trips.
I was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. I held three executive board positions which helped to develop my skills in organization, communication, and negotiation.
Have you always known you wanted to be a doctor? What/who has been your biggest inspiration?
I will be the first doctor in my family, and never considered the field growing up. Even through my first three years of undergrad, I was planning to pursue a PhD in physics. During the summer between junior and senior year I secured an internship in an Alzheimer’s research lab, where I ultimately worked for 2 years during my gap years. During my summer internship I was surrounded by people pursuing medicine. My boss and lifetime mentor, the head of the lab, helped me transform my life goal from becoming a PhD to a MD, and hopefully a surgeon.
What resources at BU did you find most helpful or want to spotlight that others might not know about?
As a student very late to the game, I sought out help at the BU Pre-Professional Advising Office. I connected with Michelle Sherman, and she did a phenomenal job helping to outline all of the necessary steps needed to achieve my dream. She was there at each major milestone to check in and make sure I was progressing accordingly. I would say that no matter how late it seems, if medicine is your dream there is always a path.
What are your hobbies/What do you like to do for fun outside of the classroom?
I am an avid participant in intramural sports. SUNY Downstate has a competitive intramural basketball league that I’ve participated in since my first year. This strengthened bonds between my peers, while also giving us a chance to interact with members of various other schools at Downstate. I also partake in multiple fantasy leagues, including two football leagues and one basketball league.
Are there any tips/advice you would like to share with current pre-health students?
I hope my story and non-traditional path to medicine can be an example to anyone out there who was told that they will not be able to succeed in their pursuit of medical school. There is an inherent stigma built into the application process that the only way to succeed is to have been preparing and pursuing this goal from a young age. Although a large majority of applicants may have doctors in their families and have been groomed from an early age, there is no reason why non-traditional applicants won’t also succeed. Sometimes it may even be refreshing for admissions committees to learn about applicants who have fought against the odds, and who have made the effort to overcome additional obstacles. At the end of the day, it is most important to be yourself, set realistic goals, and work hard while still maintaining the things that define you outside of medicine.