Elizabeth Flerlage
Bartlett, IL NYU
Why Medicine
"When I was in second grade, I was diagnosed with a rare fatal heart arrhythmia. It ended up being a misdiagnosis, but I visited a cardiac pediatrician in Chicago, Dr. Barbara Deal. Until then, I was terrified of doctors, but Dr. Deal was really calm and she sat down and explained what was going on—she even took the time to draw a human heart for me. She was the first doctor that I looked up to and wanted to emulate. I wanted to help kids in similar situations."
Why Touro
I was looking into osteopathic medicine and because I was in NYC, I heard about Touro’s Harlem campus. Each year, they have a shadow-day and I went during my senior year at NYU. Everyone was so nice and went out of their way to give me advice. When I had an interview at the Middletown campus, I loved the small town and the students all seemed like such a close-knit community. Everyone was in it together. That was what ultimately made me want to study here."
Fun Fact about Elizabeth
She can speak Sign Language. “There are a lot of details in sign language—even slight changes in your facial expressions or the way you sign can alter the meaning.”
