"I Wanted to Pay It Forward"

For the 135 members of TouroCOM Harlem’s Class of 2022, July 23 marked the next step in their journeys to becoming doctors as they officially began their first week of medical school.

Orientation week included lectures about coping with the stress of first year studies, introductions to faculty members and programs and even a tour of Harlem. On the last day of the orientation, TouroCOM Harlem’s Student Government Association hosted a water fight and pizza lunch for the new students. We caught up with eight members of the new class and spoke to them about their backgrounds, why they considered a career in medicine and what their hopes are for the future. The Class of 2022 is a diverse group including athletes, artists and researchers and even a nationally ranked fencer. Despite their diverse backgrounds and history, each members of the class new class shared a similar goal: moving the medical profession forward.