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Steven Krueger |
On Sunday, June 3, as Steven Krueger and his classmates in the School of Medicine Class of 2018 take the stage at UMass Medical School’s 45th Commencement to accept their doctor of medicine degrees, they will pause to reflect on their long journey to become physicians.
For Krueger, it is a path that began in high school, thanks to the tutelage of a Waltham High School teacher.
“I first became interested in the biological sciences as a high school sophomore thanks to an incredible teacher, Marisa Maddox,” said Krueger, who was chosen to serve as class speaker for the School of Medicine at Commencement. “I found the study of living organisms fascinating, and I was especially drawn to human anatomy and physiology. It was my teacher’s first job out of college, which I think made for an even better learning experience because she could connect and communicate well with high school students. I realized quickly that a career in medicine combined science with the privilege of serving others in a very personal way, and I never looked back.”
Krueger attended Boston College after graduating from Waltham High. He majored in biology and graduated summa cum laude before arriving at UMass Medical School.
“I chose UMass Medical School because of the distinct sense of community I felt when I first stepped foot on this campus. It was clear to me that UMass provided an excellent medical education, at one of the most affordable prices, but there was also a core competency labeled ’Physician as Person,’ which emphasized self-reflection and personal wellness,” said Krueger, a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society and the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. “I have received excellent teaching, mentoring, and clinical training during my years at UMass Medical School, and I feel fully prepared for the next step in my career.”
In his speech, Krueger will encourage his classmates to savor their achievements.
“As medical trainees, we tend to look toward the future and promise ourselves a light at the end of the tunnel. My speech focuses instead on our collective accomplishments over the past four or more years as something to be celebrated in the present moment,” he said. “I will also thank some very important people who have supported us along the journey.”
Krueger is headed to Cambridge Health Alliance for internship before returning to UMass Medical School for his residency in dermatology.
“I decided to pursue a career in dermatology for many reasons, including the visual nature of the specialty, a wide variety of diagnoses and treatment options, and most importantly, the opportunity to improve a person’s quality of life,” he said.
