Physician-Engineer Trainee Spotlights

David Sohutskay

Why did you choose to become a physician-engineer?

I was inspired to become a physician-engineer through my interest in tissue engineering. I would like to see the promise of new stem cell-based regenerative therapies become a reality, and plan to lead a career in translational medicine and design methods for the creation of patient-specific replacement tissues.

What does being a physician-engineer mean to you?

To me, being a physician-engineer means working to make medicine better by developing new patient-inspired technologies. Just like a physician-scientist can navigate the worlds of research and medicine to make clinically-relevant discoveries, having knowledge of engineering principles helps us to create better solutions to medical problems; a physician-engineer is able to make positive impacts in the world both large (through research and development) and small (with each individual patient).

Why is the joint IUSM-Purdue MD-PhD BME program a good fit for you?

 

Indiana/Purdue is a good fit for me because of the environment, the research, and most of all the people. I had a great medical school experience, and I am enjoying grad school too.

What is one of your most memorable experiences since you came into the program?

There are so many it is hard to choose. Last semester I took part in a course on Biomedical Entrepreneurship here at Purdue, where I worked on a team to analyze the value of a tissue-engineered skin product and develop a business model. In the process of interviewing almost 100 potential customers, we traveled to Atlanta to attend a conference in wound healing and speak to physicians. The trip and the whole course was an incredible experience.

Describe the graduate student community.

Both in the MD-PhD BME program and throughout the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering I feel surrounded by like-minded people. Whether we end up in research, clinical practice, industry, or academia, we all have the same passion for biology and engineering. My advisor, the MD-PhD BME directors, and all of the staff at Purdue and Indiana are all fantastic.

What do you do for fun outside of the program?

Mainly I waste time on the internet, bike, and spend time with my friends.

What advice would you give to a prospective student?

Find a program where you can see yourself spending almost a decade of your life. Work hard, and enjoy what you do.