Sai Aung Phyo ‘15C
Looking back on his St. John’s experience, Sai Aung Phyo feels an overwhelming sense of gratitude. “I owe my life’s trajectory to St. John's, and all those I met during my years there,” he said.
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Looking back on his St. John’s experience, Sai Aung Phyo feels an overwhelming sense of gratitude. “I owe my life’s trajectory to St. John's, and all those I met during my years there,” he said.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree in biology, with minors in chemistry and philosophy, Mr. Phyo is enrolled in the M.D./Ph.D. program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. Currently in the program’s M.D. phase, he sees patients every day, taking their medical history, performing physical exams, and—with attending doctors—developing courses of treatment.
Looking back at his St. John’s education, Mr. Phyo noted that his professors and courses prepared him well for the rigors of medical school.
“I really got to know my professors,” he said, adding that he “really didn’t know what research entailed until I finished my first biology class. That was the moment I started considering the career path that I’m on now.”
During his time at St. John’s, Mr. Phyo was inspired by the University’s Vincentian mission of service. A student in the Honors Program, he tutored classmates in biology, chemistry, and physics. During his free time, he also participated in the Midnight Run program, in which St. John's students travel in University vans to distribute food, clothing, and other necessities to homeless people throughout Manhattan. “At St. John’s, I made lifelong friends,” he noted. “I got to enjoy all the cultural wonders of New York City, and most importantly, an amazing educational experience: one that's propelled me toward a fantastic career.”