Alejandro Velasquez, a GW medical student, has been a student worker at Himmelfarb since 2017. He recently celebrated Match Day. Himmelfarb Library congratulates Alejandro on his accomplishments! We interviewed him to learn more about his time in medical school and at GW.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where did you grow up? What brought you to GW?
I was born in Caracas, Venezuela, but my family and I moved to Memphis, TN when I was young so that my brother could get life-saving cancer treatment at St. Jude’s Children's research hospital! He was cured, and my family decided to stay and give back to the Memphis community by opening up medical clinics dedicated to the marginalized population of Memphis. I moved to DC to study at GW for undergrad and get a degree in Biology! I chose GW because of the wonderful opportunities offered and the diverse and exciting environment.
Congratulations on your residency match! You matched in Internal Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center! Tell us more about your Match Day experience.
Like others can account, I'm sure it was an exciting but nerve-racking experience. You are given an envelope that will change your life forever, and it can either be the news you expected or not. Thankfully, I was surrounded by my loved ones who were there to support me no matter what! When I opened the envelope, I was too excited/nervous/shocked to express any emotion or even spell correctly. But I found that I got my first choice in Boston and could not be more excited about this next chapter.
How did you decide that Internal Medicine was the path you wanted to pursue?
Internal medicine motivated me to be the best version of myself! I kept an open mind to all specialties, and I paid attention to what made me the happiest. Especially a rotation that made me excited to go to work the next day. I had a blast with the wonderful attendings, residents, staff, and patients, and I recognized it as a logical next step. I also enjoyed its subspecialties, especially cardiology, and I look to complete a fellowship in the field.
You started working at Himmelfarb as an undergrad at GW. How long have you worked at Himmelfarb Library? What attracted you to apply to work at Himmelfarb in the first place?
I started working at Himmelfarb in 2017 after a friend (Nir Liebenthal) who worked there referred me to Kathy. I needed financial support, and Himmelfarb gave me the opportunity of a work-study program, which was such a blessing. Between shorting, shelving, and checking out books, I had the opportunity to spend countless hours in the library studying, and this job allowed me the chance to support myself financially and meet so many new friends and colleagues. As soon as I started working in Himmelfarb, my GPA dramatically increased, and I started acing my classes. I believe it was not only the dedicated time I had to study, but I was also motivated by the academic environment around me. I worked this job until I graduated in 2019 and took two gap years between medical school. When I returned to campus, I immediately knew I had to get my old job back! I started again in 2021, and I will complete my time in 2025.
As you reflect on your time as a student worker at Himmelfarb, do you have any favorite Himmelfarb memories?
There are so many wonderful memories I have of Himmelfarb. From meeting hundreds of students and making dozens of friendships to creating friendships with the staff and librarians who accepted me with open arms! Countless conversations with people I have met here have molded me into the academic and human I am today.
Have you participated in any interesting or exciting research or special projects at GW?
Most definitely! I have participated in research projects in the fields of cardiology, trauma, colorectal, pediatric, urologic, oncologic, and ENT surgery. I also wrote a thesis for my Honors degree in Biology during undergrad. Many projects I did could not have been done without the help from librarians such as Tom, who assisted me with a systematic review. In addition, the resources available to me were incredibly helpful.
What’s been the most unexpected, surprising, or challenging experience as a medical student?
Medical school is difficult as it requires time, passion, and drive, but it has been worthwhile for me and my career. I knew medicine was going to be difficult going into school, but what I did not expect was how much fun I was going to have. I enjoyed every stage from MS1-MS4 and will think back to the amazing memories I made. A big challenge for me was adapting to the time requirement that it has and the need to balance profession with family. I am very close with my family, and it's difficult for me to not be able to see them as often as I would like. However, at the end of the day, I wouldn't change a thing, and I am grateful for my time and opportunities. While in medical school, I made hundreds of friends, traveled to 10 different countries, and participated in tons of extracurricular activities, which molded me into the future doctor I am today.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I love walking the city with my dog Kaiser! I also love going to Yoga and exercising as much as I can. At home, I’m either cooking, playing video games, or reading. If I'm not home, I am traveling!
What advice would you give first-year medical students just starting in their medical school journeys?
I tell everyone I meet that no matter how hard or challenging the courses are, try to soak in and enjoy it as much as you can! I was grounded and motivated by the fact that I was learning how to cure my future patients, but I also had a blast learning and reading as a student. I think when I found that I enjoyed what I learned, I understood it better and needed to study less! I also can't stress enough the importance of being efficient! Harder does not mean smarter. Find what works for you in the shortest amount of time and stick with it! Lastly, have fun! I think back to my time, and I had an absolute blast while in med school.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Thank you, GW and Himmelfarb staff, for these wonderful years! I will never forget my time here and am eternally grateful!
