By Shantel Rowe, Class of 2017
Remember the
name Bishoy Gerges (Class of 2017), because he may be one of our future Noble Peace
Prize winners. Bishoy looks like your
typical college senior—he packs light, moves swiftly throughout the campus, and
still manages to be on time for our impromptu interview. However, his story is
far from typical. After living in Libya for 9 years, Bishoy, who was born in
Egypt, felt overwhelmed by the gruesome environment in the country—as he
recalls seeing a slew of dead bodies all throughout the streets. These horrific
images would in turn spark his passion for wanting to help others. Once he
immigrated to the U.S. he discovered that his father was diagnosed with liver cancer.
Bishoy’s desire to be a physician crystallized.
While most of
us spend our summers hanging poolside or driving aimlessly with friends,
Bishoy, in pursuit of his passions, embarked upon life changing research and
relief work many of us only see on TV.
 |
| Bishoy Gerges communicates with Nepalese children just fine! |
For the past
three years, Bishoy, a biology major with a minor in biochemistry, has been
studying the fragile X syndrome which is believed to be one of the few genetic
causes of autism identified today. Patients with the fragile x syndrome have
displayed similar traits to those who are diagnosed with certain forms of autism,
i.e. a preference for disengagement. So how does Bishoy directly fall in this
equation? Through his research, and the implementation of a drug called DCBLA,
Bishoy and his peers have found that when mice are treated with the substance many
of their symptoms were virtually gone. If this sounds awesome, it’s because it
is. Bishoy’s hands on experimentation felt incredibly fascinating to him as
well as he injected the brains of mice subjects with DCBLA, and watch varying behavioral
traits—a process he finds particularly satisfying. Of course, this intensive work
could not have been done without devoted faculty, as Bishoy credits Dr.
Banerjee and PhD student Alexandra Marsillo as mentors for his growing interest
in neuroscience and research. This interest has carried his work all the way to
the National Society of Neurochemistry in Chicago where the research was
presented.
 |
| Who teaches whom? |
While
his research work has satisfied his intellectual drive, Bishoy’s humanitarian
efforts illustrate his true passions. After Nepal’s tragic earthquake in 2015,
Bishoy joined a medical volunteering mission to provide relief and aid to those
in need. He felt slightly apprehensive since another earthquake had hit the country
just as he booked his ticket. However, he braced himself for an experience he
best describes as “life changing,” and went on to volunteer in five different
hospitals (one of which was primarily focused on cancer) in two regions of the
country. Not only did Bishoy assist in local clinics, he had the opportunity to
work within the country’s orphanages. During this time, Bishoy assisted doctors
in dressing wounds, changing bandages, cleaning up, and looking after patients.
On one occasion, Bishoy recalls tending to a crying, injured little boy who ended
up laughing after hearing Bishoy’s broken Nepali. The experience left a lasting
impression still present as he reflects on the trip. Nepal demonstrated not
only how he could change people’s lives through his work, but how they could
change his.
Bishoy’s
accomplishments speak significantly to his growth and development as an
individual and student, a growth he attributes to the members of the Verrazano
Honors community; her refers to this community as ‘like a family,” who
continuously supported his endeavors. In more ways than one, Bishoy is a model
student—excelling academically, applying to medical school, considering PhD
programs, and presumably saving the world. Dig deeper and you see the humility
which helps him relate and offer advice to his fellow students. Simply put, he
says, “Take advantage of every opportunity.”
No comments:
Post a Comment