Hector J. Alonso Quinones
Why did you choose research as a career?
There is something about the art of discovery that I find very exciting. It requires creativity and problem-solving skills as well as collaborative efforts from experts in many fields. These are also some of the same qualities that first attracted me to the medical sciences.
Medicine today is driven by an evidence-based movement in search of novel and effective approaches to patient care, and these advancements would not be possible without the aforementioned characteristics.
I believe that research and clinical medicine should go hand in hand. A career in research implies dedicating your life to the advancement of science, knowledge and truth. I strive every day to do just that.
What attracted you to Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences?
I had the great privilege of doing research at Mayo Clinic during the summer after my first year of medical school. I got to experience firsthand the culture of excellence and commitment displayed by its employees.
The wealth of resources and excellent mentors that this institution attracts are second to none. Because I knew I wanted to integrate research into my professional career, the decision to further my education at Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences was an easy one.
Why did you choose the clinical and translational science track?
The clinical and translational science track offers an effective liaison between academic and clinical medicine. It allows me to use scientific discoveries from research and implement them in patient-centered clinical care. As an aspiring physician-scientist, this is exactly what I'm looking for.
What do you like about Rochester?
Rochester is a small town that is big at heart. Any given weekday, its busy streets downtown foster people as diverse as its restaurant options. Its citizens are as kind and friendly as anywhere I have been.
I also happen to enjoy the weather. The changes in seasons are something I can appreciate coming from Puerto Rico, where it is summer year-round.
What are your plans for the future?
I plan on completing my combined M.D.-M.S. degree and going into a residency program in a research department that can provide me with the tools necessary to continue developing my clinical and academic skills. I would also like to take on a teaching role.
Ultimately, I wish to make the world a better place with the training I have received and opportunities I have been given, and share what I have learned with others so they can do the same.