Lorena Marcano Bonilla

Why did you choose research as a career?

Research is essential to provide patients with the best care. It provides a platform to address complicated questions that arise while taking care of patients.

What attracted you to Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences?

Mayo Clinic's ideals are represented by the three shields that form its logo. The top one symbolizes patient care, which is closely linked to the other two, education and research. Coming from medical school, my interests align very well with those of the institution.

In addition, Mayo Clinic provides the resources and the staff to collaborate with experienced researchers in an interdisciplinary manner.

Why did you choose the clinical and translational science track?

This track provides a strong foundation to conduct competitive research with the main focus of translation to the clinic, where patients can benefit from our discoveries.

What do you like about Rochester, Minnesota?

Having grown up in a Caribbean island where it is summer all year long, what I like the most about Rochester is the fact that one gets to appreciate all the seasons, particularly spring and fall. Furthermore, the people in Rochester are the nicest, which creates a great environment for young trainees.

What are your plans for the future?

In the future I plan to pursue residency training in pathology and laboratory medicine.