For Elizabeth Bixler, EnMed Class of 2025, a love of science and math in high school led to teachers and counselors advising her that she might want to become an engineer.
She did. In her studies at Brown University, she excelled in the biomedical engineering curriculum and sought out projects “that used what I had learned in class and then in the machine shop,” she said.
For all four years, she was actively in creative projects, including as a member of Brown’s Formula Society of Automotive Engineers ‘Car Team.’
“We built an internal combustion engine car each year to race against other schools from across the country and world,” she recalled.
After college, she landed a job in her major at medical device maker Medtronic in Minneapolis, Minn. She stayed for more than two years, but “the experience left me feeling like I was missing something vital the whole time.”
A stint as a volunteer in a local hospital led her to apply to medical school. “First, there was the stimulation of learning something new,” she explained of being around a medical environment.
“And second, it allowed me to develop human connections. I really love helping people however I can, and my work on the back end of things had lacked the kind of connection with people in a clinical situation.”
She has continued to build on that love of connection. During her recent pediatrics rotation, she found herself amazed at how much she enjoyed working with kids.
“I had never considered pediatrics before because I had never really interacted regularly with children. I had such a great time,” she continued. “I discovered that even sick children are still children and want to have fun and be kids, so it was really fun to bring that side of humanity to the practice of medicine.”
Coincidentally, she and classmate, Theresa Thurston, EnMed Class of 2025, are working on a Capstone Research Project – funded by the EnMed Brown, Smith, and Raymond Research Award – on a novel way to use biodegradable stents to treat pediatric congenital heart disease.
The project led by Dr. Elvin Blanco is at the Houston Methodist Research Institute with the goal of creating and using degradable stents ‘sized’ for pediatric patients. Surgeons currently intentionally break off adult-sized stents to use as temporary treatment for children with heart ailments. “This is truly exciting to be a part of,” Bixler said. “I have learned so much from this project.”
While she is still exploring other medical specialties, the experience with kids has left an indelible impression on Bixler. “After enjoying that rotation so much, I’m now highly considering pediatrics for my residency, she said.
She’s also quite excited to experience internal medicine in an upcoming rotation. But in whatever role she finds herself, she said her “long-term goal is to work at a clinic that serves primarily under- or uninsured patients.”
In her down time, Bixler is an avid participant in the up-and-coming sport of ultimate frisbee. “It’s a great community, and competing is super exciting and fun,” she said.
She is also an avid baker (making her own bread as a hobby) and enjoys cross-country skiing.