Neurobiology major serves Wooster communities suffering from medical marginalization 

Ruhee Mehta ’26, a neurobiology major pursuing a public health pathway at The College of Wooster, interned with the Viola-Startzman Medical Clinic the summer before her senior year.
Through an APEX Fellowship, Mehta was able to work in patient-facing roles in a medical setting, allowing her to reaffirm her interest in becoming a doctor and find a passion in working with marginalized people. Having refined her skills in organization, self-advocacy, and communicating with people of different backgrounds, she hopes to incorporate these skills in her future role as a physician.  

“I realized I really liked working with people, especially in the medical setting. It energized me even more than the public health work I did that was more grant related.”
– Ruhee Mehta ‘26
 

FINDING OPPORTUNITIES 

Mehta: I learned about the organization through the community partner fair. I then contacted them and worked as a volunteer before deciding to intern with them. As I am pre-med and on the public health pathway, my work with Viola Startzman Clinic gave me a lot of medical exposure, as well as an understanding of public health and how to facilitate access to medical care for unhoused people. 

LESSONS LEARNED 

Mehta: I learned a lot about communicating with people of different backgrounds, advocating for myself, and creating my own structure. 

GUIDANCE FOR GROWTH 

Mehta: My mentor was Jamie Adler, health professions advisor. She gave me a lot of support and helped point out different courses of actions I could take when I was frustrated. She was invaluable in helping me reflect on my experience, which came in useful when I was writing medical school applications. 

EXPANDED PERSPECTIVE 

Mehta: I realized I’d like to incorporate an element of charitable work in my life as a physician, and that medical school was for me. I also found a passion for working with unhoused people and reaffirmed my commitment to becoming a doctor, having applied once my internship ended. 

Posted in Experiential Learning on August 6, 2025.