Honoring Her Family in Her Medical Journey

For Kristen John, becoming a physician is more than a personal milestone — it's the fulfillment of a journey shaped by family, hard work, and a deep commitment to compassionate care. From New Hyde Park, NY, Kristen will graduate from the Zucker School of Medicine Class of 2025 as the first physician in her family. Her mother, a postpartum nurse at Northwell, was her earliest inspiration. “This journey reflects not just my efforts, but the sacrifice and support of my parents who made it possible,” Kristen said.

Kristen’s path to medicine began when she was a high school senior. She was accepted into Hofstra University’s 4+4 program, which granted her direct admission to medical school. “It gave me the freedom to explore academically and personally while preparing for medical training,” Kristen explained. During undergrad, she conducted cancer research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and later worked at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, experiences that sparked her interest in oncology.

At Zucker, Kristen gravitated toward internal medicine, a specialty she will now pursue at Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital. “I love how internal medicine allows for meaningful patient relationships and collaboration across specialties,” Kristen said. She plans to pursue a fellowship in hematology/oncology.

Research has been a cornerstone of her medical school experience. At Johns Hopkins, she used computer vision AI for low-cost gait analysis in stroke patients, presenting her findings at national conferences. At Northwell, she helped develop a natural language processing tool to identify pancreatic cancer earlier in patients, improving quality care and clinical trial enrollment.

Equally passionate about the human side of medicine, Kristen explored storytelling through programs like Healer’s Art, Tell Me More, and Narrateur, the med school’s literary journal, where she served as nonfiction editor. “Storytelling connects us with patients in a deeper way,” she reflected.

Kristen credits mentors like Dr. Daniel King, with whom she collaborated on multiple projects in GI oncology, for shaping her clinical and academic development. “His guidance has been truly invaluable.”

Looking back, Match Day stands out as one of her greatest highlights at Hofstra — a joyful celebration of eight years surrounded by loved ones. “I’ll miss the community here deeply,” Kristen said. “It’s been an incredible place to grow.”

As she steps into the next chapter, Kristen brings with her a rare blend of scientific curiosity, humanism, and a powerful sense of purpose — ready to make her mark in the world of medicine.

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