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Benjamin D Schanker
“Despite coming from a difficult financial background, I have been given so much, and have been deeply blessed in life. With gratitude for my blessings, curiosity about the amazing intricacies of the world, commitment to improving society, ambition to make a positive impact, dedication to my pursuits, and compassion for humanity, I have been given amazing opportunities and arrived where I am today.”
- Program: 2009 Graduate Scholarship Recipient
- Resides: Boston, MA
- Hometown: Rockville, Maryland
- Age: 23
- Four-year College or University: Boston University
- Graduate School: Harvard University
Biography
PROFILE: Ben Schanker wants to be a doctor. If he succeeds and reaches his goal, he’ll take with him in his heart a personal, painful experience that he calls a “watershed” moment that enlightened his perspectives. While Ben was attending college in Boston, his mother suffered a series of strokes, which left her completely paralyzed. Unable to move or speak, she died a few weeks later. “The experience was the most deeply painful, yet precious, time of my life. I learned, firsthand, the intense fear and helplessness of a patient, and a patient's family. I learned that medicine and health care are far from perfect, and I recognized the many areas of health care that need improvement.” Ben said the emotional episode solidified his determination to devote his life to improving medicine and health care, “and to become an amazing doctor with compassion and concern beyond reason or contract. The experience will surely remain an inspiration to master the art of medicine.” After his mother’s death, Ben returned to New England on a mission, focusing harder than ever on preparing himself for medical school. He immersed himself in volunteer work and spent time in Costa Rica at a children’s clinic that provided free primary care for the residents in the small village he was assigned. He knows that working with the underserved will remain a significant part of his life’s work.
ASPIRATION: He not only wants to become a physician, one of Ben’s primary goals is to be at the center of debate and policy formation on issues involving new biotechnologies and medical interventions.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Active throughout his college career as a “Big Brother” in Boston, Ben felt immense pride when his “Little Brother”, Hung Yeol Kim, walked across stage to receive his high school diploma. “I first met Hung Yeol in his sophmore year of high school. At the time, he was failing all his classes and many of his teachers had given up on him. After three years as his tutor and Big Brother, I could not help standing and cheering his name at his graduation. In his senior year, Hung Yeol even made honor roll. After years of hard work, investment, and never giving up, Hung Yeol had done what few thought he would. He is currently in college, loving life, and accomplishing all his new goals. I could not be more proud of him.”
ACCOLADES: Ben was the valedictorian of Boston Unviersity’s College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. He also received the University of Pennsylvania's Publication Award for Outstanding Contribution to Bioethics and won the Boston University Scarlet Key Award for Outstanding Service and Contribution to the University.
INTERESTING FACT: Ben has traveled to over 30 countries, living for a year in both Korea and Europe.
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