“It's like being a detective, where you're constantly piecing together clues to find the diagnosis,” Christian Simon said of internal medicine
Credit: Nick Romanenko/Rutgers University
NEED TO KNOW
- Christian Simon graduated from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and will begin his internal medicine residency
- Simon is the fifth person in his family to graduate from the same college, following his parents and two older brothers
- “It’s like being a detective … constantly piecing together clues to find the diagnosis,” he said of internal medicine
A recent graduate has become the fifth in his immediate family to earn a medical degree from the same school.
Christian Simon graduated from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) in New Brunswick, N.J., continuing his family's tradition.
“I had some friends in medical school whose parents were doctors, but I think our family is unique with everyone graduating from the same medical school,” Simon, 25, said, per the university's website. “My parents and my older brother had such good things to say about their time at Robert Wood Johnson that they helped me make up my mind.”
Credit: Courtesy of Christian Simon
His father is a practicing internist and his mother is a retired pediatrician. Simon's two older brothers attended RWJMS, with one specializing in orthopedic surgery and the other in anesthesiology.
His younger sister is applying to medical school to become the sixth graduate, and another sister became a pharmacist after graduating from Rutgers’ Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy.
“My father, especially, was a great role model, whether he was making rounds at a nursing home or helping someone in need at church,'' Simon said. “He was always the doctor people turned to when they needed help.”
Simon and his siblings were raised in Colts Neck, N.J., and would often accompany their father to help check on elderly patients. He is also an Eagle Scout, as are 20 other members of his family.
“I had a lot of role models in my life that made me ask why I would want to do something besides become a doctor where you're able to make an impact on so many people around you,” Simon said. “I think that really had a great impression on me and my brothers.”
He first received his degree in health care management and policy from Georgetown University before attending medical school. During Simon's time at RWJMS, he was part of Alpha Omega Alpha, the school's national medical honor society.
Credit: Nick Romanenko/Rutgers University
“I love the challenge of internal medicine,” Simon said. “It's like being a detective, where you're constantly piecing together clues to find the diagnosis. And what really drew me in is the ability to build long-term relationships with patients and make a meaningful impact on their lives.”
While Simon acknowledged that his path is "not the easiest road" and "certainly not something you do for the money," he has felt incredibly rewarded by his experiences.
He added, “But it's one of the most meaningful careers you can have. You're making a difference in people's lives every day. That's something that never gets old.”
“Seeing him graduate is a reminder of the continuity of the medical profession—knowledge passed forward, values preserved, and compassion renewed with each generation," said David Seiden, adjunct professor of neuroscience and cell biology at RWJMS. The professor also taught other members of Simon's family.
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As for what's next for Simon following his graduation, he is starting his internal medicine residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and he will then pursue a cardiology fellowship.
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