Gregory A. DeCanio Memorial Scholarship

My name is Leah Sharifian, and my path into emergency services and medicine has always been fueled by a lifelong desire to serve others. That commitment began in high school as Vice President of CTeen, a Jewish youth organization dedicated to community engagement, where I led outreach, planned events, and organized service projects, baking cookies for local police officers, writing cards to the elderly, and fundraising for those in need. In college, I sought new ways to serve, first by helping maintain a local church, then by joining my community food pantry, and later becoming a Sunday school teacher at the church where the pantry is based. As a Messianic Jew, my faith has guided my involvement in both Jewish and Christian communities, shaping my belief that service is not an obligation but a calling, one that continues to drive my work in healthcare. Academically, I was always drawn to science, structure, and understanding how things work, especially when it came to the human body. That curiosity led me to pursue biology, and I recently graduated summa cum laude from Stony Brook University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. I graduated with a 3.96 GPA and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. During my time at Stony Brook, I served as Head Teaching Assistant for organic chemistry and assisted in teaching a course on the sociology of human reproduction. Teaching quickly became one of my favorite parts of college; it allowed me to share what I knew, build others’ confidence, and connect with students on a deeper level. That experience reinforced what I have always known: I am meant to practice medicine, a field that seamlessly blends scientific understanding with human connection and teaching. Naturally, this same drive to combine knowledge with service drew me to emergency medicine, leading me to pursue my EMT certification the summer before my junior year. While balancing a demanding course load and multiple responsibilities initially delayed my ability to volunteer, my commitment to emergency medicine never wavered. During the spring semester of my junior year, I joined the UCEP program, which pairs undergraduates with medical students for mentorship and early clinical exposure. Through UCEP, I shadowed medical students, sat in on lectures, and volunteered at a clinic serving uninsured patients, an experience that deepened my understanding of healthcare delivery and solidified my vision for the future. One of the medical students I met through UCEP introduced me to Exchange Ambulance of the Islips, where I completed my six-month probationary period and recently became a full member. I am now working toward becoming a cleared EMT and eventually a driver. Even though I am still early in my journey with Exchange, every call has reaffirmed why I am meant to practice medicine. One moment that stayed with me involved an elderly patient with dementia who was disoriented and frightened. While there was no urgent medical issue, what she needed most was reassurance. I stayed with her, gently walking her through familiar memories until she began to calm down. In that moment, I wasn’t providing advanced care; I was offering presence, patience, and comfort. It was a powerful reminder that medicine is not just about diagnosis and treatment; it is about trust, connection, and consistency. Now, I am preparing for the next step. I have begun studying for the MCAT, am seeking additional shadowing opportunities, and hope to transition into a medical assistant role as I continue gaining experience as an EMT. Each step is part of a larger goal: becoming the kind of physician who leads with both knowledge and heart. Gregory DeCanio’s legacy reflects everything I hope to embody: compassion, excellence, and an unwavering commitment to community. His life shows that making a difference often comes not from grand gestures, but from showing up, time and time again, for the people who need you most. Whether I am responding to a 911 call, distributing groceries, or one day treating patients as a physician, I intend to carry forward that same spirit of service.

My Passion for Emergency Services and Community Involvement Nine years ago, I joined South Country Ambulance with a simple goal: to get patient care time to prepare me for nursing school. What I didn’t expect was how deeply I would fall in love with the work—especially the sense of purpose that comes from serving others in their most vulnerable moments. Over time, my passion grew beyond just emergency care. I quickly gained rank and became a lieutenant, the first and only female lieutenant in our department. I became increasingly aware of the emotional and psychological toll this job takes not only on our patients but on my fellow EMTs and first responders as well. I saw colleagues struggle after traumatic calls, often in silence, and it made me realize that mental health care is just as critical as physical first aid. Educational and Career Goals This realization led me to pursue a path that blends both emergency medicine and mental health. I’m currently furthering my education to become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). My goal is to take this specialized skill set back to the field—not only to become a more compassionate and effective EMT, but to be a trusted mental health resource for my South Country and EMS family. I want to bridge the gap between emergency response and emotional care, especially for those who are always expected to be strong. Mental health is often hidden away and ignored. I want to use my education to open doors and break barriers, use early recognition to help those in need. Positive Impact on the Community First responders often put others before themselves and rarely seek the help they need. With my training as a PMHNP, I aim to change that within my own ambulance company by offering free, confidential counseling to my coworkers. By doing so, I hope to foster a culture where mental health is openly discussed and prioritized. My ultimate goal is to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in emergency services and create a support system that uplifts those who serve our communities every day. This journey started as a way to fund my education, but it has become a calling to serve on a deeper, more meaningful level—for my patients, my coworkers, and my community. Everyone you meet is fighting their own battle, whether it’s in their time of crisis and they called 911 or it’s the person responding to that 911 call putting aside all of their own needs to help someone in their community. I have the utmost respect for first responders, they put everything and everyone before themselves. I want to use my education to guide them to be able to navigate the most challenging moments. Receiving this scholarship would not only ease the financial burden of my education, but directly support my mission to give back in a way that is often overlooked. I am committed, driven, and ready to make a lasting difference in the lives of first responders and those we care for.