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Gabrielle Vaccaro

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Finalist

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Baking
  • Hiking And Backpacking
  • Sewing
  • Anthropology
  • STEM
  • Medicine
  • Classics
  • Law
  • Board Games And Puzzles
  • Archaeology
  • Babysitting And Childcare
  • Bible Study
  • Community Service And Volunteering
  • Italian
  • Advocacy And Activism
  • Communications
  • Exploring Nature And Being Outside
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Public Health
  • Public Speaking

Reading

  • Academic
  • Health
  • Young Adult
  • Historical

I read books multiple times a month.

Bio

Hi, I'm Gabi! My passions include furthering public health education, connecting the gap between patients and healthcare professionals, and disability advocacy and inclusion. I'm driven to address inequalities within healthcare. One prime example of such is my co-authoring of NJ Assembly bill A4484, which seeks to strengthen CPR education laws. I am greatly interested in advocating for children within the hospital system, whether it be working as an aquarium therapist within the hospital or volunteering as an assistant in an OT gym. I've also explored my love for skeletal anatomy by volunteering in the skeletal processing unit at my local museum. I have experience working with kids and adults with developmental disabilities and am looking forward to continuing my advocacy for these populations in the future. In my free time, I love hanging out with my pets (2 dogs and a lizard), sewing, baking, and watching Netflix (mostly sci-fi!). Through bold.org, I hope to gain scholarships that will enable me to continue on my path within healthcare and advocacy. I am currently an Occupational Therapy Doctoral student, and any scholarships would go towards my education.

Education

Boston University

Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

2025 – 2028

Majors:
  • Special Education and Teaching
  • Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other

Case Western Reserve University

Bachelor's degree program

2021 – 2025

Majors:
  • Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
  • Health/Medical Preparatory Programs
  • Medicine
  • Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
  • Anthropology
Minors:
  • Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other

Saint John Vianney High Sch

High School

2017 – 2021

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Graduate schools of interest:
Boston University
Majors of interest:
Anthropology, Communication Disorders Sciences and Services, Special Education and Teaching
Medical school interest:
No
English as first language:
Yes
Homeschooled:
Yes

Career

  • Graduate Asssistant

    Higher Education · Boston University

    Jan 2025 – Present

  • Theraputic Recreation Counselor

    Mental Health Care · Monmouth County Parks System

    Jan 2024 – Jan 2024

  • Independent Babysitter

    Childcare · Care.com

    Jan 2021 – Present

  • Childcare Assistant

    Education · The Goddard School

    Jan 2021 – Jan 2021

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Occupational Therapy
Dream career goals:
Occupational Therapist/ disability advocate
Has nursing license:
No
Leadership experience:
Yes

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
Prime Mailboxes Women in STEM Scholarship
Medicine is the most diverse and intriguing profession one could pursue. It requires the tactile proficiency of a musician, the communication skills of a poet, and the thirst for knowledge of a scholar. I became invested in the medical field in 8th grade after attending a CPR class, and now I cannot picture myself being anything other than a doctor. The most captivating aspect of being a physician is diagnostic skills and the ability to promote healthier lives. I love puzzles. During my last school break, my mother and I completed a 1000 piece periodic table of elements puzzle. We sat in silence for hours, sorting and organizing, and putting pieces together. In the medical field, you learn signs and symptoms. You find out what is normal, and isolate what is not. From that, you can gain a complete picture. In my own life, I have struggled with misdiagnosis, and I know the frustration when you cannot find the solution to your pain. I want to be a doctor that listens closely and carefully, who takes her time, and puts all the symptoms together piece by piece. My passion has always been to invest in the public health of a community. In middle school, I convinced my parents to fund my first venture into community public health. I titled the project, “Help Her Needs'' and created feminine hygiene care packages with personalized notes, which were eventually shipped to aid Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. My passion for public health has continued through high school. Through my work as the current President of the Non-profit The Health Advocacy and Medical Exploration Society (HAMES), I co-wrote NJ Assembly Bill A4484, which requires students to get CPR training to obtain their driving learner’s permits. Through this legislation, I hope to empower a generation of students to take the health of their friends and families into their hands. Through our Advanced Clinical Triage Squad (called ACTS), I have had the opportunity to learn about medicine hands-on. Through ACTS, I provided free medical support services to local nonprofit events, such as Light the Night for the American Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. With the ACTS squad, I have earned my Emergency Medical Responder (EMR certification), Basic Life Support (BLS), and CPR instructor certification. Studying in the STEM field will enable me to become the physician I desire to be.
Charles R. Ullman & Associates Educational Support Scholarship
Community involvement fosters mutual understanding and respect for all individuals within it. When we help each other, our capacity for empathy and compassion grows. My passion has always been to invest in the public health of a community. In middle school, I convinced my parents to fund my first venture into community public health. I titled the project “Help Her Needs'' and created feminine hygiene care packages with personalized notes, which were eventually shipped to aid Hurricane Maria victims in Puerto Rico. My passion for public health has continued through high school. Through my work as the current President of the Non-profit The Health Advocacy and Medical Exploration Society (HAMES), and collaborating with NJ Assemblypeople Joan Downey and Eric Houghtaling, I co-wrote NJ Assembly Bill A4484, which requires students to get CPR training to obtain their driving learner’s permits. Through this legislation, I hope to empower a generation of students to take their friend's and families' health into their hands. I plan to continue to help my community through my future career as a doctor, working with patients to meet their individual needs. I believe that the only way to truly defer disease is by enacting a community approach, and my experience in public health now will fuel my latter journey.
Gabrielle Vaccaro Student Profile | Bold.org