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.