Admissions
Experience SA
Panther Spotlights
Maria Silvaggio
Pre-Med
Grade: 12
Started with SA in: Pre-K (except for grades 4 and 5)
Future plans: “I’m pursuing pre-med in college at Duke University and definitely plan to do something in the medical sphere. I really enjoy both patient care and research.”
Role model: “My mom and dad. They’re both in medicine and their passion has impressed me. They are also hardworking, empathetic, and encouraging – everything I aspire to be.”
Favorite thing about SA: “Oooh this is hard. I would have to say that it’s the relationships between students and teachers. I have always been supported academically and encouraged to do more. I will always be appreciative of that.”
Spotlight: Maria applied and was chosen to participate in the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Academy, a mentored research program for highly motivated high school students, last summer. Maria was paired with Kurt Weiss, MD, at UPMC Shadyside, one of the few physician-scientists working on a cure for sarcoma (he is working alongside the doctor whose clinical trial saved his life as a teenager). Maria assisted Dr. Weiss during the 8-week program in determining whether a particular dye could be effective in identifying all parts of a tumor, thereby allowing it to be more effectively removed in a single surgery. Throughout the summer, Maria was able to shadow surgeries, meet with patients, work with various doctors and biostatisticians, write an abstract, and be co-published on a paper. What really struck her was “the idea of mentorship in medicine and how willing everyone is to teach and share with you what they love. It is so special.” Maria will return to the lab at UPMC Shadyside for her senior project for SA, and then will continue her work there this summer. Maria says she is drawn to medicine for a variety of reasons: “I have always liked interacting with people and having opportunities to serve and volunteer. Medicine is a great intersection of those interests and STEM. Plus I’m inspired by my family – my parents as well as several relatives all work in the medical field.”
