Thomas Freitag graduated from Pitt in 2020 with a degree in neuroscience and psychology. They received the 2020 Kanders Churchill Scholarship in Science Policy, which supported their pursuit of a Masters in Public Policy at the University of Cambridge.
I (they/them/theirs) graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2020, majoring in neuroscience and psychology and minoring in chemistry. I received the 2020 Kanders Churchill Scholarship in Science Policy, which supported my pursuit of a Master’s in Public Policy at the University of Cambridge. The Kanders Churchill Scholarship allowed me to build on my experiences as an undergraduate at Pitt, including my time working on LGBTQIA+ policy needs with the support of the David C. Frederick Public Service Internship Award as well as my initial introduction to Cambridge through Pitt’s Jesus College Fellowship. At Cambridge, my graduate research project analyzed potential approaches to integrating diverse stakeholders when creating regulatory guidelines to prevent discriminatory misapplications of CRISPR technology.
The Office of National Scholarships helped me initially identify the Kanders Churchill Scholarship as a perfect fit for my unique interdisciplinary interests at the intersections of science, public policy, and LGBTQIA+ health. The office supported me as I prepared the materials necessary to submit a robust application, highlighting my desire to use my skills in public policy and science to serve populations in need. In addition, I was connected with the vast network of Pitt alumni who have received national scholarships, gaining valuable insights that ensured my success at Cambridge and providing opportunities to connect with subsequent scholarship winners and impart my own knowledge to future students.
After completing their graduate studies at the University of Cambridge, I matriculated at Harvard Medical School to pursue my MD. At Harvard, I merged the skills I developed at Pitt and Cambridge with my burgeoning clinical knowledge, working at the Fenway Institute to develop health policy publications focused on the needs of LGBTQIA+ communities. I am currently applying for residency programs in psychiatry and hopes to go on to work with LGBTQIA+ adolescents and young adults during my clinical career.