Before the NEOMED Class of 2026 starts their journey, we wanted to learn more about students from this group. We invited them to share their stories. Here is one response.
Meet Emily Arellano from Wadsworth, Ohio, who received her Bachelor of Science in biology with a minor in chemistry from Seton Hall University.
Why did you choose NEOMED?
The college offers everything I was looking for in a medical school: close proximity to my family, an emphasis on team-based active learning, a dedication to supporting underrepresented students, and an affiliation with some great hospitals in Ohio!
What specific career do you hope to pursue? Or where do you see yourself in 10 years?
As a former soccer player and one who has torn both of her ACLs, I am interested in orthopedic surgery and want to work with a sports team in the future!
When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was about eight years old, I wanted to be a cardiothoracic surgeon. True story!
What is your favorite thing to eat and why?
My dad’s pozole. That is a Mexican soup. The flavor will always remind me of home and enjoying time with my family.
You are handed a plane ticket to anywhere in the world. Where are you going? Why?
I would definitely go to Italy. The views, the food and the wine. What’s not to love about the country?
What’s your hype song? Why?
“Gotta Have It” by Jay-Z and Kanye West. I listened to it before all my soccer games, and now I listen to it when I’m in the gym! Aside from that song, I also like anything by Nicki Minaj. She is an icon.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
I love art and love to paint, even though I don’t paint as often as I would like to.