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Portrait of Crina Floruta

Honor Society® member

Crina Floruta

Teaching Assistant at UNM HSC Department of Neurosciences

  • University Of New Mexico School Of Medicine
  • Neurosciences
  • Class of 2020
  • Albuquerque, New Mexico

Member since March 2016

About

I am currently an MD/PhD student at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I was born overseas in Germany, while my dad was stationed at an Air Force base. Both of my parents are from Romania. I moved to Italy at the age of 3 and lived there until I was 11. Our family next moved to Alamogordo, New Mexico, which was my first home in the United States and where I completed my adolescence. I completed a Health Science elective program in high school, which together with my Biology course peaked my interest in medicine. In August of 2009 I moved to Waco, TX to begin my undergraduate career at Baylor University. This was one of the best experiences of my life thus far, providing ample opportunities for me to grow and explore my interests. Some highlights include a medical mission trip to Kenya, a study abroad semester in the Netherlands, and working in a Neuroscience research lab for my Honors thesis. I completed a Bachelors of Business Administration, double majoring in Business Fellows and Biology. I minored in Chemistry and Great Texts. I next moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico for a dual degree beginning July of 2013. I have completed 2 years of medical school and 2 years of research, putting me halfway through my program. I hope to graduate in May of 2021 and pursue a neurosurgical residency.

Education

  • University of New Mexico School of Medicine

    MD/PhD

    2013 – 2020

  • Baylor University

    Business Fellows, Biology; minors: chemistry, great texts

    2009 – 2013

Honors and awards

  • Dean's List

    Baylor University Dean's List for GPA

Goals and interests

Career goal

Completing MD/PhD program. I intend to practice as a physician scientist, combining both bench work and clinical work in my area of practice. I aspire to be a neurosurgeon and work with a research team to discover applicable and patient-benefiting improvements in surgical interventions, particularly related to transplant therapy for brain tissue loss.

Graduate school interests

Stem cell therapy
Stroke
Neurodevelopment
Neurodevelopmental gene regulation

Outside the classroom

Reading: classics and modern history
Movies: Action and Romance
Outdoors: Hiking, running, cycling
Tae Kwon Do, Yoga

Experience

  • Teaching Assistant

    UNM HSC Department of Neurosciences

    Jan 2017 – May 2017

Volunteering

  • Medical student volunteer

    Albuquerque Opportunity Center

    Jan 2014 – May 2017

  • Sex-Education group chair

    UNM Sex-Ed

    Sep 2009 – Dec 2014

Languages

  • English (US) Advanced
  • Romanian Fluent

Additional information