At F&M, Julia Dorf ’24 found her niche by broadening her perspective. 

“While my first-year self envisioned a career as a doctor, throughout my time at F&M, I learned there are so many positions within health care that all work together to advance medicine and impact patients’ lives,” she said. “I realized I was drawn to a career in researching and developing new therapies to improve patient outcomes.”

Fueling this new ambition, Dorf immersed herself in hands-on research at F&M and ​​formed a strong foundation of the skills she needed for her post-graduate role as a research coordinator at New York University (NYU) Langone Health in the Department of Neurology.

“The opportunity to conduct research with professors at F&M was crucial in landing an entry-level position at NYU Langone Health,” she said. “The public health and biology curriculum at F&M improved my ability to read scientific literature, create research posters, and present scientific results, which are all critical skills for clinical research.”

Dorf is a member of F&M’s Class of 2024. Within six months after graduation, 92% of the Class of 2024 were either employed or furthering their education. This is higher than the national average, which is typically in the mid-80% range.

Julia Dorf ’24

Major: Public Health (Biology)

Current Role: Research Coordinator at NYU Langone Health, Department of Neurology, Headache Division 

What did the first six months after graduating from F&M look like?

Shortly after graduation, I moved to New York City with two friends from F&M and began working as a research coordinator at NYU Langone Health in the Department of Neurology. In this role, I coordinate clinical trials in the Headache Division that focus on assessing the efficacy of behavioral therapies for patients with migraines. 

Since joining the team last year, I have contributed to multiple ongoing studies that are each at a different stage of development. I have had the opportunity to work on National Institutes of Health grant applications, design protocols for new studies, and conduct study procedures for approved clinical trials. New York City has been an ideal place to launch my career and to cross paths with several F&M alumni!

How did your F&M experience prepare you for where you are now?

The opportunity to conduct research with professors at F&M was crucial in landing an entry-level position at NYU Langone Health. I worked on F&M’s Lead Research Team for two years, where I administered cognitive assessments with children to identify the developmental impacts of lead exposure in old homes in Lancaster (the city where F&M is located). In this role, I enhanced my understanding of the fundamentals of clinical research, including recruitment strategies, the consent process, literature reviews and data analysis. 

From an academic lens, the public health and biology curriculum at F&M improved my ability to read scientific literature, create research posters, and present scientific results, which are all critical skills for clinical research. One class that stands out to me is the public health practice seminar, as we learned skills (qualitative interviewing and survey development as two examples) that are directly applicable to careers in public health.

How does your current path compare to what you envisioned in your first year at F&M?

When I came to F&M, I initially pursued the pre-med track. Through F&M’s generous pre-health funding, I was grateful to have the opportunity to take an emergency medical technician (EMT) class after my first year at F&M and join F&M emergency medical services. After hearing patients share their medical history, I realized I was drawn to a career in researching and developing new therapies to improve patient outcomes. While my first-year self envisioned a career as a doctor, throughout my time at F&M I learned there are so many positions within health care that all work together to advance medicine and impact patients’ lives. 

Looking back on your college search, why did you choose F&M?

F&M’s small size drew me in. It provided opportunities for individualized learning beyond the classroom through conducting hands-on research with professors and building mentoring relationships. Even with its small size, F&M offers a wide range of campus organizations, which appealed to me as a way to discover new interests or gain leadership positions. Also, I loved the charm of Lancaster and appreciated how connected F&M was with the Lancaster community. 

“The opportunity to conduct research with professors at F&M was crucial in landing an entry-level position at NYU Langone Health. F&M improved my ability to read scientific literature, create research posters, and present scientific results, which are all critical skills for clinical research.”

— Julia Dorf ’24