Isabella Caputi commemorated her acceptance into the medical field during her white coat ceremony at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine (RVSOM). Despite being advised by academic and field professionals to give up due to her grades not aligning with those of most medical professionals, she persevered through her journey.
Caputi's interest in the medical field began during her visits to her sick grandmother as a young girl. She observed the attentive and meticulous care provided by nurses and doctors for her loved one. Isabella asked, "What does this tube do?" and "Why do you have to use this?" The nurses were amazed by her curiosity. She aspired to become a healthcare professional like them and assist families with sick loved ones.
During high school, her class had the opportunity to visit the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), where she was mesmerized by the medical students' work and experiences. In her first year at Rutgers University, she was advised to consider a different path due to insufficient grades in this competitive field.
“It really ignited my competitive side to come out. I knew what I wanted to do with my life and was determined to succeed and prove them wrong,” Caputi said.
In addition to attending Rutgers, Caputi took classes at Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC), where she made lasting connections, something that was lacking at her four-year college experience.
Although she had heard of the college, she never really interacted with anyone from there. However, she found that RCBC offered affordable college education and was a perfect fit for her busy schedule. Once she started attending the school, she was amazed by the strong sense of school pride among the students. She was impressed by how much the faculty had impacted her life and helped shape her identity.
“At Rutgers, the premed classes have over 200 people in them, but at RCBC, there were 30 students at the most. It just created a sense of community, and I was more than a number in the crowd," Caputi said.
Caputi eagerly anticipates being matched with a residency program that aligns with her long-term goals and aspirations, allowing her to gain valuable hands-on experience. Additionally, she offered some practical advice for students pursuing a career in the medical field, "Surround yourself with people who not only want to get ahead but people who push you towards your own goals even when you doubt yourself."
