|
|
|
|
Spotlight on...
Leocadia Mosquea
Taking care of others comes naturally to Leocadia Mosquea. The oldest of three sisters, Mosquea was forced to grow up prematurely. With parents who worked long hours to provide for their family, Mosquea took on more responsibility than the average teenager, helping to raise her younger siblings and main the household. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Mosquea virtually taught herself English at the age of 13 upon her family's arrival in New York City.
But life's challenges were nothing new to Mosquea, even as an infant. At three months old, doctors diagnosed her with sickle cell anemia, an inherited disease affecting the red blood cells. But instead of letting her disease hinder her outlook on life, she turned it into an innate hunger to find answers to health mysteries and help the children of her old neighborhood.
 Mosquea, a junior science major at Penn State Altoona, packs an incredible
amount of enthusiasm and ambition into her diminutive frame. Her career goal is
two-fold; she plans to attend medical school to become a pediatric oncologist and
obtain her Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology so that she may conduct
research to find cures for diseases.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Her love for the research side of medicine has been nurtured and strengthened at
Penn State Altoona. As a sophomore, Mosquea worked with Edward Levri,
assistant professor of biology, and his research on parasites in New England
snails. The highpoint for Mosquea was the opportunity to present, with one other
student, their research findings to the Academy of Science in Pittsburgh.
As a junior, Mosquea worked with Amy Parente, assistant professor of
biochemistry, on cancer research—an added thrill for Mosquea because this is the
field that she ultimately hopes to pursue. Parente has been involved with cancer
research for nearly ten years; Mosquea currently is assisting with Parente’s
research efforts to develop novel methodology for sequencing DNA. Mosquea is
excited to have the opportunity to work on research of this nature as an
undergraduate; Parente similarly is excited to work with Mosquea. Marvels
Parente, “Leo brings joy from a professional point of view because she is so eager
to learn about science.”
SUMMER IN THE CITY
Science truly is Mosquea’s passion and,
during the summer of 2004, she took a
major step toward her ultimate
career goal. With the help and
recommendation of Gary Weisel,
her academic advisor and
assistant professor of physics,
Mosquea landed a coveted
internship at the Montefiore
Hospital’s Children Center on the
campus of the Albert Einstein
College of Medicine of Yeshiva
University in New York City. Importantly,
this hospital is located in Mosquea’s old
neighborhood in the Bronx; she has vowed to go
back and work there someday.
“I was treated at Einstein when I was a kid,
for a broken arm and other minor injuries. I
remember looking at the doctors and seeing no one
who looked like me—no one who looked like they were
from my neighborhood and grew up to be a successful
doctor. I told myself that I would go back to Einstein and be
that role model for the kids in the neighborhood. I want to
show them that they can grow up in our city neighborhood
and go on to do great things.”
During the course of her internship, she worked under the supervision of Dr.
Nora Estevan, pediatrician and associate professor at Einstein. Estevan involved
Mosquea with many matters, including going on rounds with the residents,
assisting with her research on hearing loss and treatment for children living with
AIDS, and working with the Children’s Aid Society, a public health facility for
foster children.
As part of the internship, Mosquea was required to conduct a research
presentation. Presenting her findings on privacy issues in medical research,
Mosquea found herself before many of the same people who will be the decisionmakers
on her application to Einstein’s medical school, including the Dean of
Admissions. Making incredible contacts for her future, she assured the people of
Einstein that they had not seen the last of Leocadia Mosquea.
Mosquea has kept in contact with Dr. Estevan and already has secured another
summer internship at Einstein for 2005. This time she’ll be working for their
cancer research center. But she also plans to volunteer her time for the
Children’s Aid Society. Notes Mosquea, “Once you’ve spent time with these
kids, it’s impossible to imagine not going back and helping them even more.
The kids are incredible.”
Many of the professors with whom she has worked at Penn State Altoona find
Mosquea pretty incredible herself. “Leo is one of the most unique mixes of
motivation, intelligence, and affableness that I have ever seen in a student,”
remarks Weisel.
Mosquea is just thankful for the
experiences that she’s already had as a
sophomore at Penn State Altoona.
“How many students get the
opportunity to work at their dream
job before graduating from college,
or get to perform research as an
undergraduate in the same field
that you ultimately hope to work
in? I can’t believe that I’m one
of the lucky few doing so.”
|
|
|
|
