Alumni Spotlight on Gillian Rubenstein

Gillian Rubenstein is an MS-RSM graduate, Class of 2023. She completed the thesis track under the mentorship of Dr. Kara Goldman. She is currently a 1^st year medical student at Loyola Strich School of Medicine.

Thesis mentor: Kara Goldman, MD

Thesis title: “MTOR Signaling in Endometriosis: A Cumulus Cell Case-Control Study Utilizing a Novel Kinome Array”

What is your connection to the CRS community and what is your current position? 

I am a recent graduate from the MS-RSM program. I completed the thesis track under Dr. Kara Goldman and am currently a 1^st year medical student at Loyola Stritch School of Medicine.   

Could you describe your current research/studies? 

I just began my medical training at Stritch and couldn’t be happier. I am very interested in continuing to study reproductive science and medicine, so I am pursuing specialty work in Obstetrics in Gynecology and I am hoping to get started with both research and clinical work here in the field.   

What aspect(s) of CRS did you find most valuable?  

The most valuable part of CRS for me was exposure to a broad range of specialty areas within reproductive science and medicine. Moreover, I was able to meet and learn from experts in each area, giving me an opportunity to see exactly what the field has to offer clinicians and scientists. I felt like I was given a really in-depth look at what a future career in reproductive medicine would entail which made me so much more confident in my pursuit of a medical degree.

What would you recommend to junior scientists in order for them succeed in their scientific careers?​  

Early on, I recommend junior scientists do self-reflection and exploration about which topics and activities make them feel fulfilled and follow your instincts to choose how you should prioritize your time. I have always found the most success when I’ve engaged in programs or research on topics that I feel personally inspired by. I think the best path forward through your career is one led by your own personal interests, rather than what the people around you are doing, which is easier said than done.

What do you think will be the next big contribution in the reproductive biology field?  

It’s difficult to pick one thing, but I think eventually advances in both Oncofertility and non-hormonal contraception are going to expand choice and reproductive autonomy for so many patients who have experienced the burden of having limited options to protect their reproductive health.

Do you have any notable stories from your time in CRS? 

Our graduation ceremony from the MS-RSM program was one of the most fulfilling moments of my academic career. My mentor, Dr. Goldman, an alumnus of the medical school I now attend, gave very personal and meaningful remarks about my research and evolution as a future physician and scientist, which felt to me like the culmination of so many years-worth of work studying reproductive science. I was so honored to have not only Dr. Goldman’s stamp of approval, but my degree from Northwestern and CRS to show how much time I had dedicated to joining this incredible field. I am so proud to carry my CRS alumni status and I hope to continue being part of this community the rest of my career in medicine and beyond.