Kristina Dortche is a physiology and neurobiology major with an interest in emergency medicine. She credits three opportunities with galvanizing her interest in the health professions; shadowing in pediatrics, which clarified patient centered medicine for her; shadowing in adult emergency medicine, which provided a realistic perspective of hours worked and challenges faced; and the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program, which revealed to her the steps she needed to take to achieve her goals and when she needed to take them. A resident of New Haven, CT who graduated from Wilbur Cross High School, Kristina loves Latin dancing and has been learning dances such as the bachata and salsa since freshman year. She’s also an avid fan of film photography.