She was a first-year PA student at Stanford Medicine when an MRI scan revealed that Melanie Shojinaga had a brain tumor.

For Christopher Lopez, currently a third-year medical student, the Stanford Medicine campus is more than just where he's pursuing his MD-PhD degree -- it sits on the ancestral land of the Ohlone people.

Carlie Arbaugh is dedicated to both surgery and cooking because they demand meticulous attention to detail and the ability to think on your feet.

Medicine has been the way of connecting both of Brian Smith's passions. "With medicine I could have the intellectual curiosity, but also the chance to talk with people and enjoy the human experience."

Inspired by her brother Saaz's experiences, often tagging along on his doctor's appointments, Binisha Patel was drawn to medicine.

Quenton Rashawn Bubb continues to value the complex, complementary nature of work on parallel paths -- not just as a musician/academic, but now on the path to his career.

Preksha Bhagchandani, a Stanford Medicine MD-PhD student, was inspired to become a diabetes researcher and doctor by her own diagnosis.

Postdoctoral scholar Ben Rein is equally passionate about his neuroscience research and educating the public about science via social media.

In the We Are Stanford Med series, students and postdocs share their motivations and passions behind their careers.

Anthony Pho, a Stanford Medicine postdoctoral scholar and nurse is a passionate advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.

Stanford Medicine student Grace Li shares her passions inside and outside of medicine -- including a new book she's written.

Melanie Ambler, a student at the Stanford School of Medicine and "physician artist," playing the cello and learning to care for patients.

An accomplished musician with a passion for programming, Stanford medical student Sheun Aluko hopes to combine his interests as a doctor of the future.

Paloma Marin-Nevarez once thought becoming a doctor was an unattainable goal. Now a Stanford medical student, she'll soon be an emergency medicine resident.

Kaylene Carter became a Stanford medical student after 7 years in the U.S. Navy. On Match Day, she'll find out where she'll do her internship.

Stanford MD/PhD student Andrea Garofalo decided to pursue a medical career when he was 12, after a neurosurgeon successfully removed his brother's tumor.

Inspired by his parents' experience as immigrants and his own volunteering at a homeless clinic, Stanford medical student Jimmy Zheng aspires to care for the marginalized.