When I was 16 years old, I remember showing my mom the list of colleges I applied to. Noticing my broad list, she asked “Christina, do you want to be a doctor or an engineer? I answered, “Both.” Ten years later, I am a biomedical engineer transitioned into an orthopaedic surgery resident. Looking back at my path, what kept me focused? The Spine! My research in spine biomechanics was the spark of my interests which gave me my first personal connection of engineering to medicine. Spine research is fascinating to me because although we know the individual components of the spine, the mystery of “back pain” is yet to be solved. From studying the engineering micro level strains of the annulus fibrosis to the macro level techniques of fixing traumatic lumbar fractures, studying the spine gave me purpose. To me, the spine represents strength, balance and energy transfer. The way it moves, effects your day. The spine perfectly represents my passions in both engineering and medicine.
