Features
Autumn 2024 Featured Pre-Health Husky Vivian Lam
Being able to navigate difficult courses [with peers] has enriched my premedical journey, making college less isolating. I attribute my academic success to the camaraderie that we shared during our long and productive study sessions.
Vivian Lam is working toward her UW Bothell degree in Biology; she is planning to graduate in Spring 2025, so you can find Vivian on campus! She was recently featured as one of the University of Washington’s Husky 100 award recipients. You can connect with Vivian on LinkedIn.
Tell us more about what you’re doing currently.
This summer, I have been involved in research and volunteering. I am currently preparing a journal publication based on the research I conducted with Dr. Bryan White from the School of STEM and Dr. Linda Eaton from the School of Nursing and Health Studies. Our project, the Short Mindfulness Activity to Reduce Test Anxiety (SMARTS), explored how a mindfulness intervention we created affects heart rate and variability, an indicator of test stress in college students. Our findings revealed that the mindfulness intervention reduced test anxiety. This experience has reinforced my desire to work as a healthcare provider who aims to positively impact others, especially in a team setting.
I also worked as an Assistant Health Aide at AAUW Tech Trek, a STEM enrichment camp for 8th grade girls. Having previously worked as a camp counselor, this role allowed me to connect with campers on a deeper level by addressing their health concerns. I also collaborated with staff to train them in handling medical emergencies, further promoting a safe and healthy environment at the camp.
Beyond these roles, I have been actively involved in leadership positions with the Vietnamese Student Association at UW Bothell (VSAUWB) and the external chapter, NWVSA. This summer, I served on the Family Programming Committee for the NW Leadership Summer Camp that took place in August. My role was to train group leaders and coordinate bonding activities. Through this experience, I learned how to foster an inclusive space within a larger community, a skill that I believe is essential for effective leadership.
What resources did you find most helpful when it came to career or graduate/professional school exploring, preparing, and applying?
Throughout my journey toward medical school, I have consistently relied on the guidance of my departmental and pre-health advisors. Their knowledge and encouragement have been invaluable as I navigate the complex process of preparing for a graduate education. Every meeting with them has provided me with new insights to pursue my goals through new experiences.
Another crucial resource has been the community I found within the classroom. Ever since I stepped foot into the first part of the General Chemistry series, I connected with peers who shared similar career aspirations, and together, we formed a study group. Being able to navigate difficult courses together has enriched my premedical journey, making college less isolating. I attribute my academic success to the camaraderie that we shared during our long and productive study sessions.
What was your favorite thing about being a UW Bothell Husky?
My favorite aspect of UW Bothell has been the personalized academic experience offered by the small class sizes and the accessibility of academic support. When I attended office hours for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised by the individual support I received from professors and teaching assistants. As I became more involved in academia, I’ve had opportunities to present my projects at various research conferences and lead workshops.
As a lifelong learner, engaging in research at UWB has broadened my understanding of how I can positively impact the world through innovation. Being a UWB Husky has allowed me to connect with amazing mentors who are dedicated to my growth and success. To pay it forward, I have embraced opportunities to assist and mentor other students who are navigating similar paths, contributing to the collaborative community that makes UW Bothell one-of-a-kind.
If you could go back to your first day at UWB, what advice would you give yourself?
If I could go back to my first day at UWB, I would advise myself to embrace self-awareness and develop a strong sense of metacognition—understanding what I don’t know and where I need to grow. Navigating college comes with uncertainty, but learning how to acknowledge my weaknesses — whether in academics, clinical experience, or leadership opportunities — has been crucial to my development as an individual and pre-health student. This growth mindset has shaped me into a resilient problem-solver, capable of overcoming challenges and achieving my goals.
Thank you, Vivian!
Your rich experiences are inspirational for all throughout our community, and especially for those joining the UW Bothell Husky Family this year. May they learn from your example and seek you out during your final year here!
Past Featured Alumni
- February 2022 – Casey Cummins – Spring 2020 BA in Health Studies with minors in Biology and Chemistry
- March 2022 – Sebastien Khoutxaysana – Spring 2020 BA in Health Studies with a minor in Health Education & Promotion
- April 2022 – Van Nguyen – Spring 2020 BS in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Neuroscience
- May 2022 – Yasmin Guzman – Spring 2020 BA in Health Studies with a minor in Health Education & Promotion
- June 2022 – John Masembe – Spring 2020 BA in Health Studies
- July 2022 – Raday Gonzalez – Spring 2020 BA in Health Studies
- August 2022 – Andrew Marimon-Cabamalan – Spring 2009 BA in Business Administration with concentrations in marketing and management
- September 2022 – LaShanta Sealy Mahanti – Winter 2020 BA in Health Studies with a minor in Health Education & Promotion
- October 2022 – Atif Bhatti – Autumn 2018 BS in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Neuroscience
- November 2022 – Monserrat Morales Miranda – Spring 2020 BA in Health Studies with minors in Global Health and Health Education & Promotion
- December 2022 – Kiana Imani – Spring 2020 BS in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Neuroscience
- Winter 2023 – Keita Shimizu – Spring 2021 BA in Health Studies with minors in Global Health & Policy Studies
- Spring 2023 – Lilia Matevosyan – Winter 2023 BA in Health Studies with a minor in Neuroscience
- Summer 2023 – Andrew Collins – Spring 2018 BS in Biochemistry
- Autumn 2023 – Toluwani Oluwa-Tofehinti – Spring 2020 BS in Biology
- Winter 2024 – Ngoc-Vy Mai – Winter 2022 BA in Health Studies and Science, Technology, & Society with minors in Global Health and Health Education & Promotion
- Spring 2024 – Ali Mirzazadeh – Spring 2023 BS in Biology and MS in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University.
- Summer 2024 – Emerald Chuesh – UW Husky 100 Awardee for 2024