When Josh Dombrowski started his college search, he knew about Wilkes University’s small class sizes and personal connections between faculty and students. He liked the fact that Wilkes was only about an hour drive from his hometown of Shamokin, Pennsylvania. Then a visit to campus sealed the deal. “I fell in love with it instantly,” says Dombrowski.
With a goal of medical school in mind, Dombrowski majored in biochemistry. He played in pep band, served as a Chemistry Club officer, was a member of the biology honor society Tri Beta and worked part-time at the campus Starbucks. But as he started graduation paperwork for his biochemistry degree, Dombrowski realized he wasn’t quite done with his time at Wilkes. He discovered medical laboratory science and surprised his advisor when he decided to stick around.
“It’s unusual to finish an entire degree and follow a new passion once you get to the end. That takes a lot of courage,” says Josh Blechle, associate professor of chemistry and Dombrowski’s academic advisor. “We had to shift gears, which was unexpected. It’s kind of a brave thing to do, because you’re at the finish line and then you decide to push the finish line even further away and follow a passion that you didn’t know you had originally.”
With a love for time in the lab and a desire to become a doctor someday, Dombrowski was certain about this new academic direction. “I wanted to go to medical school, but I didn’t see myself going immediately after graduating from Wilkes,” says Dombrowski. “So I wanted to marry my biochemistry degree with health care, and medical laboratory science is that sweet spot. I get the best of both worlds. I get the health care setting, and I get to work in a lab.”
Now the setting is about to change for Dombrowski. He’ll start the final year of the 3+1 medical laboratory science program as the first Wilkes student accepted to do his clinical work at the prestigious Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Linda Gutierrez, professor of biology, sets up campus visits to give Wilkes students an opportunity to connect with alumni and directors from different medical laboratory science programs. Dombrowski had the chance to meet the director of the program at CHOP, inspiring his dream to continue his education at the Philadelphia hospital.
“Joshua is extremely meticulous in everything he does, and his command of chemistry and biochemistry made him a very strong candidate,” says Gutierrez. “I believe Joshua’s impressive training at Wilkes and genuine passion for science were decisive for his acceptance.”
Dombrowski credits Gutierrez with guiding him through his second major and the next step in his academic journey. “She knows how to determine each person’s success,” says Dombrowski. “She knows how to get that person from where they are to where they need to be to succeed. And that’s different for everyone. Not everyone’s success is the same.”
For Gutierrez, this individualized approach to mentoring is all part of her job — and a vital part of the campus culture. “Approaching and helping students according to their needs is important at Wilkes,” says Gutierrez. “It’s an inclusive environment where all are offered the opportunity to excel.”
After finishing his clinical year at CHOP, Dombrowski hopes to work as a medical lab scientist in a hospital, with medical school and a career in pathology on the horizon. Wherever his journey takes him, he’s grateful for the small school (bio)chemistry and mentoring he discovered at Wilkes.
“I know that I will have connections to come back to, especially with my advisors, Dr. G and Dr. Blechle,” says Dombrowski. “The lessons I learned in the classroom and the connections I made along the way will definitely be something that I will cherish.”