This summer, senior Srinidhi Chinnadurai is taking another step toward a career in medicine as a Michael Garil Memorial Summer Intern at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, one of the nation’s leading cancer research and treatment centers.
A member of the Macaulay Honors College and Brooklyn College’s Coordinated B.A.–M.D. program, Chinnadurai is pursuing a double major in psychology and philosophy, with a concentration in medical ethics. The aspiring physician has already built an impressive record of research, leadership, service, and academic achievement.
Chinnadurai’s selection places her among a distinguished group of Brooklyn College students who have benefited from the vision and generosity of Bernard Garil ’62 and his wife, Ethel. The couple established a pair of internships in memory of their children, Michael and Stacey, both of whom passed away from cancer. Transforming their loss into an enduring opportunity for future generations, the Garils created summer research experiences that give students hands-on exposure to cancer research at world-class institutions.
Over the years, the Garils’ commitment to Brooklyn College has enabled dozens of aspiring doctors and scientists to spend summers at prestigious centers such as Dana-Farber and Johns Hopkins, gaining invaluable mentorship and research experience while helping advance the fight against cancer.
For Chinnadurai—whose own interest in oncology is shaped in part by family members’ experiences—the opportunity represents both a professional milestone and a chance to contribute to work that has the potential to change lives.
We spoke with Chinnadurai about her research journey, her passion for medicine, and what she hopes to learn during her summer at Dana-Farber.
Tell us a little about your background and how you got to Brooklyn College.
I grew up in Nassau County and came to Brooklyn College through the Macaulay Honors College and the B.A.-M.D. program. I’ve always been interested in medicine, and my high school adviser encouraged me to apply for the program. It felt like a good fit.
When did you first know you wanted to pursue a career in medicine?
It’s kind of always been on my radar. In middle school and high school, I started exploring that interest by volunteering in hospitals. I volunteered at Nassau University Medical Center and at the Ronald McDonald House, where I worked closely with families of sick children. That experience really showed me a different side of health care, not just the clinical aspect, but the emotional and community side, too.
You’ve already built a strong research background. How did that begin?
In high school, I took research classes and worked on a project about synesthesia, which is how people associate sounds with colors. It was my first exposure to the scientific method, and it made me realize how much I enjoyed research. When I got to Brooklyn College, I knew I wanted to continue that, so I joined a psychology lab in my freshman year.
What kinds of research have you worked on at Brooklyn College?
I’ve been in Dr. [Laura] Reigada’s lab for three years now, and I’m currently working on my honors thesis there. I’ve worked on both qualitative and quantitative projects. One of my major projects focused on HPV-associated cancers, where I helped analyze open-ended survey responses about people’s perceptions of risk and attitudes toward vaccination.
That experience connected me to the Brooklyn College Cancer Center (BCCC-CURE), which is how I learned about the internship at Dana-Farber. It also made me realize I wanted to go deeper in cancer research and ideally interact more directly with patients or do lab-based work.
What drew you specifically to oncology?
It’s something I’m still exploring, but it’s definitely one of the specialties I’m most interested in. I’ve had family members affected by cancer. One didn’t make it, and one did. Seeing both the impact of the disease and the long-term effects of treatment is something that has stayed with me. It made the field feel personal, and it’s part of why I want to explore it more deeply through research.
What are you hoping to gain from your summer at Dana-Farber?
I’m really hoping to gain a more hands-on perspective on cancer research, whether that’s working in a lab or interacting more directly with patients in clinical research. Most of my experience so far has been survey-based, so I’m excited to expand into new methods and deepen my understanding of oncology as a field.
The Garil internship has a powerful story behind it. What does it mean to you to be selected?
It means a lot. Knowing that this opportunity exists because of a family who turned personal loss into something that helps students is really inspiring. It motivates me to make the most of the experience and to contribute meaningfully to the work I’ll be doing.
Outside the lab, you’ve also been deeply involved in campus life, especially dance. Tell us about that.
Dance has been a huge part of my life since I was three or four. At Brooklyn College, I joined Macaulay’s competitive dance team, and it’s been one of my favorite experiences. We practice a lot, and it’s taught me time management and given me a creative outlet outside of STEM.
I’ve also been involved in tutoring, peer mentoring, and clubs like SPARK, where we worked with elementary school students on leadership and anti-bullying activities. Those experiences are really meaningful to me because they connect back to community and education.
Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals?
I’ll be continuing on to medical school through the B.A-/M.D. program, and I’m definitely interested in oncology, though I’m keeping an open mind. I’m also really interested in philosophy and ethics. I’m even thinking about possibly pursuing a master’s in that area one day. I think ethics plays such an important role in medicine, and I’d love to integrate that into my career.
