Recent graduate Maria Erquiaga credits her experience at The Catholic University of America for preparing her path toward becoming a "physicianeer," a role that combines the best of medicine and engineering to create technologies to solve some of healthcare's greatest challenges.
At the University, she pursued a rare pre-med within a mechanical engineering program where the small class sizes and faculty who took a personal interest in her growth helped her thrive. Erquiaga graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering. At commencement, she was also presented with the President's Award, the highest honor for a graduating senior which recognizes outstanding leadership and scholarship.
"I think Catholic (University) has illustrated to me that every calling is individual," she said, expressing how much she valued the opportunity to fulfill her pre-med requirements and pursue original research "in a way that also fulfilled me as a person." After graduation, she headed to Texas A&M University for a program that combines medical school with a master's degree in engineering.
At Catholic University, Erquiaga found many opportunities to reach her potential within a collaborative community environment. She was part of a team that won best overall project at Senior Design Day for a bench model of a prosthetic hand within temperature and pressure sensing capabilities. She's especially excited about her work in the mechanical engineering department's integrated biomicrofluidics lab, where she contributed to research on modifying biopolymer membranes for a host of different applications including tissue scaffolding.
A University Scholar with a double minor in chemistry and philosophy, Erquiaga said she is leaving campus knowing she received a well-rounded education that has contributed to her overall growth. She became the first undergraduate in the University's history to be initiated into Phi Beta Kappa and Tau Beta Pi.
"It wasn't always arranging all of those classes, but it was definitely cool to be able to explore other interests and interweave them with this very STEM heavy major," she said.
She said what makes the University stand out is the diversity of experiences that broadens horizons. Over spring break, she was part of a group who went to Iceland to our alternative energy facilities and meet fellow engineering students at one of the country's universities.
"It was really an interesting experience to see what engineering looks like around the world, what we have in common, what are the challenges we're all trying to solve," said Erquiaga.
Erquiaga, who is also the out-going president of the Universitty's student chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, said the diversity of the community extends to expressions of the faith.
"I think it's been really exciting to be in 'Little Vatican,'" said Erquiaga, referring to what many call the Brookland neighborhood. "Just being able to explore the different ways that people celebrate the faith... has been really exciting and inspiring."
