Please welcome Aaron Hein, Pitt’s newest campus celebrity. Aaron is an all-around great guy. He is smart, outgoing, caring, motivated, friendly, passionate, and so much more. Aaron is not only a great student and friend, but also an established medical researcher. Aaron donates much of his time to volunteering at UPMC Shadyside Hospital, in Pittsburgh, PA. His time spent doing great things outside of his studies is what makes him more than deserving of this weeks campus celebrity.
Year: Senior
Major: Biology, with Chemistry and Economics minors
HC: Hello Aaron! Tell me about your studies here at Pitt.
Aaron: I’m a biology major with minors in chemistry and economics, and a certificate in conceptual foundations of medicine.
HC: What do you plan on doing with all of that?
Aaron: I hope to apply to medical school in June and spend my year off performing clinical research.
HC: Have you previously done any research?
Aaron: I’ve previously worked with fruit flies to look into therapeutic approaches to treating hereditary diseases that destroy the brain. I have also studied the regulation of an antimicrobial protein that is found in the intestine and lungs of children. Our lab was interested in its ability to kill MRSA, a common cause of infections in children.
HC: Wow, that’s awesome! Did you make any breakthroughs?
Aaron: I was able to present results I acquired from both projects at different poster presentations.
HC: Are you doing any more research and/or medical work currently?
Aaron: I volunteer as a Patient Navigator at UPMC Shadyside.
HC: What does that entail?
Aaron: We go to different floors of the hospital and help patients with non-medical issues that frequently arise. Often I end up having a conversation with the patient that helps them pass the time in the hospital.
HC: Sounds like you got a full load of things going on in your life, what else do you do in your free time?
Aaron: Besides volunteering, I am a TA for a biochemistry class and I tutor in the athletic department.
I don’t know how you can manage all of that and still excel like you do, Aaron Hein, but that is why you are this week’s campus celebrity!