Finance major Desmond Graves is entering his senior year at Tulane University confident in his plans for life after graduation. And it’s all thanks to a meaningful summer internship experience.

The Geismar, Louisiana, native spent the summer at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine shadowing cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Joseph Bavaria, who received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Tulane in 1979 and his medical degree from the Tulane School of Medicine in 1983.

“I had my doubts about going into medicine but having this opportunity with Dr. Bavaria really opened up my eyes and cemented my interest in the field,” says Graves. “I enjoyed every second, from inputting data to watching surgeries.”

Graves worked as part of Bavaria’s research team and assisted with collecting and analyzing data. The team is working on several studies, including looking at the layers of the aorta to determine why blood might seep in between layers.

But Graves says it was shadowing Bavaria in the operating room that was the “highlight of the experience.”

“Dr. Bavaria embodies what a doctor should be,” says Graves. “He was always so helpful, engaged and excited about having me there. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.”

Graves says he is ready to begin applying to medical schools. And he knows his internship experience will only help him with that process.

“It is so important for students to have these types of opportunities,” says Graves. “I’m so motivated as I enter my senior year. And it’s great to know that I have a mentor as I begin my career in the medical field.”

In addition to giving Tulane students summer internship opportunities, Bavaria is a dedicated supporter of scholarships at the Tulane School of Medicine, and he recently endowed a fund that aids students who study abroad.

If you are interested in hiring a Tulane intern, and making experiences like Graves’ possible, contact Byron Kantrow with Tulane Undergraduate Employer Relations.

Kirby Messinger is a communication/marketing officer in the Office of Development Communications.