Mark Heimberger '15

Mark HeimbergerMajor: Biology
Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico

Describe your current job role:

I am currently a 3rd year medical student at Indiana University School of Medicine. I rotate through a different medical specialty each month and work as a member of the teams taking care of patients at different hospitals throughout the city. 

What professional experience(s) did you have prior to your current job role?

Before coming to medical school I worked as a tennis pro at The Breakers as well as for a private club, The Misquamicut, in Rhode Island. I did not have any work experience in the medical field, but I had hundreds of volunteer hours working in rehabilitation centers, nursing homes and hospice care. 

What do you know now that you wish you had known about being a working professional?

Work (or school in my case) can take you anywhere. I wish I had known that my career was going to take me all over the country. I am now in Indiana and I will have to move again for residency, then for fellowship, and probably again for practice. In most jobs, as you climb the ladder you are likely to have to transfer somewhere new. And, although it is different and daunting at first, you make new friends and feel at home in your new city. 

"Find a job that you can be passionate about and strive to be enthusiastic and inquisitive."

How did PBA prepare you for the world of work?

My time at PBA taught me how to manage my time and how to work efficiently as a member of a team. PBA had a variety of leadership endeavors I was able to get involved with which, together with classes, forced me to learn how to manage my time effectively. Being part of the tennis team at PBA has been invaluable in that it taught me how to interact with people on a daily basis and work together toward a common goal. 

What advice would you give to current PBA students and/or young alumni who are about to start their first professional full-time job?

My advice to any current student or recent graduate who is about to start a new job is to be present in the moment. Be interested in what you are doing and try hard. You don’t have to be the smartest or most talented person in order to be successful. Find a job that you can be passionate about and strive to be enthusiastic and inquisitive. Showing interest will take you a long way because people will want to help and teach you. 

Have you been mentored by anyone in your professional field since entering the workforce? 

I currently have a career mentor who is a pediatric surgeon. He has been giving me advice about what I should be doing in preparation for residency applications, so I can be a strong candidate for a good program. I got to work with him during my surgery rotation and that gave me more insight into what I want to do in medicine. 

 Spotlight posted in February 2018. For current updates from Mark, visit his LinkedIn page.