Turquoise Mann

A heart for kids
Senior biology major Turquoise Mann hopes to pursue a career in medicine to help the youngest cancer patients.

As a child, she knew she wanted to be doctor.

“I’ve never had any other career path. This is it for me,” she says.

Her passion to be an oncologist was ignited when she volunteered at a local hospital as a high school student.

“There, I would read to patients. Then, one day I went up to the floor where the cancer patients were hospitalized. From then on, I knew that I wanted to help them.”

She says she has always wanted to work with children.

“I want to help kids who are really sick.”

Over one summer, she job-shadowed a pediatric oncologist and was hooked.

“I found my calling. To be able to help patients and their families go through a crisis like that will be an amazing thing to do. I know this is the journey I want to take. And, there’s a huge need for a lot more people in that field.”

Last year during the college’s January Interim Term, Turquoise participated in an internship with a pediatrician.

“I got to see what her days are like and everything that goes into her work.”

Though she hasn’t decided exactly where she wants to attend medical school, Turquoise plans to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) next year. She anticipates it will take nine years for her to finish all of her schooling.

“You have to be really focused and very determined,” she says.

Of her science courses at LaGrange, she says they’re tough.

“You have to keep your eye on the goal. That’s how you make it through.

“Dr. Melinda Pomeroy-Black is my advisor, and she’s been helping me figure out what I need to do.

“She and all of my professors are very supportive. They’re always willing to help me out. That’s one of the reasons I like LaGrange College so much.”