Duquesne Push Moves Graduate to Help Others

But that first day visiting patients in Mercy Hospital would just be one of many days where she would serve those in need while a student at Duquesne University.

The recent graduate, who majored in Biology and minored in Public Health and biochemistry, will begin medical school this summer and credits her time at Duquesne as a major influence in her life.

“Duquesne really pushed me to try new things,” said Englehardt, who is currently working as a clinical researcher for Allegheny General Hospital. “Whether it was in the classroom, the lab or outside of campus, the opportunities brought me out of my shell, and I learned a lot about myself.”

Part of that learning was determining her career path. Originally a Health Sciences major, Englehardt’s interest in clinical research and becoming a doctor moved her to biology. She said the support from adviser Dr. Phillip Palmer and professor Dr. Jana Patton-Vogt made the transition easy.

“Dr. Palmer was so accessible and always so encouraging,” she said. “And even though I was brand new to the biology program, Dr. Patton-Vogt welcomed me into her lab and helped me to hit the ground running.”

That horizon-expanding experience pushed Englehardt to learn how to work in a lab and be part of the research process.

“I had the freedom to develop my own projects and ask questions to strengthen my skills,” she said. “I felt welcomed and enjoyed working with our lab team.”

Originally from the Philadelphia area, Englehardt said Pittsburgh grew on her over time.

“Pittsburgh is a leader in medicine, and I learned so much through my experiences at Mercy Hospital and Allegheny General Hospital,” she said. “And the vibe on Duquesne’s campus is big city, small family. There is great support here from the start.”

That kind of support moved Englehardt to work more with the community. She volunteered with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to provide meals to the homeless in Pittsburgh every Sunday and then thought of another way to help.

“After a while, we began to get to know the people we were serving,” she said. “We learned that the need for some basic first aid supplies was really important – just having band-aids for minor cuts to help reduce infections.”

As president of the student Health Professionals Society on campus, Englehardt led the effort, with support from her peers and the university, to create first aid kits to share with the homeless during their regular Sunday visits.

“Duquesne really gave me the confidence to take on new challenges and explore opportunities I may never have thought about,” she said. “It was a great experience.”