Hunter Czajkowski graduated from SUNY Brockport in May 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry with a 4.0 GPA. She stayed at SUNY Brockport to complete a Master’s Degree in Public Health in May 2023. Currently, she is pursuing a DO in Osteopathic Medicine at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX. While at Brockport, she was a member of the Honors College, the President of the Rotaract Club, Treasurer of the Pre-Professional Health Club, and a member of the gymnastics and track team.
Hunter’s hard work and determination landed her on the President’s List (Fall 2019-Fall 2020) and the Dean’s list with Honors (Fall 2020 and Spring 2021). She has worked as a research assistant with an Orthopedic surgeon at a local hospital for over four years and has co-authored 12 peer-reviewed articles and has been involved in 15 research presentations.
Using her leadership and athletic skills, Czajkowski coordinated the Junior Eagles Extension Program, offering disabled individuals an opportunity to participate in a gymnastics program that improves their strength and coordination. She also took the initiative to reestablish the Rotaract Club. Through her efforts, they have hosted blood drives, canned food drives to benefit local food banks, reading at the local children’s center, and a pen pal program for residents at a local nursing home.
Q: You were very successful at SUNY Brockport. What do you think was key to that? What helped you the most?
A: I was never afraid to ask questions to peers or professors, and was always willing to ask for help when I needed it. I think it can often be scary to admit that you do not know something, but your professors are there to help you! Use them as a resource! In addition, the Academic Success Center and the tutors there were excellent! I also found things that I enjoyed at Brockport. For me, that was athletics. It gave me a break from the rigor of my biochemistry classes and provided me with lifelong friends that helped me balance school and life.
Q: Do you have any tips for students today to achieve as much as possible in college?
A: Find what you are interested in, and pursue it! I knew early on that I was interested in medicine. From there, I looked into the opportunities that SUNY Brockport had to offer such as the Pre-Med club, the Rotary club, and volunteer opportunities, and decided what would best help me meet my goals in my path to medicine. I also found a professor that believed in me and helped me to navigate my Brockport path (Dr. Saputo). I believe wholeheartedly that having the right mentor or advisor can open great opportunities.
Q: What experiences during your time at SUNY Brockport were the most important for you, be it professionally and/or personally?
A: I found that I really enjoyed clinical research during my undergraduate years. Brockport offers many research opportunities, through the school and externally which I would highly suggest taking advantage of. I currently have 12 research publications that I acquired through my time at Brockport, which have tremendously helped me in my professional life.
Q: In hindsight, would you do anything different as an undergraduate student?
A: I came into Brockport with my General Chemistry I and II courses already completed (through a high school program). Though having these pre-completed helped me graduate a year early, I wish I had taken these at SUNY Brockport again with the chemistry faculty. I always felt that I lacked laboratory skills that many of my peers excelled in that were taught by the Brockport faculty.
Q: Thinking back to when you were still in high school, is there anything you wish you had known as a high school student before entering College?
I wish I had known more about the different routes that I could have taken into medical school. For example, I did not know about the 3+2 Master’s programs that Brockport offers, or the direct admit programs that many medical schools have.