2008 Class Book - Harvard Medical School

ZARINE ROHINTON BALSARA
I entered this world a mere 3 minutes after my twin brother and became the
“baby” of my family. Although my parents were expecting their second child,
no one had prepared them for the possibility of hitting the jackpot and getting
two for the price of one! My unexpected arrival sent my parents into a frenzy
to borrow an extra crib, stroller, and car seat. Having
made such a spectacular entrance into the world, I was
free to live a rather ordinary childhood in the suburbs of
Philadelphia. I spent most of my childhood years juggling
school between gymnastics, softball practice, and karate
lessons. By the time I started 9th grade at an all-girls
Catholic high school, I had already been labeled as the
“studious” one in the family.
Having physicians as parents, I had always thought about
becoming a doctor. But, a summer science program in
Pittsburgh in which I studied the development of fruit flies
turned my focus towards basic science. That summer proved pivotal for another
reason: I visited Boston for the first time and instantly fell in love with the city.
I started at Harvard College in 1994 and made my first display of independence
by trading in my ugly high school uniforms for something infinitely more stylish—
sweatpants! I majored in biochemistry and had the good fortune of working in
Doug Melton’s lab for 3 years studying endodermal development in frogs.
Motivated in equal parts by interest and indecision, I decided to pursue the M.D.-
Ph.D. program at Harvard. When a course in medical microbiology piqued my interest,
I decided to step off the developmental biology ladder and start working on
organisms that can only be seen under a microscope. Once again, I was lucky to
work with a great mentor, Michael Starnbach, to study the interaction between the
obligate intracellular bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis and their mammalian host cells.
Not only did I discover that Chlamydia are fascinating and challenging organisms with
which to work, but I also realized that they make quite the conversation stopper!
When I returned to the wards, my years studying microscopic organisms initially
convinced me that a career behind the scope might be my niche. But, instead, I
surprised everyone, including myself, when I discovered a strong interest in the
field of urology. (I have yet to determine which stops a conversation faster—
telling someone you work on Chlamydia or telling someone you’re a urologist!).
8
After many memorable years at Harvard, I have decided that it’s time to try someplace
new. So, this upcoming year, I will be starting my urology residency at
Duke. Ironically enough, my twin brother is already a resident at Duke. So, I
guess what they say is true—you always find your way back home…