{"id":27590,"date":"2026-05-04T13:45:06","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T20:45:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/?p=27590"},"modified":"2026-05-18T12:24:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T19:24:09","slug":"childhood-illness-drives-usc-dornsife-graduates-pursuit-of-medicine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/childhood-illness-drives-usc-dornsife-graduates-pursuit-of-medicine\/","title":{"rendered":"How early health challenges fueled two graduating seniors\u2019 passion for medicine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n    \n                                                    \n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-hero \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-hero\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n<div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/renneker-toliao-top-768x432.jpg\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/renneker-toliao-top-1920x1080.jpg 1920w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/renneker-toliao-top-1280x720.jpg 1280w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/renneker-toliao-top-768x432.jpg 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1200px) 75vw, (min-width:768px) 83vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                  alt=\"Side-by-side portraits of a young woman and young man wearing graduation stoles\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"image-caption\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  Seniors Taylor Renneker and Jason Toliao will graduate with USC Dornsife\u2019s Class of 2026 on May 15. (Rennker photo: Courtesy of Taylor Renneker. Toliao photo: Gabriel Sakoda.)\n\n\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \n  <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\n          <nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n        <ul>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\">News<\/a><\/li>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\/?category=commencement\">Commencement<\/a><\/li>\n                  <\/ul>\n      <\/nav>\n    \n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--page-title\">\n\n    \n  <h1>How early health challenges fueled two graduating seniors\u2019 passion for medicine<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n          <div class=\"subtitle\">\n            \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  Driven by their own experiences with childhood illness \u2014 along with breakthrough research experience and service to the community \u2014 two stand-out USC Dornsife students look forward to medical school.\n\n\n<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n           <strong class=\"author-field\"><span >By<\/span><a href=\"mailto:communication@dornsife.usc.edu\">Daniel P. Smith<\/a><\/strong>\n    \n          <span class=\"post-date-field\">May 4, 2026<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--social-share \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--social-share\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n    <span class=\"a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list\" style=\"line-height: 32px;\">\n      <span class=\"title\">\n        Share\n      <\/span>\n                        <a class=\"a2a_button_copy_link\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#copy_link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Link\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_copy_link\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m7.43475275 9.52380952-2.17490843 2.26076008c-1.08745421 1.058837-1.68841575 2.518315-1.68841575 4.0350275 0 1.5167124.60096154 2.9475732 1.68841575 4.0350274 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xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m8.14285714 9.42857143c-.17142857 0-.34285714 0-.51428571.08571428l7.28571427 6.34285719c.3428572.2571428.6857143.2571428.9428572 0l7.2857142-6.34285719c-.0857142-.08571428-.2571428-.08571428-.4285714-.08571428zm-1.28571428 1.11428567v.1714286 8.5714286c0 .6857143.6 1.2857143 1.28571428 1.2857143h14.57142856c.6857143 0 1.2857143-.6 1.2857143-1.2857143v-8.5714286c0-.0857143 0-.0857143 0-.1714286l-7.2 6.3428572c-.7714286.6857143-1.8857143.6857143-2.6571429 0z\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" transform=\"translate(-6 -9)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Email<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                  <\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n \n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>Born three months premature at just 45 ounces, Jason Toliao spent his first weeks of life under the close watch of staff at a San Jose, Calif., hospital, a prelude to the regular interaction with doctors Toliao would endure throughout his childhood years.<\/p>\n<p>As a toddler, Toliao braved weekly hospital visits to treat complications from jaundice and severe asthma. Though the frequent hospital visits subsided as Toliao matured, headaches, dizziness and MRI scans continued. Vigilant doctors, however, helped Toliao develop into an active, healthy young adult prepared to attend college 350 miles away from his childhood home.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause of the care and compassion doctors showed me, I wanted to be one myself,\u201d says Toliao, a student at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences majoring in <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/usc-neuroscience\/\">neuroscience<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Fellow USC Dornsife senior Taylor Renneker, a <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/bisc\/\">biological sciences<\/a> major, shares a similar tale.<\/p>\n<p>The Las Vegas native battled severe asthma in childhood as well as an oral allergy syndrome requiring sharp-eyed attention to her diet. As she grew into adolescence, she often felt nudged to the sidelines and discounted, questioned and analyzed.<\/p>\n<p>Renneker decided to pursue a career in medicine, eager to understand her own health battles and help others navigate their own health challenges.<\/p>\n<p>As their May 15 <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/commencement\/\">USC Dornsife graduation<\/a> nears, both Toliao and Renneker are now preparing for medical school, eager to take the next steps in personal journeys motivated by childhood struggles and enlivened by USC experiences that broadened their minds and sharpened their purpose.<\/p>\n<h2>Graduating senior embraces a commitment to care<\/h2>\n<p>On Toliao\u2019s first day at USC, he sent an email to Peter Chiarelli, a respected neurosurgeon at Children\u2019s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA). Toliao inquired about shadowing Chiarelli. The doctor obliged and later offered Toliao a research position. Chiarelli also introduced Toliao to Pradip Chaudhari, a CHLA-based physician and associate professor of clinical pediatrics at the <a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/\">Keck School of Medicine of USC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Powered by Chiarelli and Chaudhari\u2019s mentorship, as well as a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/academicprograms.usc.edu\/services\/undergraduate-research-and-experiential-learning\/usc-provosts-undergraduate-research-fellowships\/\">USC Provost\u2019s Undergraduate Research Fellowship<\/a> and a <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/two-usc-dornsife-students-earn-goldwater-scholarships\/\">Goldwater Scholarship<\/a>, Toliao pursued multiple projects across his undergraduate years centered on improving brain imaging for children. He investigated the use of rapid MRI scans as well as new, portable MRI systems. He also helped develop MRI sequences to improve care for patients with hydrocephalus, a potentially fatal condition caused by the buildup of fluid in the brain.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe brain is one of the most important organs in the body, yet it is still very unknown, which is why I love studying it,\u201d says Toliao, who also received the Dean Joan Metcalf Schaefer Scholarship and the <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/usc-neuroscience\/awards-and-scholarships\/\">Brian Phillip Rakusin Neuroscience Scholarship Award<\/a> at USC Dornsife.<\/p>\n<p>His research efforts have already helped others: He standardized a specialized MRI sequence, so now patients nationwide can benefit. He also has co-authored a dozen scientific papers currently in print or under peer review and is first author on seven of them \u2014 an astounding achievement for an undergraduate.<\/p>\n<p>Pursuing a <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/latin-american-and-iberian-cultures\/\">Spanish<\/a> minor, an academic decision strategically designed to help him provide care to a broader range of patients, Toliao taught Medical Spanish classes to students at the Keck School of Medicine. In addition, he founded Conversations without Borders to connect USC students with Latin American students to teach English and promote cultural understanding.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cImproving medical care is not only about speaking the same language but understanding cultural views on health care, as well,\u201d Toliao says.<\/p>\n<div class=\"video-embed\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F6EUxbv6EBg?si=iPaAmnMsPjcg3U0K\" title=\"From Patient to Future Physician: Jason Toliao\u2019s USC Journey\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<h2>USC Dornsife senior puts empathy into practice<\/h2>\n<p>Like Toliao, Renneker\u2019s passion for medicine intensified at USC.<\/p>\n<p>A USC Presidential Scholar, Renneker studied stem cells at the Keck School of Medicine and worked at East L.A.\u2019s White Memorial Hospital through USC Dornsife\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/careerpathways\/gateway-internship-program\/\">Gateway Internship Program<\/a>. At White Memorial, a safety net hospital providing care to underserved populations, Renneker gained critical exposure to various medical specialties and practiced \u201cthe nitty gritty of hospital work,\u201d from taking vital signs to feeding and bathing patients.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI learned firsthand how powerful it is to help those who really need it,\u201d Renneker says.<\/p>\n<p>Fueled by support from the USC Dream Dollars Program, a novel initiative empowering career exploration in nonprofit and government fields, Renneker completed a summer internship investigating anxiety disorders at the National Institutes of Health.<\/p>\n<p>At USC, Renneker also found opportunities for service. She joined <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.usc.edu\/this\/home\/\">Trojan Health Interpretation Services<\/a> as an ad hoc Spanish interpreter and served as president of the American Lung Association\u2019s USC chapter, where she led campus-wide education and outreach on respiratory health.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUSC didn\u2019t give me empathy; it gave me the chance to live it,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<h2>Bright futures in store for graduating USC Dornsife seniors<\/h2>\n<p>Renneker and Toliao now look into a future packed with compelling possibilities.<\/p>\n<p>Renneker will start medical school this summer and hopes to someday open her own clinic in a still-to-be-determined specialty field.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m excited to continue learning about the body and building real relationships with patients so they feel understood and supported,\u201d she says. \u201cI see an opportunity to support people in environments and situations that can feel overwhelming.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Toliao, meanwhile, plans to remain at USC, enrolling in the Keck School of Medicine and continuing his research projects. Long term, he looks to land a position in academic medicine so he can pursue research and clinical care simultaneously.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI understand the feeling of being that scared, confused patient who sought doctors for comfort and information,\u201d he says. \u201cNot only do I want to help my patients physically but also mentally and emotionally, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n  \n        \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-related-stories \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-related-stories\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          Related Articles\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n                  <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a 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school.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":27591,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,16,17],"tags":[88,149,480,1970,106],"class_list":["post-27590","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commencement","category-science-and-technology","category-student","tag-biological-sciences","tag-class-of-2026","tag-health","tag-life-sciences","tag-neuroscience"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How early health challenges fueled two graduating seniors\u2019 passion for medicine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"USC Dornsife graduates head to medical school, driven by research, service and their own experiences with childhood illness\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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