Class Note 1996
Issue
July-August 2021
With much of the world in a state of near hibernation over the course of this past pandemic-laden year, the arrival of spring brings a sense of newness and rebirth. In keeping with the season, many of our ’96 classmates are reinventing themselves—taking new directions in their careers or contributing to their communities at a time when society needs their very best.
Among the ranks of our classmates experiencing changes in their careers is our own Adam Medros. Adam has been appointed as the new chief operating officer for Embark Veterinary, a canine genomics and biotechnology company that is a leader in dog DNA testing and deepening its impact in canine health and wellness. Prior to joining Embark, he was the president and co-CEO at edX and senior vice president of global product at TripAdvisor. He indicated he was “excited to work with the new team as we build a great company centered around pet health.”
Also within the veterinary realm, a career change has fallen into place for Elizabeth Rawson. Elizabeth, who resides in Coral Springs, Florida, has set out on a new chapter in her career by leaving Coral Springs Animal Hospital (where she was a small animal veterinary surgeon) for a “quieter life” at Broward Vet Specialists. She reports that she is “loving it there—including the lack of on-call duties!” and that while she loves working with her new colleagues, “it’s all for the pets!”
Holly Parker also had a slight change to her career trajectory in recent months. She announced that she was honored to be joining the University of New England School of Marine and Environmental Programs as an assistant teaching professor. She said she “can’t wait to work together and with our amazing UNE students on sustainability challenges here in Maine and throughout the north!”
As some changed careers, others in our class have had to assume even greater responsibilities in helping their communities navigate a global pandemic. A few of our classmates in the medical profession have been recognized for their efforts on the frontlines of the battle with Covid-19. Kristen (Calcagni) Johnson found herself in a pivotal role from the onset of the local fight against the spread of the disease. As a pediatrician and the consulting physician for New Hampshire School Administrative Unit 16, Kristen was immediately called upon to guide her school district upon closure of all its schools in March of 2020 and in contending with translating an ever-changing, complex situation for students, parents, and educators. Accordingly, the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce named her as its “Citizen of the Year” in a ceremony on April 8. She was cited for being “a critical community partner ensuring the health and safety of [the] community,” and for tirelessly working “to support her patients and community throughout the Covid crisis.”
Simultaneously, our resident singer-songwriter-cardiologist Suzie Brown Sax was helping confront Covid through her role at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. As she dealt with the horrors of Covid at work, she managed to turn some of her energy to music and record an album conveying some of the emotions she was feeling with everything going on around her. In mid-April she released the album’s lead single, titled “Another New Normal.” The song captures some of the emotions she was feeling as she confronted the pandemic while also taking care of her own family. Forbes online and CBS This Morning both featured stories recognizing how Suzie was working to “heal people through the power of medicine and music” during a very trying time for so many.
—Garrett Gil de Rubio, 1062 Middlebrooke Drive, Canton, GA 30115; ggdr@alum.dartmouth.org
Among the ranks of our classmates experiencing changes in their careers is our own Adam Medros. Adam has been appointed as the new chief operating officer for Embark Veterinary, a canine genomics and biotechnology company that is a leader in dog DNA testing and deepening its impact in canine health and wellness. Prior to joining Embark, he was the president and co-CEO at edX and senior vice president of global product at TripAdvisor. He indicated he was “excited to work with the new team as we build a great company centered around pet health.”
Also within the veterinary realm, a career change has fallen into place for Elizabeth Rawson. Elizabeth, who resides in Coral Springs, Florida, has set out on a new chapter in her career by leaving Coral Springs Animal Hospital (where she was a small animal veterinary surgeon) for a “quieter life” at Broward Vet Specialists. She reports that she is “loving it there—including the lack of on-call duties!” and that while she loves working with her new colleagues, “it’s all for the pets!”
Holly Parker also had a slight change to her career trajectory in recent months. She announced that she was honored to be joining the University of New England School of Marine and Environmental Programs as an assistant teaching professor. She said she “can’t wait to work together and with our amazing UNE students on sustainability challenges here in Maine and throughout the north!”
As some changed careers, others in our class have had to assume even greater responsibilities in helping their communities navigate a global pandemic. A few of our classmates in the medical profession have been recognized for their efforts on the frontlines of the battle with Covid-19. Kristen (Calcagni) Johnson found herself in a pivotal role from the onset of the local fight against the spread of the disease. As a pediatrician and the consulting physician for New Hampshire School Administrative Unit 16, Kristen was immediately called upon to guide her school district upon closure of all its schools in March of 2020 and in contending with translating an ever-changing, complex situation for students, parents, and educators. Accordingly, the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce named her as its “Citizen of the Year” in a ceremony on April 8. She was cited for being “a critical community partner ensuring the health and safety of [the] community,” and for tirelessly working “to support her patients and community throughout the Covid crisis.”
Simultaneously, our resident singer-songwriter-cardiologist Suzie Brown Sax was helping confront Covid through her role at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. As she dealt with the horrors of Covid at work, she managed to turn some of her energy to music and record an album conveying some of the emotions she was feeling with everything going on around her. In mid-April she released the album’s lead single, titled “Another New Normal.” The song captures some of the emotions she was feeling as she confronted the pandemic while also taking care of her own family. Forbes online and CBS This Morning both featured stories recognizing how Suzie was working to “heal people through the power of medicine and music” during a very trying time for so many.
—Garrett Gil de Rubio, 1062 Middlebrooke Drive, Canton, GA 30115; ggdr@alum.dartmouth.org