175. Chana Gable Selmon, Medicine Without Borders
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Chana Gable Selmon explains she joined Harvard as a transfer student in 1990, overlapping two years with the class of 1992. She graduated in 1993 after completing science requirements due to her history concentration. Chana decided to go to medical school at Cornell, followed by an internship in Emergency Medicine at Bellevue NYU and residency at Harvard. Commuting between Jerusalem and New Jersey Chana had her first child in 2000 and continued working as an ER doctor. She describes her experience as a fourth-year resident at Brooklyn Hospital Center during 9/11. She later ...
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174. Jenny Davidson, Professor of English & Comparative Literature
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Jenny Davidson describes her continued passion for literature, reading, and writing, her interest in primatology, adventures in Tanzania, and her new hobbies. Form and Technique in Powerlifting She details her fitness routine, including powerlifting, running, swimming, triathlon, and yoga. Jenny shares her experience with a longstanding injury affecting her ability to do high-volume aerobic training. Jenny explains the basics of powerlifting, distinguishing it from Olympic lifting. She describes her favorite lift, the deadlift, and the other two main lifts: squat and...
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173. Teresa Nakra, Exploring Music through Culture, Technology, & Creative Coding
The 92 Report
Show Notes Teresa shares her background as a music major at Harvard, focusing on conducting. She discusses her decision to apply for the Michael C. Rockefeller Fellowship to study Indian classical music in India. Teresa describes her year in India, living with a family and studying North Indian classical music. Exploring Indian Classical Music Teresa explains her experience with the violin, which was introduced to Indian classical music by the Portuguese in the 1500s. She details the differences between Western tonal harmony and Indian classical music, including the use of a drone and melodic...
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172. Michael Lim, Physicist, Mentor, Traveler
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Kim Goyette reflects on Michael Lim’s early days at Harvard, starting with their time in Dorm Crew. They met in Lionel Hall and became friends, with Michael being a physics major and Kim a sociology major. Their relationship began tentatively in their sophomore year, with many ups and downs before they officially became a couple by graduation. From Harvard to the University of MIchigan After graduation, Michael went to the University of Michigan for his PhD in physics, while Kim went to Tulane University for her MA in sociology. They maintained their relationship during...
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171. Chuck Hughes, The Road To College
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Chuck Hughes talks about his role on the Harvard Hockey team, being intimidated by recruiting processes and obtaining his teaching certificate while at Harvard. He taught maths, science, and english at a high school. He earned a masters in political science at Boston College. Working in Harvard Admissions Chuck talks about his transition to Harvard Admissions in 1995, influenced by a friend's job offer in Stanford Admissions. He describes his experiences in admissions, including visits to remote areas like Alaska and interactions with diverse applicants. Chuck highlights his...
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170. Jessica (McBee) Kerrigan, CASA Staff and Volunteer
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Jessica Kerrigan (formerly Jessica McBee) shares that she applied for an internship with the American Symphony Orchestra League but didn't get it, leading her to work with the Greater Boston Youth Symphony. She moved to Iowa City to be with her boyfriend, Wade Kerrigan, who was in law school, and worked at American College Testing. Jessica got engaged, married, and moved to Kansas City, where she worked for Andrews McNeil Publishing as a contract administrator. From Publishing to Nonprofit Work Jessica describes her transition from publishing to nonprofit work. She took some time...
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169. Ian F. McNeely, Historian of Knowledge and Dean
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Ian McNeely talks about his academic path, including a PhD in History from the University of Michigan and a position in the Society of Fellows at Harvard. He met his wife at Harvard, and they both found work at the University of Oregon where they became professors. They raised a family and lived there for 24 years. In 2024, Ian moved to UNC Chapel Hill, where he continues as a professor of history and oversees undergraduate education. The Society of Fellows When asked about the Society of Fellows, Ian explains that he thought of it as a mystique during his undergraduate...
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168. Peter Schmidt, From Math to Neuroscience
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Peter Schmidt talks about his senior year during the Iraq War, and how the news on the problem of jobless recovery led him to consider graduate school. The Journey from Student to Dean Peter studied biomechanics at Cornell, focusing on the mathematics of biological systems and modeling clinical trials in orthopedics. He was admitted into a fellowship program in New York at an orthopedic hospital where he worked on total joint replacement. His career path led him to neuroscience, where he led clinical research and worked for a nonprofit before becoming the...
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167. Lauren Messmore, From Banks to Boards
The 92 Report
Show Notes: From Hiking to River Cruises Lauren Messmore opens the conversation by sharing her experience of hiking Hadrian's Wall in England with her husband, which she describes as a highlight of her international travels. She explains that her husband, an anglophile, had the idea and that she enjoyed the travel and training for the hike, and that she had also lived in England for a few years in the ‘90s. Lauren details her training routine, including walking six to seven miles two to three times a week and using hiking sticks. They used a service called Mac Adventure for the hike,...
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166. Miguel Sancho, Executive Producer, Showrunner, & Author
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Miguel Sancho shares his background, mentioning his small-town roots in eastern Kansas and his education at Harvard and Phillips Andover Academy where he studied government and history. He discusses his initial plan to pursue a PhD and become an academic but instead moved to New York City to try his hand at music. Miguel transitioned from music to journalism, starting in 1993, and worked in various roles, including as an investigative journalist for Inside Edition, and 20/20 a prime time show on ABC News, and CBS News. Launching a Production Company Miguel talks about his...
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Chana Gable Selmon explains she joined Harvard as a transfer student in 1990, overlapping two years with the class of 1992. She graduated in 1993 after completing science requirements due to her history concentration. Chana decided to go to medical school at Cornell, followed by an internship in Emergency Medicine at Bellevue NYU and residency at Harvard.
Commuting between Jerusalem and New Jersey
Chana had her first child in 2000 and continued working as an ER doctor. She describes her experience as a fourth-year resident at Brooklyn Hospital Center during 9/11. She later moved to the suburbs with her husband and had four children. Chana and her husband decided to move to Israel for international experience, despite the challenges of practicing medicine in a different language. She commuted between Jerusalem and New Jersey for work until Covid, when she started working in a clinic in the West Bank.
Working in the West Bank
Chana describes her work in the West Bank as a general practitioner, dealing with patients from diverse backgrounds. She emphasizes the importance of understanding different perspectives and the complexity of the Israel-Palestine situation. She shares her personal connection to the region through her family history and experiences.
A Complex Cultural Heritage
Chana talks about her family's complex heritage, including her grandfather's Yemeni Arab background and her mother's Ashkenazi Jewish roots. She describes the impact of her family's history on her perspective and her desire to connect with different cultures. Chana discusses the challenges of raising her children in Israel and the importance of transmitting her cultural heritage. She highlights the importance of understanding the region's history and the impact of her family's experiences.
Cultural Differences and Challenges
Chana reflects on the cultural differences and challenges of living in the Middle East. She describes the warmth and support of people in the region, despite the chaotic environment. Chana discusses the practical considerations of living in Israel, including the impact of political instability. She expresses her pride in her children's dedication to public service and their ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds.
Media Misinformation and Solomonic Problem
Chana expresses her frustration with the misinformation spread through social media about the West Bank. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the small size and complexity of the region. Chana discusses the unsustainable nature of the current situation and the need for creative solutions. She calls for more informed discussions and less reliance on simplistic labels and slogans.
Harvard Reflections
Chana shares her experience as a transfer student from community college, facing opposition from her ultra-orthodox Jewish family. She describes the support she received from Professor Samuel Draper at Rockland Community College who helped her apply to Harvard. Chana mentions JJ Henkin at Harvard, and she discusses her involvement in the history department at Harvard and her participation in the curriculum committee. She also mentions CityStep with Trisha Perez Kennealy, and reflects on the impact of her Harvard education on her career and personal development.
A Lifelong Commitment
Chana reflects on her decision to stay in Israel despite the challenges and the support of her husband. She discusses the practical considerations of returning to the United States, including her children's education and her aging parents. Chana shares her ongoing interest in history and her commitment to lifelong learning. She expresses her willingness to connect with classmates and share her experiences.
Timestamps:
02:32: Balancing Family and Career
06:38: Life in Israel and the West Bank
08:57: Family Background and Cultural Identity
10:44: Challenges and Rewards of Living in the Middle East
34:44: Educational Journey and Harvard Experience
44:13: Impact of Social Media and Misunderstandings
44:30: Personal Reflections and Future Plans
Links:
Email: cselmon@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chana-gable-selmon-2643907