Alumni
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Jessica Goldberg
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Growing up in the extremely racially polarized community of St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in a Jewish household that instilled in her the importance of tikkun olam, or “repairing the world,” Jessica possessed a passion to bridge the socioeconomic chasm dividing her hometown. Jessica served throughout secondary school as a volunteer teaching assistant for Aim High St. Louis, a program that empowers incredibly smart and talented middle schoolers from disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve their full academic and personal potential. Through this experience, she was stricken with the realization that these motivated children could not afford basic school supplies, and consequently, their ability to succeed and excel in school was compromised. As a lifelong theater performer, Jessica seized the opportunity to channel her passions for performing, battling educational inequality, and uniting her community by co-founding Performing for Pencils in fall 2013. This nonprofit builds bridges of understanding and inclusiveness by hosting an annual talent show, bringing together kids from 100 high schools representing a diverse group of racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as collecting over $75,000 in school supplies to benefit students in need.
Jessica was overjoyed to pursue her aspirations of becoming a pediatrician upon arriving at Vanderbilt. She conducted research in the Division of Critical Care Medicine at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital centering around improving bereavement support for parents who have lost a child in the pediatric intensive care unit. Additionally, Jessica participated in the hospital’s interdisciplinary Bereavement Committee and volunteered on the women’s health floor of Vanderbilt University Hospital. The summer following her sophomore year, Jessica returned to her hometown to complete her summer project at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. There, she collaborated with a team of parents, healthcare providers, and administrators to design a new Center for Families, with the goal of providing equal access to and aiding in navigation of the comprehensive support resources available at the hospital.
As an upperclassman, Jessica discovered additional opportunities to pursue her passion for facilitating patient and family-centered healthcare practices. She continued research in the Division of Critical Care Medicine, exploring bereaved parents’ perspectives on the concept of legacy to enhance legacy-building opportunities and supports for children with terminal illnesses or injuries. Additionally, she was named the Community Service Co-Chair of Vanderbilt’s pre-medical society. In this role, she created a partnership with Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital to host monthly music concerts. Therapeutic for patients, staff, and volunteers alike, these concerts connected participants, promoted recovery and wellbeing, and improved patient quality of life.
Living by the wise words of Charles Dickens, “no one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of another,” Jessica is extremely grateful for the Ingram Scholars Program, the life-altering opportunities it provides, and the supportive community it fosters.