懂色帝

鈥淢y life has become so much more colorful and vibrant since starting medical school,鈥� says fourth-year College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM) student Mereena Jolly. Fueled by a dedication to service, Jolly鈥檚 medical school journey reflects a deep commitment to becoming a compassionate physician.

Jolly grew up in a religious family, learning about charity and sacrifice from her mother. Coupled with living in India from 4 to 14, where she witnessed healthcare disparities firsthand, she is instilled with a deep desire to serve others and impact not just individuals but also entire communities. 鈥淚鈥檓 incredibly grateful that I had the courage to pursue this path,鈥� she says.

Her passion for medicine began at a young age as she watched medical webinars alongside her mother, a respiratory therapist. In 2019, Jolly graduated from The City College of New York on the pre-medical track with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in anthropology, completing requirements to pursue medical school. While studying at the school鈥檚 Harlem, N.Y., campus, she connected her childhood observations of healthcare inequality with her adult views of broader social issues. Poverty, addiction, and homelessness in the college鈥檚 surrounding areas inspired Jolly to formally apply to NYITCOM.

鈥淚 studied how structural violence contributes to health inequities, and I saw its effects. This deepened my commitment to promoting health equity and serving marginalized populations,鈥� she reflects.

Two external scholarships, the 2022 and the , help support her studies and recognize Jolly as a female medical student of color and as a future physician who demonstrates efforts to create healthier communities.

At NYITCOM, Jolly has served as a mentor through the Big Brother/Big Sister program, as secretary of the school鈥檚 Christian Medical Student Fellowship (CMSF), and as treasurer of the NYITCOM Osteobeats dance group. She also takes part in Muslim Student Association and Maimonides Society gatherings. A 鈥渉uge fan of cross-cultural and interfaith events on campus,鈥� Jolly says these experiences have broadened her understanding of patients鈥� diverse religious and cultural needs and inspired her to explore ways to aid and improve community health through faith-based organizations.

Her selflessness does not stop when she leaves campus. Before the spring 2024 semester ended, she carried out one more service opportunity with CMSF and organized the Easter-Spring Food Drive to collect donations for her local church鈥檚 food pantry. The drive brought in more than 100 food items, completing one of Jolly鈥檚 most fulfilling NYITCOM service experiences to date.

鈥淚 had never seen such visible need in a [church] community I thought I knew so well. That experience left a lasting impression on me,鈥� she says.

Jolly weaves community service tightly into her studies. She strives to raise awareness of unmet needs in neighboring communities and feels called to integrate service into medicine in meaningful, human-centered ways. 鈥淗umanism in medicine extends beyond patient care,鈥� she explains. 鈥淚t includes mentorship, advocacy, and ensuring that basic necessities are accessible to all members of our community.鈥�

Since 2020, she has been living out that sentiment as a mentor with DiverseMedicine Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to increasing ethnic and socioeconomic diversity in medicine. She volunteered as a mentor to premedical students and continues to meet virtually with pre-health students of all ages from across the country, sharing her experiences as an osteopathic medical student.

Her altruism earned her a spotlight in June through NYITCOM鈥檚 Positive STRIDES Recognition Program. Positive STRIDES recognizes outstanding members of the NYITCOM community who complete 鈥済ood-kind-positive-inclusive鈥� acts, and Jolly received several nominations. Citing the food drive and her involvement with DiverseMedicine, the program commended Jolly for her 鈥渆xceptional commitment to service, leadership, and cultural engagement.鈥�

In addition to giving back, Jolly seizes every opportunity to celebrate her Indian roots鈥攖hat is, family, culture, and faith鈥攂oth inside and outside the NYITCOM community. Each year, at the school鈥檚 Student National Medical Association鈥檚 Taste of Nations event, she performs a solo dance representing India through a blend of traditional dance styles. This spring, she plans to return to India to combine research with community service, conducting work at a local hospital while giving back to the community that shaped her both personally and professionally and inspired much of her journey into medicine.

In line with her goal to become a board-certified psychiatrist鈥攁 career that blends her interests in medicine, storytelling, and understanding the human experience鈥擩olly is applying to and interviewing for psychiatry residencies. After earning her degree in spring 2026, she hopes to spend the following four years in training.

鈥淚 want to advocate for equitable, compassionate, and culturally informed psychiatric care for individuals, especially immigrants and underserved communities,鈥� she says.