First Neuroscience Major Grad Creates Impactful Career Pathways

At an early age, Gage Mandrell was interested in healthcare and knew he wanted to become a doctor. With the increasing difficulty of getting into medical school and more programs wanting to see both high academic achievement and real-world experience, Mandrell followed a growing pull toward neuroscience, becoming the first neuroscience major at Washington College to graduate with that degree. This interest was further sparked when Mandrell’s dad had a neural injury during a procedure, causing a loss of nerve function in one hand. While ultimately Mandrell will pursue medical school, he appreciates the work he’s doing until then as an associate neurophysiologist at Globus Medical Inc.

“I was looking for a job that got me hands-on patient experience, as well as bettered my understanding of neuroscience and neuroanatomy,” said Mandrell, whose job is to monitor a patient’s nervous systems, spinal cord and brain function throughout operations that may compromise those structures. “I enjoy making a difference while I'm in the field, and I think being there to protect [the patient] before the procedure, to protect your function and make a difference for you post-procedure, it’s making an impact on those patients.” 

At Washington College, Mandrell said he was well-prepared for the real-world work he’s doing now due to hands-on learning programs, his professor’s open-door policies enabling him to explore deeper questions outside of class, and the school’s size.  

“Talking with people that went to other schools, I [could see] the opportunities I had at Washington College, the small classes, the impact you can have in a small college,” said Mandrell, who was active on campus working in student government as the honor board chair, in the psychology department as an animal caretaker and as a teacher’s assistant, as well as serving as the Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society president and as captain of the swim team.

Looking back, Mandrell said he would tell his younger self to take advantage of the opportunities offered at Washington College, both academic and social. “Those four years are going to go quick,” said Mandrell. “You want to meet as many people as possible because once you go off to work it’s difficult.” 

— Melanie Warner Spencer