{"id":155989,"date":"2026-11-05T09:00:25","date_gmt":"2026-11-05T14:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=155989"},"modified":"2026-11-05T10:32:34","modified_gmt":"2026-11-05T15:32:34","slug":"once-a-patient-now-a-researcher-how-a-ucf-alumna-is-building-her-future-in-medicine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/once-a-patient-now-a-researcher-how-a-ucf-alumna-is-building-her-future-in-medicine\/","title":{"rendered":"Once a Patient, Now a Researcher: How a UCF Alumna Is Building Her Future in Medicine"},"content":{"rendered":"

At 9 years old, Gianna Santoni \u201926 <\/strong>entered Nemours Children\u2019s Hospital in Orlando with second- and third-degree burns. Years later, she returned to help care for children. Now, with a UCF biomedical sciences degree<\/a> and research experience shaped by the university\u2019s partnership with Nemours, she\u2019s building a future in medicine.<\/p>\n

Her ambition began with the people who cared for her.<\/p>\n

Santoni was riding aboard her father\u2019s four-wheeler when an overheating gas tank scalded her. During treatment at Nemours, she found herself captivated by the hospital staff\u2019s kindness and expertise.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust being in the hospital space, I was enthralled by the amazing world of these kind and intelligent people.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cThey welcomed me with such kindness,\u201d Santoni says. \u201cJust being in the hospital space, I was enthralled by the amazing world of these kind and intelligent people.\u201d<\/p>\n

That experience sparked her purpose: to become a doctor and help others as they helped her. At UCF, Santoni pursued a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences through the UCF College of Medicine<\/a>, with minors in medical anthropology<\/a> and health sciences<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Her academic honors include a Pegasus Gold Scholarship, two AP Scholar with Distinction awards and an AP Capstone Diploma. She also advocated for the well-being and inclusion of Orlando\u2019s homeless and disabled communities. Santoni’s intelligence, compassion and drive would eventually ensure that Nemours Children\u2019s Health would see her again, but under far more empowered conditions.<\/p>\n

Finding Opportunity Through Research<\/h2>\n

During UCF\u2019s 2026 Student Research Week<\/a>, a focal point for High Impact Practices<\/a>, Santoni found people to invest in her ideas.<\/p>\n

The annual event showcases undergraduate and graduate research and creative scholarship, giving students opportunities to share their work and build connections that can help prepare them for graduate study, medical school and other careers.<\/p>\n

Santoni was among the first students to attend the launch of UCF\u2019s Corporate Clubhouse, a new initiative that gives industry partners a front-row seat to student research while connecting students, faculty and industry and community collaborators. Attendees included representatives from Nemours, Lockheed Martin and Blue Origin.<\/p>\n

There, Santoni met Jennifer Wolf \u201922MNM<\/strong>, UCF\u2019s executive director of partnerships and the initiative’s creator. Santoni\u2019s research interests<\/a> center on how medicine affects specific populations, cultures and communities. Wolf\u2019s interest in her work gave her encouragement to keep going.<\/p>\n

\u201cResearch can be isolating,\u201d Santoni says. \u201cYou don\u2019t know anyone cares until someone says so.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another connection helped turn that encouragement into opportunity.<\/p>\n