Health Sciences Student Thrives at Mercy as Mentorship Comes Full Circle

Sharoon Sanchez Rodriguez’s story is proof of how much mentorship matters — both the mentorship she has received from Mercy University faculty and staff and the mentorship she has given to her fellow students in Mercy’s School of Health and Natural Sciences.

After Sanchez Rodriguez ’24 immigrated to the U.S. from Honduras in 2018, Mercy was the first place that gave her hope that there was a path for her to pursue a rewarding career in the United States. After hearing her story, the Mercy admissions team recommended that she take a few foundational courses at Westchester Community College (WCC) before transferring to Mercy. They listened to her career goals and suggested Mercy’s pre-physician assistant studies track in the health sciences program.

Sanchez Rodriguez followed their advice, starting at WCC in 2019 and transferring to Mercy in 2021 where she studied full time while working full time. “I didn't need things to be easy,” she explained. “I just needed to know that it was possible for me to continue my education and achieve my goals as a professional and as a person. Mercy really earned my trust because I can’t imagine another school listening so well and laying out a path that involved me going to another school first!”

She loved learning from Mercy’s faculty: “I learned so much from each one of my Mercy professors. They’re fun and professional. They really get to know each student. And they really want you to learn what you’re going to need in your career.”

Several Mercy faculty members — including health sciences instructor Savannah Usher ‘17, Ph.D. — gave Sanchez Rodriguez important encouragement just when she needed it: “Professor Usher recently told me that she’s excited to see me as a colleague one day soon. That compliment meant so much because it meant that she really sees my potential.”

Knowing that she wanted to apply to physician assistant master’s programs, Sanchez Rodriguez decided to keep anatomy and physiology content fresh in her mind and improve her public speaking skills by becoming a Learning Fellow at Mercy. Learning Fellows are students who did well in a course in a previous semester and serve as peer mentors for students currently taking the course. They meet weekly with small groups of students to help explain the content, model study skills and build community.

Sanchez Rodriguez was also pleased to find a way to help her fellow students. “I’m a first-generation college student, and I had to learn the hard way how to study effectively,” she explained. “Now when I see students who are struggling, I see myself in them, and it feels really good to help them. No one should have to give up on a career path just because they don’t know how to study.”

She admits doubting her strength as a candidate for physician assistant master’s programs, which caused her to delay applying until Mercy biology professor Bobby Habig, Ph.D., pulled her aside. “I hadn’t been able to conduct research yet due to my crazy schedule, so I thought I could be a stronger applicant,” she said. “But Professor Habig told me that I was rejecting myself before others even had the opportunity to consider me. His words really encouraged me. I’m really happy that my professors saw the potential that I sometimes fail to recognize in myself.”

It turns out that she was a strong candidate indeed because she has been accepted to three master’s programs so far, including Mercy’s. She hopes to be able to work out the financial aid details so she can attend Mercy’s program.

“I love it here at Mercy, and I know I'd get a good education in this program,” she said. “Mercy has earned my trust every step of the way.”