Class of 2026
Sara Berman, MD, PhD
University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Drawn to the Brain, Grounded in People My grandfather— who lost one arm and one leg in World War II— was a constant presence in my life growing up. Often, time with him meant going to doctors’ appointments. It felt normal at the time, but looking back, it was my first real exposure to the medical world.
It’ s a field where I can build long-term relationships with patients and their families, getting to know them and their communities, while also being involved in emerging areas like brain stimulation and biomarkers. Just as important, it’ s a field where clinical trials are essential— not just for managing symptoms, but for halting progression.
That experience shaped my interest in science and, more specifically, in the brain— how the nervous system works and allows us to interact with the world around us.
From Restoring Sight in Frogs to Treating Parkinson’ s What has always driven me is the question of how to take something that feels distant or theoretical and make it tangible for patients. Early on, my research focused on how neural circuits are wired, with goals that felt almost like science fiction— restoring sight in blind flies or frogs. Even then, the intention was clear: How do we move from understanding the nervous system to changing outcomes?
That question led me to pursue both clinical care and research. I didn’ t want to choose between them. Movement disorders, in particular, felt like the right fit.
Designing Trials That Scale Through my fellowship, I’ ve had the opportunity to be deeply involved in clinical trials— meeting patients, understanding the process and seeing firsthand how new therapies are tested. That experience has shaped how I think about the future.
I look forward to working in clinical trial development where I can approach this work from a different angle. Instead of focusing on a single site, I’ ll be designing trials that can reach patients at scale.
For me, the goal has always been to bridge that gap— between science and care, between what we know and what we can actually offer. Being part of that process, while continuing to care for patients along the way, is exactly where I want to be.
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