#OurTufts Features MD Student Christopher Robertson

“My parents wanted me to go to college, but my dad also wanted me to learn the trades. Growing up in Westwood, Mass., I worked summers with a carpenter, a plumber, an electrician, and mostly with an HVAC guy. When I went to Syracuse University to study biochemistry, I was already thinking about being a physician. After I graduated and started applying to medical schools, I split my time between doing research at Tufts Medical Center and working as a public-school custodian. A lot of teachers I talked to were surprised that I was a janitor who had been accepted to the School of Medicine at Tufts. I got a lot of Good Will Hunting jokes. I’m specializing in urology, which is perfect for me. I get the long-term relationships with patients that some other surgeons don’t have, but also get to work hands-on with awesome equipment: robots, lasers, shock waves. A lot of urologists think my HVAC background is funny because there is also a lot of plumbing and pressures in urology. The parallels are not lost on me. When I matched with Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine in January for my residency, I was ecstatic. Within 20 minutes, I got calls from faculty and residents. They sent me a care package with Dartmouth stuff, local chocolates and maple syrup, and a letter signed by everyone in the department. I just felt so welcomed. People who work in urology are really nice.” –Christopher Robertson, Class of 2019, Tufts University School of Medicine 

#OurTufts is a series of personal stories shared by members of the Tufts community. 
Photo by Anna Miller / Tufts University