![]() |

Dr. Chester Hedgepeth (M1) '93, biological sciences, earned his M.D./Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 2000. He is the first African-American to earn both degrees from the University and is currently a second-year internal medicine resident at Harvard University's Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Dr. Hedgepeth plans to pursue a fellowship in cardiology.
Dr. Keisha John (M12) '03 biochemistry and molecular biology, successfully defended her thesis and will earn her Ph.D. from the Watson School of Biological Sciences at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories.
Dr. John, who completed her Ph.D. in four years, is the first African-American to earn her degree at the institution. After she graduates in April, Dr. John plans to join Dr. Mary Beth Hatten's laboratory at Rockefeller University.