Maveric Abella’s journey is all about connections forged and nurtured through earnest inquiry and compassion. Growing up on the west side of Oahu, she made her way to Kamehameha Schools and eventually attended Columbia. Yet even as The City blocked out the sky, she never lost sight of her roots. She pursued a major she was passionate about, found support in a family of friends and mentors who guided her through the pre-med process, and elevated her research by grounding it in a population-centered approach. In this episode, Anna and I are amazed at Maveric’s accomplishments and ability to put aside time for fun. We also explore the challenges and rewards of pursuing an atypical pre-med major, discuss the importance of being Native Hawaiian in medicine, and discover an amazing organization Maveric founded to mentor students interested in STEM.