Joshua W. Ohde

Why did you choose research as a career?

I wanted a career where I could continuously learn while — hopefully — contributing to improving the health of patients and the quality of their health care.

What attracted you to Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences?

Mayo Clinic provides the best resources and training opportunities compared with other graduate programs I considered. The ability to conduct basic, clinical and population-based research as a graduate student without a medical degree is one aspect that drove me to Mayo.

Why did you choose the clinical and translational science track?

I wanted to conduct research that was closer to the patient than the typical basic science tracks. The clinical and translational track offers and supports that opportunity.

What do you like about Rochester, Minnesota?

The weather here is amazing. There are actually four distinct seasons, unlike my hometown in Virginia. Spring and fall are beautiful and great for hiking, summer is warm with minimal days over 90 degrees, and winter provides the temperature and snowfall that allows for outside activities you can't get in Virginia or Kentucky. Rochester also has 80 miles of paved trails for biking and walking.

What are your plans for the future?

The current plan is to stay at Mayo and take on a full-time, salaried position within the organization. I am not interested in running my own lab, but rather working for the institution to help guide and implement changes that directly impact patient care.