A professional ballerina since age 13, Cassidy Doan graduated last fall with a B.A. in dance and a B.S. in biological sciences. Photo: Jazley Faith Sendjaja
A professional ballerina since age 13, Cassidy Doan graduated last fall with a B.A. in dance and a B.S. in biological sciences. Photo: Jazley Faith Sendjaja
Cassidy Doan’s path has been shaped by resilience and unexpected turns. She received her first professional contract with the San Francisco Ballet Company, but life had other plans.
“The pandemic hit, and I felt terrible – that I wasn’t essential,” said Doan. “I quit dancing for a year. I felt like my central identity was absent.”
Returning home during a global shutdown prompted Doan to re-evaluate her future.
“I shadowed my first doctor and saw what was happening in hospitals,” said Doan. “I wanted to be at the forefront.”
Doan took the leap and was accepted into her dream school and mother’s alma mater, UC Irvine, as a dance major. Her decision to attend UC Irvine turned out to be pivotal, igniting a high-achieving academic journey, thanks in part to the Thomas T. and Elizabeth Tierney Scholarship in Fine Arts, the William J. Gillespie Foundation Scholarship, and the Sylvia Reines Scholarship in Dance.
“I received the Gillespie Scholarship for all three years of my education at UC Irvine. It’s mostly for ballet dance majors, which I was proud to be,” Doan says. The Sylvia Reines Scholarship enabled her to perform in “Serenade,” one of the Dance Visions 2024 works staged at the Irvine Barclay Theatre.
Doan took a general chemistry course for her general education requirement and fell in love with it.
“I hadn’t taken an in-person exam since I was 15,” said Doan. “When I scored a 98, I was like, ‘Science might be my thing.’”
Doan added a second major in bioscience, immersing herself in this new calling. She worked as a medical assistant and started a science literature club on campus. During this time, Doan’s family was dealing with medical issues, leading her to spend time in hospitals, gaining further insight into her career goals.
Since the summer after her freshman year, Doan has worked in a pediatric oncology research lab at CHOC Hospital, where her experience with children with cancer cemented her passion for medicine. She credits both majors for helping her balance the demands of this rigorous lab.
“I developed empathy and compassion in a way only an artist might,” shared Doan. “That’s how I’ve integrated art and science, using a creative lens to approach something scientific.”
While preparing for her final dance performance in Dance Visions at UC Irvine, Doan was also studying for the MCAT, juggling rehearsals with study sessions behind the curtain. She even relied on snack breaks through Google Calendar. With plans to graduate in winter 2024, Doan is reflecting on how her dual degree has impacted her long-term goals.
“Being a double major in dance and biosci has taught me mental dexterity, grit, time management and perseverance,” said Doan.
As she prepares to apply to medical school this May, Doan reflects on her journey with gratitude not only for the scholarships that made it economically possible but also for the mentors who helped her along the way: from the Claire Trevor School of the Arts’ Department of Dance, Kelli Sharp, chair and associate professor; Tong Wang, associate professor; Diane Diefenderfer, professor of teaching; Vitor Luiz, assistant professor; and Molly Lynch, professor – and from the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, Michelle Fortier, associate professor.
Though Doan may be setting aside her pointe shoes to focus on medical school, her arts education will continue to inspire her journey forward.
“Art is everywhere – in patient interactions, pain and suffering,” said Doan. “An arts degree allows that artistic lens to uplift the world around us.”
