There are many qualities that make up a good doctor: a keen mind, a strong work ethic, a sense of compassion. Lewis Paulino ’16, a junior in Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), has these traits and more. And if everything goes as planned, he’ll be coming soon to a hospital near you.

A biology major with an Integrated Learning Major in neuroscience, the New York City native has wanted be a doctor for almost as long as he can remember. “When I was in high school, I realized that my dream was not an easy one,” says Paulino, who attended the historic A. Philip Randolph Campus High School (APRCHS) on The City College of New York (CCNY) campus in Harlem. “I found out early on that such training requires a lot of hard work and patience. And that’s just the beginning.”

Paulino credits his mother for instilling in him a commitment to hard work, excellence, and integrity. They likely played a role in his admission to APRCHS’ competitive Academy of Medicine, where he took courses in health careers, anatomy and philosophy, and science research methodology.

Given APRCHS’s ties to CCNY’s medical school, it probably seemed like a foregone conclusion that Paulino would attend City College. But he had other plans.

Heeding the advice of his high school guidance counselor, Paulino visited Syracuse, known for, among other things, its outstanding Health Professions Advising Office. Paulino was smitten. “I was fascinated by the architecture, the vibrant campus life, the abundance of resources, and, of course, the stellar faculty,” recalls Paulino, who is also pursuing a minor in African American studies. “Deciding to come here was a no-brainer.”

Among the people who helped facilitate Paulino’s transition to college life was his first advisor, Gerald R. Greenberg. A senior associate dean in A&S, Greenberg helped map out Paulino’s academic and career choices. “Lewis has everything to be successful,” says Greenberg, also an associate professor of Russian and linguistics. “He’s a hard worker—smart, thoughtful, and sincere. There’s no doubt he’ll achieve his goals. He’s that kind of student.”

Greenberg also persuaded Paulino to strike a balance between work and play. When Paulino isn’t hitting the books, he may be found volunteering at Francis House, which provides a home and familial support to people with less than six months to live, and performing in The Black Celestial Choral Ensemble. He also is a member of the medical fraternity Phi Delta Epsilon and the social fraternity Lambda Alpha Upsilon.

This fall, Paulino looks forward to volunteering at Crouse Hospital, as well as laying the groundwork for life after Syracuse. Not yet a senior, Paulino already has been accepted into Manhattan’s Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, thanks to the FlexMed early acceptance program.

“FlexMed is a progressive, new approach to medical school preparation,” Greenberg adds. “It’s designed for people who are self-directed in their learning, thrive on a culture of academic rigor, and value human rights and social justice—all the things you’d want in a physician. Which are all the things that describe Lewis Paulino.”