In high school, Tommy Wang volunteered in the surgical ward of a San Diego hospital, where he worked alongside nurses who took care of many patients, including his grandmother while she was recovering from a procedure.

The experience, he says, reinforced his desire to pursue a career in health. “I saw how this type of work really can affect people I actually know,” says Wang, who will enroll in the six-year Doctor of Pharmacy program in the Bouvé College of Health Sciences at Northeastern University this fall.

Wang, who can’t wait to do an international co-op in Asia, drew inspiration from a video he saw at a reception for admitted students, in which a Northeastern student talked about performing vaccinations while on co-op in South Africa.

As he put it, “I really want to apply what I’ve been studying in the classroom.”

Wang’s humanitarian calling dates back to his high school days, when he served as president of his school’s Red Cross Club and volunteered at a local branch of the organization as a health and safety intern. In the fall, he plans to join Northeastern’s Red Cross Club.

Music is also a big part of his life. The native of Canada, who has played clarinet for the last eight years, once traveled to New York City with his high school wind symphony to perform at Carnegie Hall.

Years of practice, he says, had finally paid off. “I saw that if you put in the work and time, you can accomplish something great.”