Lauren Elliot was born in Philadelphia and attended Villanova University where she studied biology. After completing college she volunteered with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. She spent what she refers to as “the best year of my life” as a volunteer teacher at an amazing little school in Phoenix, Arizona teaching undocumented immigrants. Shortly after this experience, Lauren returned to graduate school where she obtained her masters in physician assistant studies. She has spent the last five years working in the exciting, fast paced world of critical care in a medical intensive care unit. She recently answered a series of questions to help us get to know her better. Find out who inspires her.

Home: Philly

Education: I got my bachelors of science in biology and minored in Spanish language at Villanova University, and then went to Philadelphia University for my masters in physician assistant studies.

CMMB volunteer position: Working as a community health volunteer in Huancayo and then Trujillo, Peru.

Sum yourself up in two words: Fun-loving and tall

Why CMMB? I want to work with a catholic organization focused on community health.

What are you most proud of? The friendships I have made.

Imagine you are stuck in an elevator. Who would you most like to be stuck with? And why? Hmmm… at the moment I would say Donald Trump. I have a lot of questions and concerns I’d like to address with him, and being stuck in an elevator might be a good opportunity to change public policy over the next 4 years.

You are featured in the NY Times. What’s the headline? “Local woman manages to lose her own head…. even though it’s attached to her body!”

What would your theme song be? “Pursuit of happiness” by kid Cudi featuring MGMT

Imagine if you were an instrument, which would you be and why? I would be a flute because my grandmother makes everyone in my family learn how to play the flute.

What is your hope for your experience volunteering with CMMB? I hope to form meaningful relationships and make a difference in at least one person’s life. I hope that the skills I have acquired as a critical care physician assistant are put to good use.

Favorite quote: It’s a tie between a quote from mother Theresa. Here’s the abridged version: The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway. In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

OR…

And a quote from Robert Frost, “In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.”

What book should everyone read? Why? Wow too many to list! My mind is going through hundreds of more profound and enlightening books right now but I think I’ve decided on answering with Harry Potter. Everyone should read this solely to experience the joy of reading.

Who would you like to play you in the movie of your life? Gal Gadot because I just watched Wonder Woman on the plane and I would want to add some stunts and action scenes to my life.

What is your hope for the future? I hope that in my life I see access to clean water and education be prioritized and made available to every child in the world. Efforts at peacekeeping, advances in science and technology and global advocacy groups are making progress, but not fast enough.

Favorite speech: FDR’s inaugural address, particularly the line “the only thing to fear is fear itself.”

When I was a child, I was scarred of everything: monsters, the dark, dogs… you name it, I was probably scarred of it. My dad would always say that line to me and it has become something of a mantra.

What are the three things you are most grateful for? 

  • My family and friends
  • My health
  • The wonderful education that my parents provided me with

Who is your biggest inspiration? Why? My parents. They are the two most selfless people in the entire world.

I want to be a volunteer!