Giovanni Monaco

Giovanni Monaco, D.O., Ph.D.

Hi everyone! My name is Gio Monaco (they/he), and I’m currently a first-year DO/PhD student at NYITCOM. I grew up in Brewster, NY, and went to Franklin and Marshall College for undergrad, where I double majored in neuroscience and biology with a minor in chemistry. 

Before starting medical school, I spent three years working as a laboratory technician in a pediatric cardiology lab at Duke University. During that time, I became really interested in the intersection of genetics, heart disease, and translational research, which ultimately shaped my goal of becoming a physician-scientist. 

I was initially drawn to NYITCOM because of its emphasis on holistic, patient-centered care, but what really made me choose this program was the opportunity to pursue a combined DO/PhD. I was looking for a place where I wouldn’t have to choose between clinical medicine and research, and NYITCOM gave me the chance to start building both skill sets early on in my training. 

One of the most unique aspects of being a first-year DO/PhD student is that my schedule looks a little different from both traditional DO students and PhD students. I’m balancing preclinical coursework while also staying involved in research and planning for the start of my PhD after second year of medical school. It can be busy, but I really enjoy having that balance early on because it constantly reminds me why I chose this path. 

I’ll walk you through what a typical Wednesday looks like for me as a first year DO/PhD student! 

6:15 a.m.: Wake up, say good morning to my two cats, Kiwi and Rigatoni, make some elaborate iced latte and eat breakfast 

7 – 8 a.m.: Do practice problems from the lectures I looked at the day before and make a list of material I can’t remember from those same lectures 

8 a.m. – Noon: Talk through 2 lectures with my study group and quiz each other on the content 

Noon – 2:15 p.m.: I like to block out this time to have lunch and go to the gym to help break up my day. I also usually will take some of this time to prepare for lab.  

2:30 p.m.: Drive to campus! 

3 – 4: p.m.: Osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) lab! During this time, we learn new techniques on how to diagnose and treat somatic dysfunctions and have the opportunity to practice on our partner. These are useful skills that could help alleviate some symptoms our patients are having in the future. Learning OMM has allowed me to help treat these somatic dysfunctions in my family members and friends, my partner, and even my partner’s friends!  

4:50 – 5:15 p.m.: During this time, I will typically take care of the cells I am growing up and differentiating into induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs). I have not started my PhD project or picked my mentor yet, but I am currently working on a project with Dr. Liang in a cardiology laboratory where we are characterizing 2 knockout iPSC-CM lines.  

5:15 – 6 p.m.: Drive home and eat the dinner I meal prepped the weekend before. 

6 – 7 p.m.: Although I don’t always have time to do this, I try to fit in an hour of science-related activities everyday. I still currently volunteer with the lab at Duke I used to work at so I will either work on research for that lab, read scientific papers that have recently come out, or make a dent in writing my predoctoral fellowship applications I plan on submitting at the end of the summer for my PhD with either American Heart Association (AHA) or the National Institute of Health (NIH). Having a grant by the beginning of my PhD is a major goal of mine, so getting a head start on the application is important.  

7 – 10 p.m.: I take the rest of the night to study content from previous days/weeks. How I study varies depending upon how many passes I have done from that lecture. I learn best visually, so I tend to make 1-page maps that help guide me to different diseases and pathophysiology while I’m either listening to the lecture or supplemental videos. I also like to make my own questions or go through already-made practice questions.  

10 p.m.: I typically stop studying by 10 so that I can wind down before going to sleep! I like to drink tea, play with my cats, and watch TV.  

As I continue through my training, I hope to become a physician-scientist in pediatric genetic cardiology. Ideally, I would split my time between seeing patients in an outpatient setting 1-2x/week and working in a research lab the rest of the week, using each experience to inform the other. I decided to pursue my PhD alongside my DO degree because I want to be actively involved in advancing medicine and research, not just applying existing knowledge to my career. Having this formal research training will allow me to design my own thesis and contribute to the development of targeted treatment. This pathway allows me to build both clinical and research skills in a way that feels integrated rather than separate. Although this path is longer than a traditional four-year medical program, it opens the door to a career that is both intellectually fulfilling and impactful. I’m really excited to continue growing into that role here at NYITCOM. 

What I’ve appreciated most about NYITCOM is the supportive and collaborative environment among both students and faculty. Whether it’s through small group learning, faculty mentorship, or research opportunities, I’ve felt encouraged to grow both academically and professionally. The ability to pursue both medicine and research in an integrated way is what makes this program especially unique, and I’m grateful to be part of a community that supports that path.