About halfway through my first semester of college, a friend told me they were enrolling in a class on ethical dilemmas in science. The course was a small-group seminar called “Science and the Human Experience” that would explore several topics throughout the semester, examining the communities affected by a range of science issues with societal dimensions and discussing potential solutions. From that description alone, I was intrigued. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us gathered in a library room on campus for class. It quickly became clear that this course was about much more than scientific ethics. My introduction to civic science became about building relationships to delve deeper into topics that felt challenging, and sometimes personal.
We began every class with a check-in: questions like “What temperature are you today?” or “What community do you feel grateful for?” These small rituals helped us build trust and learn more about one another. Over time, our vulnerability grew, strengthened by the shared experience of beginning college with six feet distance between each other. The bond we developed became so strong that we convinced our professor, Dr. Garlick, to teach the course for another semester. This second civic science class “Science and Civic Action.”
It also enabled us to engage deeply with difficult scientific and political issues—abortion rights, epigenetics, CRISPR, and the disproportionate impacts of climate change on marginalized communities. We challenged each other with thoughtful questions, pushed one another to support our arguments with facts, and listened with care to classmates whose identities were most affected by the topics at hand. Soon after graduation in 2024, these civic science lessons started to echo in my daily life. I began working at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. As a medical coordinator for breast surgeons, I routinely take vitals and organize surgical appointments. I get to watch nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, surgeons, and administrators excel in their roles every day. I noticed one defining similarity: that their language is always collaborative and approachable.
Growing up, I often felt intimidated by science classes. Jargon made the subjects feel inaccessible, and I frequently felt like I didn’t belong in the conversation. Civic science taught me how to make complex science and health topics understandable to everyone. This helped me learn that there was a path forward for me. Seeing this in practice at Memorial Sloan Kettering, where healthcare professionals communicate with warmth while inviting patients’ questions and perspectives, inspired me to pursue a clinical path myself.
My experience with civic-science dialogue—both as facilitator and participant—has taught me that truly listening to those at the center of an issue, whether a patient or a neighbor, is the foundation for trust and a meaningful progress. During a class discussion on redlining in Boston with a Boston Globe reporter, I learned how long it can take to build relationships and gain trust—something I now recognize daily as patients form relationships with their surgeons throughout their care.
Every day at MSK, I see the goal of care: to center the patient, collaborate with them, and problem-solve together. This mirrors what I learned in civic science. With its emphasis on empathy, trust-building, and person-centered dialogue, nursing emerged as the path that best aligned with my desire to connect with others. The friendships I formed in Science and the Human Experience during my freshman year—and have maintained since—continue to show me that civic science is rooted in connection and personalized care. That, I believe, is what enables real change.
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Nick Hoffner is currently a Medical Coordinator at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York. He majored in Community Health with a minor in Spanish from Tufts University, and is looking to pursue a career as a nurse. Nick grew up in San Francisco, and likes to exercise, explore new neighborhoods, and spend time with family and friends.
