The Mass General Research Institute (MGRI) is home to a research community of 9,500+ individuals working to understand disease and develop solutions to medicine’s most pressing challenges.

But who are they and what do they do when they’re not conducting research? Learn more about them in this new series, #HumansOfMGRI.

From clinical research coordinators to postdoctoral fellows, research technicians, graduate students and principal investigators—they are all part of the Mass General Research Institute.

Our next guest in the series is Julian Gonzalez.

What lab/department do you work in?

I work I work for the Harris Orthopedics Laboratory as a summer intern. I’m part of the microbiology team, and my role involves discovering if there is a synergistic effect between antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to prevent the development of periprosthetic joint infections.

When and why did you get interested in the work that you are doing?

As a medical student who is interested in the field of orthopedic surgery, it was truly an honor to be able to work under the Harris Orthopedics Laboratory under the mentorship of Dr. Ebru Oral.

The work that I have been able to do in this lab is of such crucial importance because surgical infections are not only prevalent in the subspecialty of orthopedics, but are common in any type of surgical intervention.

The opportunity to work towards improving surgical outcomes in the world of orthopedic surgery is truly motivating as the results could be employed by myself as a future surgeon and many others in the field.

What do you like to do outside of work? 

I really enjoy playing soccer, lifting weights at the gym, and playing musical instruments. I play the Spanish guitar, the ukulele, and the bass.

What is your favorite TV show, podcast, book, or movie? 

My favorite TV show is House because it showcases how mysterious and diverse medicine could be. I think this show does an amazing job at demonstrating how medicine is constantly evolving and how arriving at a diagnosis is truly a fascinating yet beautiful process.

The movie Hermano is among my favorite movies as it showcases the reality of how many people in South America struggle daily, yet through resilience and hard work they are able to achieve their dreams. In the movie, these two brothers are trying to do the unthinkable and play professional soccer. We are taken along their journey and are reminded of what they must do to get there.

A fun fact about yourself

I was born in Ibague, Colombia, and I am a first-generation student who has had the amazing privilege of pursuing a medical career in the United States.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

In 10 years, I hope to be an orthopedic surgery attending here at MGH. Having spent the summer working at MGH has given me a small glimpse of what my future life could look like, and it is something that truly motivates me.

I look forward to helping the Boston community as a future Hispanic surgeon by being able to make a difference in helping underserved communities to the best of my abilities. 

About the Mass General Research Institute
Research at Massachusetts General Hospital is interwoven through more than 30 different departments, centers and institutes. Our research includes fundamental, lab-based science; clinical trials to test new drugs, devices and diagnostic tools; and community and population-based research to improve health outcomes across populations and eliminate disparities in care.
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