Nov. 13, 2025 — Eliana Pollay’s path to becoming a physician is personal. Growing up in Delray Beach, Florida, she watched her father face early-onset Parkinson’s disease with strength and determination.

His diagnosis, experience and the compassion of those who cared for him motivated her to pursue medicine — a career where she could make that same kind of difference for others.

Now a first-year medical student at the University of Florida College of Medicine, Pollay believes health care should be crafted for each individual, and she aims to provide more comprehensive care by addressing all aspects of a patient’s health.

Early exposure to patient-centered care

Growing up, Pollay’s father coached her recreational sports teams, rode bikes with her for miles and played catch with her outside.

She was in middle school when her father learned of his diagnosis and watched as his symptoms began to affect his daily life. But she also witnessed how care and understanding could make an impact.

“I saw how his symptoms were not just changes in his physical ability but were threats to his identity as a football player and athlete,” she said. “By helping my dad through his progression of Parkinson’s disease, I saw the importance of patient-centered care.”

After high school, her collegiate path began at Emory University in Atlanta, where she studied sociology and chemistry.

She is already making an impact as a medical student by volunteering at the Equal Access Clinic Network, where she helps provide free medical care to patients in need.

Being named the recipient of the Medical Alumni Legacy Endowment Scholarship confirmed for Pollay that she was in the right place.

“It helped ease some of my self-doubts and reassured me that I deserve to be here,” she said. “It feels like a vote of confidence in my success.”

Mindset for the future

Pollay continues to center her father’s experience as she navigates medical school. His treatment helped her understand what true healing looks like.

“The medications that manage my father’s symptoms have made a huge impact, not because they eliminate all his symptoms but because they allow him to keep doing what he loves to do,” she said. “My dad is not just a collection of symptoms, and his health care should not just focus on eliminating his symptoms. He is a person with passions and interests, so his health care should reflect this.”

Pollay also saw the impact of coordinated care. During hospital stays, interdisciplinary collaboration allowed for her dad’s good health outcomes.

“Recognizing the critical role of teamwork in caring for my dad, I knew that as a physician, I would be a contributor to and a leader of those teams,” she said.

Pollay is most passionate about neurology. Her curiosity about the brain and its complexities is what led her to pursue neuroscience research as an undergraduate at Emory, exploring the mechanisms behind diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and hearing loss.

Even on challenging days, Pollay finds motivation in the strength and perseverance her father models.

“Seeing my father’s resilience and determination to pursue what is important to him has shaped my perspective on grappling with my own struggles,” she said. “I strive to embody my dad’s determination and resilience as he perseveres with Parkinson’s, and I will continue to carry these values with me in my life and career.”