Serving Others Drives Grad Student's Research Ambition

Jelani, a graduate student pursuing a Master of Public Health degree, first came to St. John’s as an international undergraduate student in 2018, eager to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. In March 2020, he landed a position as a patient transporter at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, in Flushing, NY, not far from St. John’s Queens, NY, campus. 

The initial three weeks were calm: Jelani took patients from waiting rooms to operating or exam rooms, gaining essential hospital experience. Less than a month into his tenure, however, his routine dramatically changed as the pandemic enveloped New York City. 

Jelani recalled the overwhelming number of patients, longer shifts, mandated overtime, and overnight hours he put in, not to mention the wellness checks that were required just to get into the facility and the overall chaos that ensued at the hospital.

Many of his hospital colleagues lost family members, and some of the patients he attended to died. “It was so bad, I remember they had chaplains come in and speak to us because so many of our family members, patients, and coworkers were passing away,” he said. “At some point, they even brought in freezer trucks to keep deceased patients in due to the overwhelming number of losses.” 

During this time, travel restrictions and social distancing guidelines prevented Jelani from returning to Trinidad and Tobago. He did not see his family until a year and a half later, in December of 2021, when border restrictions eased internationally.

Nevertheless, his faith and passion for helping others pushed him to finish his commitment at the hospital, while inspiring him to pursue more acts of service. He became a graduate assistant at the Vincentian Institute for Social Action (VISA), where he still drives students to weekly service opportunities such as Midnight Runs and the St. John’s Bread & Life food pantry. 

“I had such great orientation leaders and resident assistants during my first year at St. John’s,” Jelani said. “It was, for me, a call to keep carrying their message forward and continuing that service and never stopping.” 

At VISA, Jelani is known for his attention to detail and willingness to go above and beyond what is expected. Victoria O’Keefe ’13CPS, ’15G, ’19G, Residence Ministry Director of the Catholic Scholars Program, Social Justice, and Retreats, recalled a time they both worked at a University event at Soul Fire Farm in Petersburg, NY. 

When one of the van drivers shuttling volunteers was unavailable, Jelani offered to make extra trips to and from the event to ensure everyone got the most out of the experience. Ms. O’Keefe cited Jelani’s work at NewYork-Presbyterian and VISA as examples of his service leadership. 

“It is unreal; to be so selfless and a leader at one of the worst times for humanity speaks to his character,” Ms. O’Keefe said. “He has a genuine care in his heart for justice and social work.” 

Along with his graduate assistantship, Jelani is currently conducting research at NewYork-Presbyterian on the link between patients with traumatic brain injuries, their insurance plans, the languages they speak, and the time they stay at the hospital. 

He hopes to go to medical school and become a surgeon. For now, he is focusing on building his research portfolio.

“Right now, I want to get more research under my belt,” Jelani said, “This is one of the reasons I stayed at St. John’s. It has given me so many opportunities to learn what I like and to get plenty of community service experiences.”