HWS News
8 April 2025 Layne '25 Shadows Chief Medical Officer at Geneva General Hospital
Experiential learning and interdisciplinary coursework propel the way for pre-medicine student.
Inspired by his courses at Hobart and William Smith, Jadon Layne ’25 has been shadowing Associate Chief Medical Officer of Finger Lakes Health Dr. Matthew Talbot at Geneva General Hospital, learning up-close what it’s like to be a doctor and preparing for a future in public health.
Since the summer, Layne has followed Talbot throughout his day once a week, observing how physicians interact with their patients and work effectively in high-pressure situations.
“The experience has been really nice,” says Layne, a biology and environmental studies double major. “The doctors at Geneva General really care about learning, mentoring and creating a supportive environment for growth.”
Layne previously interned at Yale University’s School of Medicine, where he researched how the virus that causes COVID-19 reproduces and spreads.
As a student on the pre-medicine track, Layne says “You can take all of the courses to get into medical school, but it’s different when you’re actually in a hospital and applying that knowledge to patients.”
“Internships like this are invaluable to our students as they meet professionals and build connections that help them grow,” says Executive Director of the Salisbury Center for Career, Professional, and Experiential Education Brandi Ferrara.
Layne met Dr. Talbot through Dr. George Abraham '59, a Professor Emeritus of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology; Microbiology and Immunology and Pediatrics at the University of Rochester.
Layne credits Associate Professor of Environmental Studies Whitney Mauer and her course “Community and Urban Resilience” in highlighting how larger scale public health issues affect people individually. In the course, students learned about the impact of the 1995 Chicago Heat Wave, in which more than 700 died in the city and across the Midwest over five days when temperatures reached over 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The majority of those who died were elderly and poor residents without access to air conditioning and living in poorly ventilated homes. The event has served as an example for how cities should prepare for extreme heat, implementing such protocols as cooling centers and outreach to vulnerable populations.
“Thinking about healthcare, not only in the scientific method but also contextualizing it in external factors, is crucial to providing the best care as a doctor,” says Layne.
As Layne approaches graduation, he aspires to work in oncology and public health.
On campus, Layne is the Captain of Operations for HWS EMS, the Co-President of the Health Professions Association and works as a photographer in the Office of Marketing and Communications. He is a member of Sankofa and the Caribbean Students Union and a STEM Scholar. Layne has also researched molecular chemistry in the lab of Professor of Chemistry Justin Miller.
Top: Associate Chief Medical Officer of Finger Lakes Health Dr. Matthew Talbot poses with Jadon Layne '25 outside of Geneva General Hospital.
