Amy Romanauski ’24

Hometown: Sayre, Pennsylvania

Major: Health Sciences

Area of Focus: Research, Discovery and Cures

University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) alum Amy Romanauski says the university’s close-knit community and strong faculty support set the foundation for her path into medical sociology.

Romanauski, now a second-year Sociology PhD student at Case Western Reserve University, said UMR’s small class sizes and access to faculty were key reasons she chose the campus.

“From day one, it was clear that UMR values meaningful connections and professional growth,” she said.

Her Capstone experience helped her clarify her goals through coursework, writing and mentorship, becoming a period of meaningful self‑reflection that strengthened her confidence and equipped her with the tools she needed to make an impact in her own way. Experiences at Mayo Clinic, including working as a Patient Care Assistant, helped her realize her interests lay beyond direct patient care. Social science coursework and faculty guidance led her toward research.

She credits Dr. Robert Dunbar with shaping her academic direction, noting that his guidance pushed her to think more deeply and approach complex questions with greater curiosity.

Romanauski now studies medical sociology with a focus on health literacy, examining how social systems influence patients’ ability to access and use health information.

“I love the medical research I’m part of and am excited to see where this path leads,” she said.

Learn more about the Research Discovery and Cures area of focus at UMR.