Med School is a Family Affairs for this Rutgers Grad
Christian Simon is the fifth in his family to earn a degree from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
When Christian Simon receives his medical degree from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) in May, he will not only be celebrating a personal milestone but also continuing a decades-long family tradition.
Simon, 25, will be the fifth member of his immediate family to graduate from RWJMS and become a medical doctor. His father, a practicing internist, and his mother, a retired pediatrician, both established careers that were committed to patient care and service to the community. His two older brothers have followed similar paths, one specializing in orthopedic surgery and the other in anesthesiology. All five graduated from the same New Jersey alma mater.
“I had some friends in medical school whose parents were doctors, but I think our family is unique with everyone graduating from the same medical school,” Simon said. “My parents and my older brother had such good things to say about their time at Robert Wood Johnson that they helped me make up my mind.”
Growing up in Colts Neck in Monmouth County, Simon said medicine and service were part of his family’s everyday lives and was often part of dinner table conversations. He remembers as a child going with his father when he visited his elderly patients who were living in nursing homes.
“My father, especially, was a great role model, whether he was making rounds at a nursing home or helping someone in need at church,’’ Simon said. “He was always the doctor people turned to when they needed help.”
Simon said he developed an early appreciation for science and community service. He is one of 20 Eagle Scouts, following another family tradition. This, he said, is testament to the values of discipline and service that was such a large part of his upbringing.
“I had a lot of role models in my life that made me ask why I would want to do something besides become a doctor where you’re able to make an impact on so many people around you,” Simon said. “I think that really had a great impression on me and my brothers.”
Simon’s journey to becoming a physician began at Georgetown University where he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in health care management and policy before coming home to New Jersey for medical school. At RWJMS, he was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society and was inducted into Upsilon Phi Delta, a national honor society for students in health administration, while at Georgetown.
This summer, Simon will begin his internal medicine residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital, one of the nation’s leading teaching hospitals. He plans to pursue a fellowship in cardiology following his residency.
“I love the challenge of internal medicine,” Simon said. “It’s like being a detective, where you’re constantly piecing together clues to find the diagnosis. And what really drew me in is the ability to build long-term relationships with patients and make a meaningful impact on their lives.”
Simon’s passion for medicine was shaped not only by his family, but also by his own experiences mentoring fellow students. At RWJMS he served as a peer mentor, helping guide younger students through coursework, clinical training, and the residency application process. He said it felt rewarding to pay forward the support he once received from his brothers.
“I know how much that guidance meant to me,” he said. “So being able to help others navigate the same path has been incredibly rewarding.”
Beyond the classroom and clinic, Simon is an avid Mets, Jets and New York Rangers sports fan who enjoys pickleball, camping, fishing and spending time outdoors. Engaged to an emergency room nurse, Simon said free time is spent with her outside at the beach and inside cooking dishes like chicken parmesan.
Family remains central to Simon’s journey. His younger is currently applying to medical school, with hopes of becoming the sixth RWJMS graduate in the family. Another sister, a pharmacist who graduated from the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers, is pursuing an oncology fellowship and following in the footsteps of her family’s into health care.
Despite the demanding nature of the profession, Simon says he never seriously considered another path.
“It’s not the easiest road, and it’s certainly not something you do for the money,” he said. “But it’s one of the most meaningful careers you can have. You’re making a difference in people’s lives every day. That’s something that never gets old.”
David Seiden, adjunct professor of neuroscience and cell biology at RWJMS, who has taught generations of Simon’s family, said each member left an impression on him as an educator.
“Seeing him graduate is a reminder of the continuity of the medical profession—knowledge passed forward, values preserved, and compassion renewed with each generation, he said.
