By Kyra Letsinger Goodman and Katie Chung
For Master of Imaging Science (MIS) student Maria Angelina Bekhit, chasing her dreams has always been about creating her own path. After completing her general education coursework in her hometown of Montréal, Quebec, Canada, Bekhit moved to Nashville to pursue a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience at Belmont University. Throughout her undergraduate years, Bekhit took advantage of every opportunity to broaden her horizons. This drive prompted her to take a neuroimaging course, where she ultimately discovered her passion for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
“I had taken a neuroimaging course, which I loved, and I enjoyed learning about anything related to MRI,” she said. “So even during my alone time, I tried to research more about the modality.”
When additional courses in imaging weren’t offered, Bekhit didn’t let her curiosity stop there. She continued exploring MRI and neuroimaging independently, building on her classroom lessons and pursuing undergraduate research in optical imaging. As her undergraduate journey came to a close, Bekhit began seeking out opportunities for a gap year as she prepared to attend optometry school. Luckily, when she walked into Belmont’s chemistry department one afternoon, she found a flyer for Vanderbilt’s MIS program and knew almost instantly this was the opportunity she had been looking for. Now in her second semester, Bekhit is continuing to build on that momentum, deepening her knowledge and finding new opportunities through the MIS program.
How Community Inspires Growth
Though excited for her next chapter, Bekhit began the MIS program with a bit of apprehension due to her lack of programming experience. Thankfully, from the moment her classes began, faculty from the Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science (VUIIS) were there to offer support and champion the unique skills of each MIS student. This encouragement, she says, has been the foundation of some of her favorite courses thus far.
“[MIS faculty] have done such a wonderful job integrating all of our different backgrounds,” she said. “Even in physics-heavy classes, for instance, we are taught in a way that allows us all to follow and understand. And even then, the professors have always been available to listen to any questions or doubts we have.”
Bekhit’s peers have also been a vital source of support during her MIS journey. The close-knit cohort often comes together for study sessions where students take turns leading based on their personal areas of expertise. Bekhit says while peers like Grace Choi are able to bring their engineering knowledge to the table, she is able to offer support in topics such as neuroscience and chemistry. The experience has allowed Bekhit to not only bond with her cohort on a professional level, but also on a personal one.
“Helping each other has made us all get closer, especially because we’re a much smaller cohort,” she said. “So, whether that is me being a bit more helpful with chemistry-related work, or [Grace] with programming, we’ve been able to connect, network, and help each other.”
Both amongst her faculty and classmates, Bekhit says she has never been made to see these differences in background as obstacles, but rather as opportunities to grow — another way of preparing for what comes next.
Building a Holistic Perspective
Post-grad, Bekhit’s sights are set on becoming an optometrist, but she envisions a career that extends beyond routine vision care. Working at an optometry clinic on her days off, Bekhit has seen how technologies such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) and retinal imaging can detect conditions like glaucoma and cataracts by analyzing the optic nerve and retinal layers. Increasingly, researchers are also studying how retinal imaging may reveal early signs of systemic diseases, including Alzheimer’s. This revolutionary research into detecting neurological disease through the eye has only fueled her ever-present ambition.
“A lot of people think that optometry is just related to making glasses and contacts,” she said. “I see optometry as a sort of primary care. A lot of conditions can be diagnosed through the eyes, and from there, optometrists can request an MRI or CT.”
Through courses in medical physics and biomarker imaging, as well as hands-on radiation labs, Bekhit gained a technical foundation she believes will make her a stronger and better-informed clinician. Faculty members such as Dr. Seth Smith and Dr. Wellington Pham have helped her see how imaging modalities connect to real clinical decisions and the extent to which research can directly shape patient care.
“The knowledge that I’m gaining in this program will allow me to be a much more confident doctor and optometrist that will be able to guide patients toward more modalities,” she said. “[The MIS program] helped me realize that I would love to go into a clinical world but also integrate research and academia.”
Passing the Torch in the Final Stretch
Looking toward optometry school, Bekhit views the MIS program as more than a credential. It is a deliberate step toward becoming a clinician who understands both the technology behind imaging and the patients it ultimately serves. Reflecting on her first semester, she says she is eager to see how her skills continue to develop over the next five months.
“I feel like there’s so much growth left for me to undergo,” she said. “The most rewarding part of the program has been to see that my interests and efforts are seen, that the knowledge I’m gaining is very valuable, and that I’m given the opportunities to apply them outside of the classroom.”
Additionally, as she prepares to complete her time in the MIS program this summer, Bekhit offers a word of advice to the prospective students who, like her, find themselves driven to uncover a wealth of knowledge across a spectrum of disciplines: Submit the application.
“MIS is a great bridge between technology and biology, so I would definitely encourage students who are interested in either area, or even in the middle, to go ahead and learn more about the program,” she explained. “Whether someone is interested in clinical care or biomedical engineering, I think they’re going to be able to grow their interests in this program and learn more about the other side. There is just so much to learn.”
Applications to join the next cohort of Vanderbilt’s Master of Imaging Science program are now open and close April 30, 2026. Learn more and apply today.