UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Zoe Bouchelle knows the game of soccer like the back of her hand. A former midfielder for the Penn State Nittany Lions Women’s Soccer team, Bouchelle knows that dedication and teamwork is essential to achieving success. It’s her heart and commitment to others that sets her apart. It’s what made her a great teammate. Today, it’s what makes her an even better doctor.
Student-athlete, mentor, leader, resident, fellow and pediatrician are just a few of the titles Bouchelle has had attached to her name throughout her life. Her path from Happy Valley to Harvard Medical School was an unconventional one and was shaped by opportunities found in unlikely places. But one thing has remained true, Bouchelle’s life has been shaped by a desire to make the world a better place.
For Bouchelle, becoming a doctor wasn’t always part of the plan. While she came from a family rooted in the medical field, Bouchelle was committed to carving out her own path. Her desire for an environment that would push her to her best led her to commit to the Nittany Lions.
“I chose to go to Penn State because number one, I wanted to play collegiate soccer in a really competitive place, and two, I wanted to get a great education,” she said. “I was blown away by the resources.”
Bouchelle found and established success on and off the field. She can look back at her years spent on Jeffrey Field fondly. However, it was the connections she built with her teammates off the field that remains her most treasured memories.
“They’ve been my most valued relationships for the last 15 years since I graduated,” she said.
From bonding in the bus and hotel on road trips, to Final Four competitions, international trips and all the time at home in between, Bouchelle emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships and the lasting impact they have in life.
And it’s not just her teammates that left this enduring impact on her.
“I’m incredibly grateful to coaches Erica Dambach, Ann Cook and Michael Coll for their leadership, mentorship and friendship,” she said. “They were way more than just coaches to me.”
Their role in Bouchelle’s life still influences her and the culture she builds in her workplace today.
“I feel like even in medicine, I think about how to create a culture or a team that…
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