Chase T.M. Anderson, M.D. ’11, SM ’13 is a fellow in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. In this commentary for WBUR, Anderson writes about how the friends he made during his time at MIT showed him the meaning of friendship and support:

These friends validated my identity and helped me unshackle the self I’d been hiding, or had been forced to hide. They taught me that being African-American and gay were beautiful aspects of my entire self, and that I was so much more than I ever dreamed possible.

Seven years later, I’m now a pediatric psychiatrist. I’m trained in the science and the literature. But, through this chosen village, I also understand how the power of community can heal.

Anderson, MD, Chase T.M. "I'm A Black, Gay Physician. I'm Here Today Because My Friends Saw Me — All Of Me." WBUR, 8 June 2021.