We recently connected with Breanna Yang and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Breanna, thanks for joining us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

While foodblogging has been a longtime hobby, my true career goals lie with the field of medicine. When my younger brother, Bryson, was diagnosed with leukemia in my freshman year of highschool, I was thrown into a world of chemotherapy and hospital waiting rooms. As I watched physicians round and discuss my brother’s treatment plans, my interest in medicine sparked.

When Bryson passed away 11 months later, I channeled my whirlwind of emotions into creating Bryson’s Sunshine Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, with the mission to brighten the lives of childhood cancer patients and their families, as well as raise pediatric cancer awareness. As I hosted events for patients and advocated for increased childhood cancer research, I interacted with patient families across the world. Through those conversations, I learned not only about the numerous types of cancers and their varying presentations, but also how for many, their healthcare providers left a defining impact on their medical journey. My head turned toward ways I could make my own positive impact on patient lives.

I started working at a cancer research laboratory on WashU’s campus and as a patient care technician at SLCH. I realized that as a physician, I would be able to use my love for science to advance medicine while also making a defining impact on each patient’s experience with their unique illness, in hopes that families will have more treatment options and never have to feel as helpless as I once did.

Breanna, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a recent graduate from WashU and am planning to attend medical school this upcoming fall in New York! I started foodblogging as a pastime during highschool, and I fell in love with it. I enjoy travelling and immersing myself in different cultures, so my foodblog serves as the perfect way for me to document my adventures.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

When managing teams or working with others, I find it important to remain open-minded to all ideas and opinions, while reinforcing the group’s goal or mission. It is also important to check in with team members and foster an environment of inclusivity and positive commarderie to maintain morale.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Being personable and demonstrating compassion is extremely important in my field. I interact with a variety of individuals from all walks of life, and it is important to me that each individual feels heard and valued, no matter who they are.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @eatingwbree