Sophie Paek (she/her) holds a B.A. with Honors in Music and Biological Chemistry from Grinnell College, as well as an M.S. in Narrative Medicine from the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine.

 

Growing up as a performing musician, Sophie specialized in both the cello and piano, eventually building a career as a professional cellist. She performed at numerous prestigious venues across the U.S. and in Vienna, Austria. As a teaching artist, Sophie co-founded and directed youth orchestras, as well as KidsMusic—an after-school program that introduced the joy of music to over 300 elementary students. She also served as a full-time teaching artist for cello and piano at a community music school while flourishing as a freelance musician.

 

A pivotal moment in Sophie’s career occurred a few years into her teaching journey when she witnessed the passing of a long-time friend during her performance at an assisted living facility. This experience sparked her interest in healthcare and inspired her to explore various health-related roles, including clinical volunteering in hospitals, conducting research in health justice, and studying Narrative Medicine. Since then, Sophie has been committed to blending her musical background at the intersection of arts and medicine. She believes in the power of the arts to amplify the voices of those often silenced or overlooked in society.

 

Currently, Sophie is pursuing her M.D., driven by her vision of becoming an artist-healer-activist. She aspires to provide holistic care to marginalized individuals, recognizing the profound potential of combining the arts and medicine to foster a more compassionate world.