Alexandra Vlk

High School Graduation Year: 2013
Year First Awarded the Carson Scholarship: 2012
Sponsored by: Mount Moriah Lodge Charitable Fund Endowment

Alexandra Vlk, who earned her Carson Scholarship in eleventh grade, joined our recognition program in 2013 as a senior in high school. After graduating high school as a 2-time Carson Scholar, Alexandra stayed committed to academic excellence and community service, earning her a spot in the CSF’s inaugural 2016 Hall of Fame class of Carson Scholars.

Alexandra earned a B.S. from Towson University, where she studied Biology and Chemistry with a minor in Physics. She continued her education at the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program where she earned her M.D. (2023) and Ph.D. (2025) in Immunology. She is now a Pathology Resident at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Throughout her undergraduate and medical school studies, Alexandra participated in several research experiences. Her fields of research include experimental physical chemistry, molecular ecology/genetics, virology, cancer immunology, and inmate immunology. Alexandra has been mentored by the experts in these fields that she has been fortunate to work with, who have each guided her toward her goal of becoming an independent physician scientist. She has contributed to six peer reviewed journal articles, and given numerous proffered communications to local, national and even international audiences. In addition, she has secured grant funding for several of these projects including earning the American Association of Immunologists Careers in Immunology Graduate Student Fellowship. She is currently working on a research project in clinical immunology during her residency training.

Alexandra has always been a leader among her peers. At Towson University she was the president of Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society. In medical school, served on the Medical Alumni Association Student Advisory Committee, and during graduate school, she co-organized the weekly Immunology Journal Club. Alexandra has served as a professional development committee member for the Society for Leukocyte Biology, a panelist for multiple scientific and premedical panels, a peer tutor, and a moderator for the Office of Student Research’s Medical Student Research Day.

Alexandra has earned many awards and honors through her educational career. At Towson University, she earned numerous academic scholarships and became a member of multiple honors societies. In the spring of 2017, she was asked to be the commencement speaker for the Towson University Fisher College of Science and Mathematics. As a medical student, she earned an alumni and service-learning award, earned awards for conference research presentations, and was a keynote speaker at a research retreat.

Volunteering and helping those in her community is very important to Alexandra. She has volunteered at an emergency shelter for domestically abused women and children and in the ER for the local VA hospital. She joined a running group with the homeless population in her community, taught anatomy to visiting international high school students at a local summer camp, and much more. Each of these experiences has allowed her to share her passions with others and she is grateful for the opportunity to learn from everyone she has the privilege of interacting with.

Amidst all of these activities and accolades, she has built a family of her own. Raising her three children with her husband has been one of her greatest blessings and dream come true.

Alexandra is an extraordinary example of the qualities our amazing scholars and alumni embody. She is an outstanding student excelling academically, participating in groundbreaking research, leading her peers and serving her community in multiple ways. And despite sometimes long and challenging days, you will always find her smiling – grateful for each of these experiences and fortunate to be alive.

We asked Alexandra to share a piece of advice with our current scholars and she said, “Be proud of your journey and who you are. I think all too often we compare our experiences to others, only to feel disappointed in ourselves. I want to gently remind you that each of our life experiences differ and our reactions to those experiences shape who we become. You have the power to make your dreams come true. If we see the world with gratitude, there will be plenty of room for joy in our lives and our hearts will be at peace.”