Hello! My name is Robert Bilodeau, and I am a rising third-year student in the College of General Studies. This year I will be studying at the University of Nicosia in Cyprus. As a quick geography reminder, Cyprus is an island European nation located in the Mediterranean below Turkey. At Pitt, I am pursing a Bachelor of Science in the field of Natural Science with a minor in post World War II history. My Natural Science major has allowed me great flexibility in my studies, and I have been able to explore a variety of scientific and humanity-based classes of my own personal interest. I am so grateful to have found a science major which will allow me to study in Cyprus this semester.

After finishing my undergraduate degree, I plan to attend medical school. Currently, I am unsure of what type of medicine I want to practice; however, I hope to further explore my interests in patient care and clinical outcomes over the next few years. Throughout my time at Pitt, I have participated in Infectious Disease research, and I definitely want to include a research component to my practice in the future.

Personally, I hail from Orange County, California and attended High School just a few minutes away from Disneyland. Growing up I loved playing tennis and exploring Southern California. I cannot wait to return to that same Mediterranean climate this semester.

Aside from the weather, I am very excited to explore the culture and nation of Cyprus. This will be my first study abroad experience and I’m really hoping this experience will help me reconnect to my ancestral roots. I am half Greek and in elementary school I attended “Greek School” which consisted of language and culture classes at my local orthodox church. While Cyprus is not the same place as Greece, both nations share the same language and a common history. Reconnecting with my ancestral language and roots will be an amazing opportunity for my own personal growth. Academically, my program is offering a great course in Greek language and  two “premed” classes psychology and bioethics. Once transferred to Pitt, these classes will help fill some of my major requirements and keep me on track to graduate. I especially look forward to learning about how Europeans view different mental conditions in my psych class and learning their approach to tough bioethical dilemmas. Later down the road, I hope my experience of understanding and considering different approaches to problem solving will help me become a better physician.  

I am so excited to start on my journey shortly, and I can’t wait to share it with all of you!