Alumni Spotlight: Marina Shatskikh '18

Marina Shatskikh

Russian Class of 2018

I got my B.S. in pharmaceutical chemistry to pursue a career in medicine, and my B.A. in Russian to develop my native Russian and engage with the Slavic community on campus and in the greater Sacramento community.

What are you up to now?

After graduating, I worked in research and development at a pharmaceutical company for 3 years. Currently, I am working as a medicinal chemist at a pharmaceutical company in the Bay Area, while applying to medical schools. As an aspiring physician, I hope to use my knowledge of the Russian language and culture to better serve Russian-speaking patients.

Along with several peers from UC Davis, I founded the Nadezhda (Hope, in Russian) Slavic Health Project, a non-profit organization geared towards providing free health consultations and insurance guidance to uninsured, low-income, predominantly Russian-speaking people in Sacramento through collaboration with community organizations and UC Davis School of Medicine students and physicians. Using the language skills gained in the Russian courses, I am better able to communicate with the patients and build a relationship of trust through the shared culture.

How did your experience at UC Davis prepare you for the next step in your academic/professional journey?

While living abroad in Ireland, and particularly since the start of the war in Ukraine and movement of refugees into the country, I've met countless patients on my clinical rotations where Russian is their main language. The knowledge of Russian that I honed while in the LangLit program at Davis has been indispensable in allowing me to effectively communicate with them and help their medical teams provide proper care. 

What's your advice for someone considering your major?

Regardless of what field you go into, you are bound to meet Russian speakers and knowledge of the language will be beneficial. If you've any interest in either honing your current language base or starting to learn the language for the first time, you won't regret it!

What was your favorite part of your undergraduate program here?

I came to quickly realize is that I had found a second family. The department is fairly small, which allows for intimate class sizes, an opportunity to connect with the professors, and make life-long friendships with peers. The faculty is very supportive, and the courses are enriching and fun! 

I ended up double majoring and particularly enjoyed Russian Film, 19th Century Russian Literature, Women in Russian Culture, Pushkin and Literary Translation. All of these courses provided me with a greater worldview and helped develop my critical reasoning, communication (verbal & written) skills, which I can apply in my future career. The small class sizes created an opportunity to connect with professors and make lifelong friendships with peers.

Co-founding the Nadezhda Clinic, a student-run clinic focused on providing care to the Russian-speaking community of Sacramento.

The Russian film course taught by Dr. Kaminer was my favorite! I also particularly enjoyed 19th Century Russian Literature, Women in Russian Culture, Pushkin and Literary Translation. All of these courses provided me with a greater worldview and helped develop my critical reasoning, communication (verbal & written) skills, which I can apply in my future career.

What were you involved in outside of class (clubs, internships, etc.)?

As a way to give back to the department, I took on the role of Undergraduate Peer Adviser during my junior and senior years, serving as a liaison between the faculty and perspective/current students, and was heavily involved in the Russian Cultural Association (RCA) social group on campus through which I met some of my best friends. I was also a researcher in the Department of Chemistry, co-founder of the Nadezhda student-run clinic, and a member of the Delta Epsilon Mu fraternity.

Anything else you want to share?

Overall, being part of the Russian Department at UC Davis was a highlight of my undergraduate career! I was able to connect with the faculty and peers, build life-long relationships and better prepare myself for my professional goals.