51Ç鱨վ

By: Tiffany Whitfield

Dr. Noelle Gabriel is a proud alumna of 51Ç鱨վ having majored in biology with minors in chemistry and communications. Currently, Dr. Gabriel is a pediatric physician with the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD) as part of Tidewater Children's Associates. She also practices in the emergency department at CHKD.

"As a frontline worker during SARS-Cov2, it has had a tremendous impact on my clinical practice," said Dr. Gabriel. "First, there was the fact that this was a completely new virus, so there was a need to quickly understand transmission, disease sequelae, treatment options, and preventative measures." Scientists globally have worked to better sequence and understand COVID-19. "Science is not perfect - it is a process," said Dr. Gabriel. "As we have seen based on the actions of how our society has approached the SARS-Cov2 virus, it is an evolving learning process."

Dr. Gabriel was poised to take on the demanding roles, especially during COVID-19, due to her education and research opportunities at 51Ç鱨վ. "I've had to deal with securing PPE, giving guidance on school openings, deciding on when to test, and keeping up to date on what happens after a child has been infected with the virus," said Dr. Gabriel. "The well-rounded experience I was afforded at 51Ç鱨վ gave me a solid footing for both academic rigor and real-life problem solving."

Dr. Gabriel is a Norfolk native and comes from a family of Monarchs. "I preferred to stay local, and I was impressed with the Honors College," said Dr. Gabriel.

During her time at 51Ç鱨վ, Dr. Gabriel was a very active student. "Everything from my leadership role in the Pre-Health Club to traveling with the 51Ç鱨վ Debate and Forensics Team afforded me unique opportunities to both serve and learn," said Dr. Gabriel. "We had a diverse group of classmates both culturally and non-traditional." Upon graduation, she a recipient of the Kaufman Scholar.

Dr. Ralph Stevens and the late Ms. Nancy Wade were two very strong faculty members in Dr. Gabriel's academic career. "While always nurturing and supportive, they held me to high expectations especially in the academic setting," said Dr. Gabriel. "They were foundational to me developing good study skills."

After graduating from 51Ç鱨վ, Dr. Gabriel attended Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) and pursued her dream of becoming a physician. "I was accepted into the pediatric residency program through EVMS and CHKD," said Dr. Gabriel. "I am currently a Board-Certified Pediatrician practicing both in primary care and in emergency medicine."

As a proud Norfolk native and graduate of Norfolk Public Schools, Dr. Garbiel has remained true to serving her community. She serves as Vice Chair of Norfolk City School Board, Regional board member for Governor's School for the Arts, and 51Ç鱨վ College of Sciences Advisory Board. Serving as chair and vice-chair of the Norfolk School Board has allowed Dr. Gabriel to use her biology degree to improve school nutrition, physical education, and mental health needs to students.

Dr. Gabriel has been awarded many accolades and awards as well. She has received the CHKD Resident Teaching Award and the CHKD Resident Research Award. Moreover, she was listed by Inside Business to their Top 40 Under 40 and was honored as one of the YWCA Women of Distinction. She also received the Distinguished Norfolk Public Schools Alumni Award.

Dr. Gabriel shares some advice to current and future Monarchs. "51Ç鱨վ will provide you with the necessary classes and skills to prepare you for your career. However, you must take ownership of your educational journey and customize classes, extracurriculars and other opportunities to best fit your interests. Be an active participant in your education, not a passive recipient. Build relationships with your professors and form strong study groups with diverse classmates. Remember, college is an investment in your future, and you should make the most of it. I would also encourage students pursuing a degree in biology to also take time to learn about the arts and humanities. There is a lot of science mixed in with literature, theater, and history. I find more often that the art of medicine is just as important as the scientific practice."