T&T scholar makes history at Harvard Conference

By Kaelanne Jordan

mediarelations.camsel@catholictt.org

At just 15 years old, Ethan Joseph graduated from St Mary’s College (CIC). By 17, he had placed first in the Caribbean in Chemistry at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE). He earned straight Grade Ones, received offers from top-tier international universities, and was accepted into a dual law programme between University College London and Columbia University.

And yet, despite the accolades, his journey was marked not by ease, but by faith—resilient, persistent, and unwavering.

“I  did everything by the book,” Ethan said. “I was just so frustrated. Why did I have two years of hell? But  I decided to pray. And pray and pray.”

After government scholarships were cut, Ethan—despite his regional ranking—was left without financial support for the prestigious programmes he had earned entry into. Then came Covid-19. His full scholarship to New York University (NYU) Shanghai was upended by the global crisis, forcing him to start again.

“I won’t say I was depressed or anything. I love to use the word despondent,” Ethan told The Catholic News. He recalled sitting in the front pew of St Theresa’s RC Church, Woodbrook, just asking, “Why? Why me…Can You please help me? Do You want anything to do with me or not?”

A day later, his father had a conversation that would open a new path: a connection to the University of South Florida (USF). Ethan applied—and was accepted.

Though he initially planned to attend USF for just one semester, Ethan soon found himself excelling once again. He earned a 4.2 GPA, became active in the Catholic Student Union (CSU), and eventually founded a karate club on campus that helped students—especially those struggling post-Covid—find their footing again.

“That’s my purpose here. Like in CIC. I had a purpose….I was always leading things, leading groups, partaking in church…I’m like, what’s my purpose here?”

That spirit of service led Ethan to a remarkable opportunity: a five-week internship on Capitol Hill with a Republican congressman—a rare achievement for any student, let alone an international one from the Caribbean in a time of rising visa restrictions.

“He personally asked me if I would want to come,” Ethan said. “He [said] it’s good for us to go to the US and …voice our concerns too. Just give a voice, you know…this is how your policies and stuff affect us in the Caribbean,” Ethan said.

Ethan’s passion for health policy comes from a deeply personal place. His mother nearly went blind after being misdiagnosed three times in Trinidad. It was only through a clinical trial in the US—using a colon cancer drug repurposed for macular degeneration—that her eyesight was restored.

“Within five minutes her eyesight came back….And just seeing the look on her face. That’s what made me want to become a doctor.”

That moment ignited Ethan’s pursuit of a career that combines medicine and law. He now aims to enter an MD-JD (Doctor of Medicine/Doctor of Jurisprudence) programme, with a focus on reforming drug approval processes—bringing scientific insight to the legal and political realms.

“…that’s why I want to go into Congress, see how politics plays a part in this because I know the science behind it,” he said.

Earning a perfect 4.0 GPA, Ethan was recently honoured with the University of South Florida’s King O’Neal Scholar Award—bestowed on graduates who attain a flawless academic record. For him, the achievement was more than academic validation.

“I want to show people what us in the Caribbean could do. The only reason why we haven’t done it at such a large scale is because not everybody was as fortunate as me.”

Ethan’s academic journey reached another milestone when he became the first USF student to present as a plenary speaker at a Harvard research conference. His team’s groundbreaking work explored the link between poor oral hygiene and coronary artery disease, revealing how bacteria from the mouth could enter the bloodstream and lead to arterial plaque buildup—a key contributor to heart disease.

What started as a modest poster presentation at the University of Pennsylvania soon evolved into a Harvard plenary. “I guarantee you; I would have bet money we were not gonna get it…this is Harvard’s conference! They have international people from Cambridge, Oxford, Canada….And then I got the email…I was like okay, now we need to lock in…we have to really nail this,” Ethan said.

Wearing his Trinidad and Tobago sash at graduation was more than symbolic for Ethan—it was a moment of cultural pride. “We’re very intellectual. The only reason why we haven’t been able to show it, because we haven’t had the resources to show it…”

He continued, “On the stage I got to at least represent and show, look, you know I’m here in the big leagues too….that’s one of the purposes of coming to America, not only for me to benefit, but to show, that, look, we could actually beat you guys back,” Ethan said.

Today, Ethan balances two jobs—one at a surgery centre, another testing water and green cleaning products—while applying for graduate school. His advice to others is both practical and deeply spiritual: “You might have to do something you don’t want. It’s better than doing nothing at all… But would you get to the finish line?”

His answer is rooted in faith. “Faith in God first and foremost and faith in yourself.”

And for Ethan Joseph, that faith is never passive—it’s action, service, sacrifice, and an enduring belief that God will create a way, even when doors close.

“I strongly believe God helps people who help themselves. If you don’t do anything… because like God gives us all the abilities to do everything… He will create a way for you or create another way if it’s better than the way you’re heading right now.”