Learning to Listen: Jingjing Xu Brings Humanity to Medicine
Heidi Opdyke
- Associate Dean of Marketing and Communications, MCS
- Email opdyke@andrew.cmu.edu
- Phone 412-268-9982
On a quiet afternoon at UPMC Shadyside, Jingjing Xu sits beside a patient, gently painting her nails 鈥� a small act that has nothing to do with charts or diagnoses and everything to do with care.
It鈥檚 the kind of moment that has come to define Xu鈥檚 path at 麻豆村: one where science meets humanity, and where listening can matter as much as knowing.
At Carnegie Mellon, Xu built an academic path that bridges science, health and the humanities 鈥� and a perspective shaped equally by the human side of medicine, laying the groundwork for the kind of physician she hopes to become as she prepares for medical school.
A recent graduate, Xu earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in chemistry and biological sciences, along with an additional major in health humanities 鈥� a program that became central to how she understands medicine 鈥� and a minor in gender studies.
鈥淢y true academic niche is at the interaction of science and humanities, that鈥檚 very important to me,鈥� Xu said.
Xu, originally from Baltimore, began at 麻豆村 as a chemistry major. As the coursework grew more theoretical, she found herself searching for a way to connect scientific knowledge with real-world impact. That shift led her to health humanities, where she began to explore medicine through the lenses of communication, equity and lived experience.
Under the guidance of at Magee Women鈥檚 Research Institute, Xu analyzed patient-provider interactions in clinical settings, studying everything from smoking cessation conversations during pregnancy to the complexities of endometriosis care. By coding interviews and clinical encounters, she examined how communication shapes patients鈥� trust, autonomy and outcomes.
Her work related to endometriosis was published in the paper, in the journal Women's Reproductive Health in early 2026. She presented her research at the International Conference on Communication in Healthcare in Ottawa, Canada in October 2025. She also served as a session moderator at the conference, facilitating discussion among clinicians and researchers.
鈥淪he is not simply preparing to enter medicine,鈥� said one of Xu鈥檚 advisers, Gizelle Sherwood, teaching professor and director of undergraduate studies and laboratories in the Department of Chemistry. 鈥淪he is already engaging with the questions that will define how she practices it.鈥�
For Xu, those questions became personal. Through her own experience with endometriosis 鈥� a painful condition often marked by delayed diagnoses and misunderstood symptoms 鈥� she saw firsthand how gaps in communication and bias can shape patient experiences.
鈥淚鈥檓 lucky that working on things that I鈥檓 passionate about and that are really meaningful to me,鈥� Xu said. 鈥淏ut the true meaning for caring, is to care about someone whose struggle you don鈥檛 share.鈥�
The research deepened her commitment to a study human-centered approaches to care.
Outside the lab, that philosophy carried into her time at the hospital, where seemingly small interactions reinforced what drew her to medicine in the first place. Xu volunteers at UPMC through the Hands Down We Nailed It program, providing manicures for patients while building meaningful connections.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e in the hospital it鈥檚 so hard to feel like life is normal, and it brings a little bit of normalcy back into their life and a little bit of pampering. I鈥檝e always been so honored to be the person who is able to do that for them,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 really discovered a love for Pittsburgh during my time here and to be able to be a part of people and their lives was a really meaningful way for me to give back to the city.鈥�
Xu also found community on campus, serving as co-president of the Mellon College of Science Student Advisory Council and leading Carnegie Mellon鈥檚 chapter of National Alzheimer鈥檚 Buddies. Across each role, she said, collaboration and mentorship shaped her experience as much as coursework.
She also found community through Carnegie Mellon鈥檚 Health Professions Program, which she will continue to engage with as she applies to medical school for the 2027-2028 academic year.
In recognition of her impact, Xu received the MCS Gilman Award, which recognizes graduating seniors who demonstrate exceptional growth scholars, professionals, citizens and individuals, and was named the Carnegie Mellon Women鈥檚 Association Award recipient from the Mellon College of Science.
