Summer Sofer’s love for soccer began at the age of four and quickly became an indelible part of her identity. “I was always that athlete,” she explained. “Soccer gave me structure – it made me feel good, and it helped me manage life and school.” The sport wasn’t just a pastime; it was a training ground for discipline, resilience, teamwork, and adaptability that would later define her career.

Summer’s talent on the field eventually earned her a spot on Israel’s national soccer team at just 17. “The national team coach found me during a tryout in New York. When he invited me to Israel, I looked at my parents and said, ‘I’m going!’” Though the move brought challenges – like adapting to a new culture and being far from her family – Summer found a second family in her teammates. The experience reinforced her ability to thrive under pressure, an invaluable skill she would carry into medicine.

Even as she later played professional soccer in Israel’s top league, Summer was balancing another passion: medicine. “Some people didn’t understand why I kept playing,” she shared. “But for me, soccer was my therapy. It kept me centered and gave me a break from the intense mental demands of medical school.” Just as she had learned to manage the highs and lows of competitive sports, she approached medical training with the same discipline and drive.

Before joining the Technion, Summer completed a bachelor’s in physics with a minor in business at LIU Brooklyn, followed by a master’s degree in clinical microbiology and immunology at Tel Aviv University. It was during this time that she realized her calling to medicine. “I’ve always loved space, but I also wanted to help people,” she said. The same curiosity that pushed her to explore new frontiers in sports now fueled her passion for aerospace medicine.

Summer’s ultimate goal is to become an aerospace medical doctor, which focuses on the physiological and medical challenges faced by pilots, astronauts, and others exposed to extreme environments, such as high-altitude flight and space travel. It encompasses everything from preventing the effects of microgravity on the human body to addressing radiation exposure, oxygen deprivation, and the psychological stresses of long-duration missions. “My grandfather was a flight engineer that flew all over the world, so I grew up seeing the magic of aviation and space,” she shared. “I want to push for aerospace medicine to develop in Israel, where it’s currently underrepresented.”

The Technion’s American Medical School allowed her to combine her dreams of studying in Israel with the familiarity of an American program. “The Technion is like a hub for innovation,” Summer said. “It’s the perfect place to pursue something interdisciplinary like aerospace medicine.”

To further her vision and give back to the country that she loves, Summer founded the Israel Aerospace Medical Association (IAsMA) to bring awareness to the field and help develop it within Israel’s medical and academic communities. “The rest of the world is so advanced in this field, but it’s almost non-existent here,” she said. Her determination is already paying off: Summer is currently completing an aerospace medicine internship at NASA at the Kennedy Space Center, a pivotal step in her journey.

Summer’s time at the Technion has been anything but typical, with her studies interrupted by the pandemic and ongoing war. Yet, she credits the school’s supportive environment for helping her thrive. “The Technion has this open, interdisciplinary vibe that encourages you to chase your dreams,” she said.

As she prepares for her next chapter, Summer remains committed to both her personal and professional goals. Whether advancing aerospace medicine in Israel or working toward beginning her Staj (a year of clinical rotations that is part of the internship process in Israel) next year, Summer is determined to make an impact. “If you love something, you make time for it,” she said. “Soccer taught me that, and it’s a lesson I carry with me in everything I do.”