University of Cincinnati student Eddie Gerstner, who is graduating this semester from the College of Allied Health Sciences, has faced life-threatening milk allergies since childhood and will enter the College of Medicine later this year, according to an April 15 announcement.
Gerstner’s experiences with severe allergic reactions shaped his outlook on patient care and inspired his pursuit of a medical career. As a child in Cincinnati, even brief contact with dairy products could trigger serious symptoms, leading to frequent hospital visits. “I love the hospital. It became a second home for me,” said Gerstner.
After a particularly severe reaction in fifth grade that resulted in an emergency flight and weeklong intensive care stay, Gerstner began oral immunotherapy treatment under medical supervision. While he can now touch dairy without triggering dangerous reactions, he developed eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a chronic immune system disease linked to food allergies that causes inflammation and pain when swallowing.
Gerstner credits his health challenges for motivating him toward compassionate medicine: “Experiencing both vulnerability and healing firsthand has instilled in me a commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care in every interaction.” His interest deepened through shadowing professionals at St. Xavier High School and participating in service programs at UC.
While researching EoE as an undergraduate, Gerstner joined Marc Rothenberg’s Campaign Urging Research for Eosinophilic Diseases Lab at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital after reaching out directly by email. Mark Rochman praised him as “smart, talented and incredibly motivated,” while Rothenberg said Gerstner’s journey inspires others: “Eddie’s scientific and personal journeys serve as an inspiration to me and my lab members.”
Using advanced super-resolution microscopy techniques alongside MD-PhD student Kendall Kellerman, Gerstner helped visualize neuroimmune interactions related to pain symptoms in EoE patients—work he presented at the International Eosinophil Society Congress in France last summer. Reflecting on his path forward into medicine, Gerstner credited Rothenberg and Rochman: “They are the reason for where I am today.”
