Pre-Medical Student & Community Leader

Abigail Gekker

First-generation scholar pairing hands-on experience in physical therapy, teaching, and disability advocacy with a growing foundation in UX/UI design. This portfolio highlights my journey in turning curiosity and service into real support for the people around me.

About Me

Teaching Latin dance, supporting a buddy with special needs, and volunteering in hospice care have built adaptability, patience, and clear communication. These experiences guide every step toward a career in medicine.

Learning Through Service

Care, Designed Thoughtfully

Shadowing in physical therapy shows what care looks like up close, while UX/UI training adds a designer's eye for making healthcare easier to navigate. Together, they shape a goal of helping people heal and thrive.

Education & Leadership

Wall, NJ | Expected Graduation: June 2027

Unweighted GPA: 3.8
College Board First-Generation Recognition Award Recipient
New Jersey and World Spanish Seal of Biliteracy Recipient
RIT 2026 Math and Science Award Recipient

Communications High School

Honor Societies

National Honor Society (2026), National Art Honor Society (2026), The National Society of High School Scholars (2026), and Quill & Scroll Honor Society (2025 – Present).

Leadership

Treasurer of the Cultural Communications Club (2025 – Present). Ambassador for Friendship Circle of Central Jersey's Winter Fundraising Campaign, raising over $1,000. Participant in Girls With Impact (Fall 2025) and The Junior Academy (Winter 2026).

Experience

Physical Therapy Mentorship

Shadowing and assisting under the guidance of Dr. Chintan Shah to gain hands-on exposure to the practice of physical therapy.

Observing patient care, treatment planning, and clinical workflows
Building foundational knowledge of physical therapy techniques and patient interaction

NJ Sports Chiropractic & Physical Therapy, Morganville, NJ | September 2026 – January 2027

Volunteer, Pediatric Physical Therapy

Abilities in Action, Wall Township, NJ | Present

Volunteering at a pediatric physical therapy practice alongside my mentorship experience.

Assisting with sessions and activities that support children's physical therapy needs

Latin Dance Teacher

Dance Evolution Club, Saddle Brook, NJ | August 2025 – Present

Leading group classes and private lessons, showing strong leadership across varied skill levels
Adapting teaching methods to meet the needs of students of different ages and abilities
Communicating regularly with parents about their children's progress
Cultivating a positive, individualized learning environment that helps each student reach their full potential

Volunteer & Ambassador

Friendship Circle of Central Jersey, Manalapan, NJ | February 2025 – Present

Supporting a buddy with special needs through dance, cooking, crafts, music, and yoga during weekly Sunday Programs
Completing ongoing training seminars to strengthen my ability to support participants and ensure a positive experience
Helping organize and run events, fundraisers, and outreach programs

Data Entry & General Volunteer

Spero Hospice and Palliative Care, East Brunswick, NJ | June 2025 – September 2025

Performed accurate, timely data entry in support of organizational operations
Managed volunteer schedules and tracked program progress
Stayed adaptable and flexible while balancing multiple responsibilities

Babysitter

Manalapan, NJ | June 2025 – Present

Managing multiple childcare responsibilities with strong communication and organizational skills
Designing engaging activities using games and crafts
Maintaining constant attentiveness to ensure children's safety
Applying patience and understanding in challenging situations

Skills & Certifications

Google Applications, Figma, and Adobe Creative Suite.

Technical Skills

Certifications

Core Strengths

Teamwork and collaboration, clear communication, adaptability in teaching, professionalism and ethics, patience and encouragement.

AED/CPR
Business and Leadership Academy
Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design
Build Wireframes and Low-Fidelity Prototypes
Start the UX Design Process: Empathize, Define, and Ideate
Conduct User Research and Test Early Concepts
Create High-Fidelity Designs and Prototypes in Figma
Build Dynamic User Interfaces (UI) for Websites

Projects

A UX/UI design project focused on a more effective way for patients to check in and keep track of appointments and medications before a doctor's visit. Built through the full UX design process, from user research and wireframes to a high-fidelity Figma prototype.