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As an undergraduate student at the ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ, Carleigh Eagle set her sights on becoming a doctor. She wanted to work with innovative technologies at the forefront of medicine and believed medical school was how she would get there.  

That belief began to change in 2019 during Exploring Majoring in Physics. The course brought together ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ professors and professionals in the Jacksonville area — a growing hub for health-tech innovation — with students for a meet-and-greet.  

That’s when Eagle met Dr. Robert Pooley, a Mayo Clinic medical physicist in the Department of Radiology and scientific director of the Anatomic Modeling Unit.  

Eagle introduced herself and expressed her strong interest in innovative medical physics. Pooley took note. 

Today, Eagle is a 3D engineer specializing in anatomical modeling, a position she’s held since August 2022. Last summer, she returned to ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ to pursue a Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering under the guidance of assistant professors Drs. Laura Habegger and Grant Bevill.  

While Eagle is a confident go-getter, she attributes ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ with providing access to leadership, research and internship opportunities that helped her get where she is today. Now she aims to support other ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ students and graduates by sharing her experiences and fostering mentorship opportunities.  

“I am determined to make a difference in the world of medicine and open doors for the next generation of healthcare professionals,” said Eagle.  

Eagle was applauded on January 30 when she proudly presented her story at the Florida State University System Board of Governors meeting held at ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ.

³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ opened the doors  

A first-generation college student who’s lived in Jacksonville since middle school, Eagle’s passion for healthcare led her to immerse herself in biology, chemistry and physics courses at ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ. She was particularly drawn to studying the innovative technologies at the intersection of medicine and engineering.  

While at ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ, she took advantage of every opportunity she could in her field — and beyond. 

Eagle conducted research on superconducting nanowire devices with Dr. Daniel Santavicca. She attended the Undergraduate Women in Physics conference, served as vice president for the Biomedical Pre-Professional Society and the Society of Physics students. She tutored fellow students, helped transition tutoring services online during the pandemic and helped her friend, Student Government Vice President Kayla Dougherty, grow Lend-A-Fit, which collects and distributes business clothes to students for job interviews and professional activities. 

A few months after their 2019 meeting, Pooley offered Eagle a position in the Clinical Research Internship Summer Program (CRISP) at Mayo Clinic. But the pandemic delayed the program's start until after her 2021 graduation, which was with a bachelor's in physics, concentrating in premedical physics and minors in chemistry and mathematical science.  

She went on to work in clinical research in cardiology and COVID-19 at Baptist Health, and in oncology research at Mayo Clinic.  

In August 2022, Pooley reached out to her with a new opportunity: an engineer position on an anatomical modeling team at Mayo Clinic in Florida. She started immediately. 

Opening doors at Mayo Clinic for others  

The Anatomical Modeling Unit develops and builds custom 3D models of patient-specific anatomy to make diagnoses, prepare for surgeries and help patients understand their procedures. Accurate 3D anatomic models are based on CT or MRI images. Radiologists and engineers process the scans with sophisticated software and then print, layer by layer, life-sized 3D anatomical models, revolutionizing medical care and allowing doctors and researchers to improve surgical procedures, create better treatment plans and reduce costs.  

While contributing to advancements in medical technology, Eagle also wanted to help open the door for other undergraduate students with similar interests. 

“I wanted to find a way to provide internship opportunities to students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields who aren’t necessarily destined for medical school and are looking for alternative pathways to healthcare careers,” said Eagle.  

She worked with Pooley to cofound the Mayo Clinic Physics, Chemistry and Engineering Internship in 2023 to open a new pathway for more students. She also organized a meeting between researchers at Mayo Clinic and faculty at ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ that eventually led to the creation of the ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ Anatomy in 3D course, the first-known collegiate program of its kind. Eagle worked with Pooley, Habegger and Bevill to design the course, which opened at ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ last spring. The class teaches advanced anatomical modeling skills to students, including those who might one day want to work as software engineers in the field. Eagle serves as an adviser and guest lecturer in the class.  

Full circle 

Last summer, with support from Mayo Clinic, Eagle returned to ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ to pursue a Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering and is delighted to be back on campus conducting research again. 

She says mentorship from ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ faculty including Habegger and Bevill and Mayo Clinic colleagues including Pooley has been pivotal in her academic and professional journeys. 

“I gained so much from the dedicated faculty and incredible network of professional connections I made while at ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ,” said Eagle. “I feel so honored to give back and help bridge the connection between ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ and Mayo Clinic to help advance 3D printing technologies.”