Voices of HMSOM: Henrich Fuses Art and Science to Heal

Physician-to-be Mason Henrich draws from creative and analytical origins to optimize surgical acumen with humanistic care.

During a photo shoot on assignment in pediatric intensive care for his mother’s foundation, “Moment by Moment Photography,” teenage Mason Henrich witnessed a profound sense of love and joy through hardship when a rounding physician saw his young patient's love for music.

The physician grabbed her IV pole, tilting it for her to strum like a makeshift guitar. It was a bonding healthcare moment Henrich wouldn’t forget.

“I realized that these physicians saw their patients as so much more than just illnesses to be treated, but people to be cared for,” Henrich said. “I really fell in love with that.”

Often seen as disparate, the worlds of art and science actually share a common goal to understand and interpret the human experience.

For Henrich, now a fourth-year medical student at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine (HMSOM), the philosophy fusing these two worlds is less of a thread than it is the very fabric of his journey to becoming a physician.

Growing up with a photographer mother and engineer father, Henrich was immersed in a household that valued skills in both creativity and problem-solving. After years tinkering with his father on projects in their garage, and joining his mother’s foundation which provides photography for families of children with life-limiting illnesses, Henrich’s keen eye and steady hands would sculpt the body of work that illustrates his calling.

SPECIALTY TO HONE A FOCUS

Henrich’s passion for pediatrics was sparked by his early work with children, while his love for surgery stems from his “engineer” side.

“I love working with my hands, being able to solve problems in the immediate moments,” he said. “But it’s also so much more of an art than you’d think. You need to think on your feet and act with a lot more curiosity and creativity than the field is given credit for.”

Drawing from his experiences and talents, Henrich has chosen to specialize in surgery as he enters residency, with further plans to enter a fellowship in pediatric surgery.

“Mason uniquely fuses an analytical mind with profound empathy, allowing him to see challenges from multiple perspectives,” said Jeffrey Boscamp, M.D., president and dean of the school. “His innate drive to not only identify a need but to build a solution from the ground up makes him an exceptional M.D. candidate, and a future leader in surgery.”

SEEKING SOLUTIONS THROUGH PATIENT ADVOCACY

That drive is demonstrated by his humanistic leadership efforts.

“Transformation Trunk,” a community clothing exchange Henrich founded at HMSOM, was born from meeting a bariatric surgery patient whose success produced its own struggle.

While her surgery had turned her health and body around for the better, she was struggling financially and emotionally because her clothes no longer fit her, and she couldn’t afford to replace them. Seeing deficiency in the system, Henrich built a solution.

His Transformation Trunk capstone project offered a sustainable cycle of free clothes for weight-loss patients. He partnered with social workers and marketing teams–even taking clothing donations from similar efforts at the trauma center of Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC)--to launch the initiative.

“Having sympathy for a patient or showing them empathy isn’t necessarily enough,” he asserted. “Taking it that step further to be an advocate for the patient has always been something that’s inspired me.”

AN OCEAN AWAY, RIGHT AT HOME

A California native, Henrich chose to travel 3,000 miles to attend HMSOM. He was drawn to the school’s service-driven mission and focus on humanism in navigating the social determinants of health. He made the journey seeking to challenge his own perspectives.

Despite moving from coast-to-coast, Henrich isn’t far from home. Joining him on this journey was his wife, Victoria, who brought “home” all the way to him.

“My wife has done so much to support me in the pursuit of my dreams,” he said. “She moved across the country. She coped with tighter budgets, late nights studying, weekend shifts, and all that accompanies supporting a partner through medical school.”

Victoria Henrich works for the national television broadcast network NBC in bustling Manhattan. Her demanding career in the city complements his own rigorous medical training in New Jersey.

“There will always be more and new challenges we face in residency, fellowship, and career,” said Henrich. “My ultimate personal goal is to support her in the pursuit of her dreams with the same patience, understanding, and kindness that she has shown me in the pursuit of mine.”

As he prepares for a surgical residency, Henrich’s goals remain grounded. His advice to medical students at HMSOM and everywhere is a reflection of his own measured and thoughtful journey.

“It’s very easy to start thinking far ahead,” he said. “Taking it a day at a time is the best thing you can do because it helps you to be present. Control the things you control and realize that everything will happen for a reason.”