Millennial Woman Extraordinaire

Young doctor Lauren Liechtenstein is a soprano who, besides exploring old civilizations, trying new flavors and traveling the world, is into supporting the arts and artists, discovering cures for heart disease, and finding joy from healing a child.

- Bianca Salonga

It was cocktail hour on a Friday night. Lauren Lior-Liechtenstein sat by the bar in Manila House. She was about to join her mother, Kathleen, and a few family friends for dinner. “This is as close as I get to a night out,” says Lauren, a pediatrics resident at The Medical City. She headed straight to dinner from hospital duty that night.

It had already been over 36 hours since she last slept. Life as a first year resident was defined by long on-duty hours, making reports on hospital rounds, and completing research papers. Work has been demanding a lot from Lauren, but she is finding more reasons to stay inspired and invigorated. “When you see a patient smile and witness them get better, that’s when everything becomes worth it,” Lauren says.

Life is full for the young doctor of medicine with a Masters Degree in Business Management, a Masters Degree in Public Health and a Masters Degree in Molecular Medicine. Her resume includes being an Associate of the Royal College of Science, with a diploma of Imperial College, Bachelor of Sciences in Genetics, with a published work on DNA quadruplexe formed in the first intron of mitogen activated protein kinase4 (MAP4K4). She is the author of the book Never to Forget, and has performed as a soprano at the Royal Albert Hall, the Cadogan Hall, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Dinner with family and a close circle of friends has become a luxury for the young MD. “I sometimes fall into mini naps in the middle of dinner,” jokes Lauren, as she flips through the wine list. She chooses a Viognier and browses through the menu. Her appreciation for food covers a wide range. It includes Michelin-starred restaurants all over the world, and sometimes, a serving of takeout French fries. It has become a treat, especially on days when her schedule can only accommodate a cup of coffee to go.

TURNING 30 IN ANCIENT GREECE