Dorota Krajewski gets her bedside manner in tune

By Lissa Harris

What could selling violins, waiting tables and caring for patients possibly have in common? They all, says biology and society major Dorota Krajewski, require a talent for "social navigation," a skill no textbook could ever teach.

Senior Dorota Krajewski takes her violin out for a stroll on campus. Frank DiMeo/University Photography

An accomplished performer who has been studying the violin most of her life, Krajewski plays with the Cornell Symphony Orchestra during the school year. But in the summers, she's more likely to be found playing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" for young children picking their first violin. Since she was 16, Krajewski has spent her summers demonstrating and selling violins at a Toronto violin shop.

Krajewski likens the violin business to selling cars: high prices and low turnover make every sale an important one. The most important skill a salesperson has, she emphasizes, is the ability to relate to people

"It's a slow-moving business, and whenever someone comes in, it's a $100,000 violin, or a $7,000 violin, or a $500 student outfit. It's a lot of money," she said. "So as a sales representative, you have to be able to play the violin, demonstrate it, interact, build relationships with your customers."

But Krajewski is not considering a career in music: She has applied to medical schools in Canada, Poland and the United States and plans to specialize in obstetrics. Born in Poland, Krajewski emigrated to Canada with her family when she was 10 years old.

As an emergency-room volunteer at Cayuga Medical Center, Krajewski has had the chance to put her well-developed rapport with people to good use. "I feel like I'm in my element when I'm talking to patients," she said.

During her senior year, Krajewski also "shadowed" obstetrician E. James Fogel of OB/GYN Associates of Ithaca, observing and assisting him as he met with patients.

Both selling violins and waitressing at Aladdin's, a popular Collegetown restaurant, have given her nearly as much insight as her volunteer work into the day-to-day routine of counseling anxious patients.

"You could have the grouchiest customers ever, rude customers, wonderful customers, gossipy nosy customers, whatever," she said. "That's what you get with patients. You can practice your bedside manner on your restaurant tables."