Where Passion Meets Innovation in Modern Medicine

As part of our Pushing Perspectives series, Dr. Tiffany Grace Perry—mom to Victoria P. ’25 and Vice Chair of Spine and Education at Cedars Sinai—delivered a compelling talk that bridged the gap between art, science, and cutting-edge technology. Sharing her unexpected journey from piano performance to pioneering spine surgery, Dr. Perry demonstrated how following your passion can lead to an extraordinary career at the intersection of multiple disciplines.

“Follow what you love to do. That will never steer you wrong,” Dr. Perry emphasized, recounting her transformation from a classical pianist studying abroad to a leading neurosurgeon. Her path was far from traditional—she took classes in college like ballet and jazz, learned to scuba dive, and majored in classical piano performance. This was before she discovered that her love of science and math would lead her to a career in medicine thanks to an encouraging mentor’s suggestion during her junior year of college. 

Today, Dr. Perry’s work exemplifies how diverse interests converge in modern medicine. For students excited about mathematics, she demonstrated how geometric calculations and precise angels are crucial in correcting spinal deformities. For those interested in robotics, she showed how surgical robots assist in achieving millimeter-perfect precision through tiny incisions. The artificial intelligence enthusiasts learned how predictive modeling helps determine patient outcomes, while engineering minds discovered how ultrasonic devices—oscillating 22,500 times per second—have revolutionized tumor removal. 

“I love math,” Dr. Perry gushed enthusiastically, explaining how she works with engineers weekly to analyze surgical outcomes and improve patient care. Her practice combines virtual reality for surgical planning, advanced imaging for tumor visualization, and artificial intelligence for predictive accuracy—all in the service of ensuring patients receive the best care possible.

Dr. Perry’s message to students was universal and interdisciplinary: do not feel pressure to have everything figured out early. “If anybody tells you you need to know what you want to do when you're in 7th Grade at Marlborough…that’s just not true,” she advised. Instead, she encouraged students to pursue what “brightens your eyes and brightens your life.” Her own satisfaction in her career is evident: “I love what I do. I would go back and go through every ounce of training and education I have done all over again just to do what I do today.”

As she continues to push boundaries in her field, pursuing a Masters in Public Health focused on global health systems and working to expand access to advanced surgical care worldwide, Dr. Perry embodies her own advice about lifelong learning and following one’s passions. Her journey from piano keys to surgical robots demonstrates that success doesn’t always follow a straight path—sometimes, it is just about finding what makes your eyes light up and pursuing it wholeheartedly.