Join us for our weekly “Rock Reflections,” a series celebrating Trinity alumni. From all 50 states to countries worldwide, our graduates are making an impact, and we'll share their stories on Trinity's website and social media.
This week's profile is about Christian Linares '04
Christian Linares’ educational journey took him from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School to Trinity to U of L to the United Kingdom. He is currently a physician practicing at six London hospitals.
Christian was heavily involved in life at Trinity. He participated in swimming, soccer, Jazz Band, Trinity Singers, Spanish National Honor Society, National Honor Society and Film Club. He earned three Shamrock Awards for his academic success.
Trinity memories are with Christian to this day.
“I have vivid memories of freshman orientation and even my shadowing day from eighth grade,” he said. “I was so nervous meeting my new classmates. Now they’re my best friends for life.”
Christian also was a founding member of Trinity’s inaugural crew team, which won a state title in 2004.
“We worked so hard, training at 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. every day to get in shape and come together as a team, and we pulled it off,” Christian said. “It’s kind of my legacy to see the state banner hanging in the gym. Thanks to our moderator, Carole Baker, and the lads on the team. We all have crew on our senior rings.”
Inspired by teachers
Christian’s days at Trinity were long but enlightening.
“After practice, I would basically spend the rest of my evening studying at Heine Brothers’ Coffee around the corner from Trinity,” he said. “I could barely afford to get just one coffee, but I really made huge intellectual gains at that place. Now as a doctor, I still have the habit of filling my evenings with something productive, whether it’s more clinical work or studying for board exams – or tennis, which I play two or three days a week.”
Christian was inspired by his teachers and coaches.
“There are a number of teachers who I’d say had a life-changing impact on the human I am now,” he said. “I credit Frank Ward [H’01] with my writing prowess and still use his techniques all the time. I just published my 28th paper. My teachers pushed us to grow beyond what we thought was possible or what we were capable of. This ethos still lives in my everyday mindset.
“I also remember ripping jazz with music teacher Ken Bechtloff. What a precious time and privilege. I can’t believe I was able to spend almost two hours every day developing my musical abilities.
“Art teacher Carole Baker really injected a sense of independence and creativity in her students, which sort of carried over in a way into our other subjects. Carole has extra meaning for me because she agreed to sponsor my push to bring the sport of rowing to THS. She supported all my efforts to get it off the ground successfully. The experience she facilitated gave me the confidence to start dreaming beyond the walls around me and believe I can do whatever I set my mind to. I often thank her for this in DMs.”
Theology teacher Tom Dubay H’94 was another influence.
“He had us read the entire Bible and study relevant texts to understand its literature, context and history,” Christian said. “He made faith so much more powerful. He also gave me my first taste and understanding of statistical methods, sociological research and translating data into value.”
London calling
After graduating from Trinity in 2004, Christian attended the University of Louisville. He earned a bachelor’s degree in cellular biology and mathematics in 2009. He then earned three advanced degrees: a master’s degree in public health, healthcare management and systems sciences (2011); a master’s degree in physiology and biophysics (2012); and his MD (2016) with distinction in business and medical leadership.
Christian decided to forego his medical residency at the time of graduation. Instead, he made a spreadsheet with approximately 20 cities/countries and created an algorithm with different factors that he weighed for importance and feasibility. Based on that, he settled on London and moved there to start a fresh life and to pursue residency training in radiation oncology. Upon arriving, he learned that to do radiation oncology you have to do five bloody years of medicine first. Christian became a hospitalist physician and intensivist along the way. He uses those skills to this day as a radiation oncologist.
Christian currently splits his time among six of the best hospitals in Central London – radiation oncology at University College London Hospital, Queen’s Hospital, Royal Free Hospital and Bart’s Cancer Centre, and acute medicine and critical care at Guy’s Hospital, St. Thomas’ Hospital and King’s College Hospital. He also has a private practice in the St. John’s Wood area of London and is a research faculty member as a clinical academic in cancer imaging at King’s College London. He has an office overlooking Parliament and the River Thames.
“I hustle this hard because I feel like I lost time after med school, and because God gave me this opportunity to be of service,” Christian said. “I feel God through my work and seeing how I can help people, from saving lives on the brink of death in critical care, all the way to zapping brain tumors with stereotactic radiosurgery. .”
Thanks to Trinity
Christian credits Trinity for much of his success.
“It’s crazy how much both nature and nurture influence who we become,” he said. “I am acutely aware of how much I benefited from the nurture of being raised in Trinity, and I am so thankful for this. I simply can’t imagine who I would have become with my nature but in a different environment.
“I stay in touch with Trinity because Trinity made me. I could have been a different person with different opportunities, influences and experiences had I gone elsewhere. I am so glad I made the decision to attend Trinity and that my family were willing to make the sacrifices necessary to make it happen for me.”
Christian and his wife, Naj Shirazi, have been together for six years and married for nearly four years. She’s an artist-maker and curator from Iran and a member of the permanent staff at the prestigious Victoria & Albert Museum in London, which is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design. She attended the world-renowned University of the Arts London Chelsea College of Arts and did her curatorial residency at Central Saint Martins in London.
Share an alumni story!
Do you know a Trinity alumnus with a compelling story? Please reach out to Travis Wagoner '90, Alumni Relations & Communications Director, at 502-736-2122 or wagoner@trinityrocks.com.
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