Miko Fogarty

Miko Fogarty has transitioned from an award-winning professional ballet dancer to a podiatric medical student and inspiring speaker. After being featured as one of six ballet dancers in the critically acclaimed 2011 documentary ‘First Position: A Ballet Documentary,’ Miko Fogarty established herself as an internationally recognized talent. She dedicated herself to the art form from a young age, competing in international ballet competitions by age nine. Her rigorous training included institutions such as the Indiana Ballet Conservatory in the U.S.

During her time at Berkeley, she conducted research focused on brain cancer therapies at the University of California, San Francisco. Her compelling career journey and transitions have been widely shared, notably on National Public Radio in 2018, through a TEDxBerkeley talk in 2019, and an Imagine Talks speech in 2020. With a significant digital footprint, Fogarty maintains an active social media presence, boasting over 230,000 followers on Instagram and 29 million views on YouTube. Her influence was further underscored by being recognized as one of ‘The Most Influential People of 2011’ in Dance Spirit Magazine.

Currently, Miko Fogarty is advancing her medical career as a podiatric medical student at the Samuel Merritt University College of Podiatric Medicine, with an anticipated graduation in 2025. She is pursuing her goal of becoming a foot and ankle surgeon in California, aiming to inspire both students and patients. Drawing on the discipline and resilience cultivated throughout her extensive ballet career, Fogarty is committed to advocating for physical and mental health within her new medical path.