The phrase “community-minded physicians” stuck with me the most when I first read the VCOM mission. I was lucky to be in a supportive community growing up and was able to witness firsthand how helpful it was to our family.
Who or what has inspired you while at VCOM?
The camaraderie between the entire class is what inspired me the most. When I first heard that VCOM was a family, I had expectations that were quickly fulfilled. Each of my classmates was supportive, uplifting, and genuinely wanted everyone to succeed. Without this sense of unity, continuing this journey would have become more difficult and arduous and I am truly glad to be a part of this community.
How has the VCOM mission inspired you as a medical student?
The phrase “community-minded physicians” stuck with me the most when I first read the VCOM mission. I was lucky to be in a supportive community growing up and was able to witness firsthand how helpful it was to our family. The different volunteering opportunities I got to experience allowed me to see more of what happens on both sides of the spectrum and see how results affected the lives of others. Moving forward, I want to continue to find ways to give back and share that experience.
Who or what inspired you to study medicine?
My greatest inspiration was throughout my shadowing experience during my undergraduate years. Witnessing the entire process of having a patient come in with uncertainty in their eyes followed by a buildup of patient-doctor trust showed me that there is more to medicine than just an illness/injury. It was touching to see each patient slowly open up as they felt more comfortable and by the care taken to maintain that built relationship. Seeing the collaboration between the team members showed me how interesting medicine can be and how important each aspect of delivering patient care was. The most exciting part was the conclusion of the treatment and seeing their relief. All these factors made me realize the intricate aspects that went into patient care and how rewarding the whole process can be.
Why did you choose VCOM?
I chose VCOM because of the positive interview process and interactions I had previously with the students. My first interaction with VCOM was through a summer program that I participated in. During our short stop at VCOM, I was able to see how genuinely happy all of the current students were and how excited they were to show us what VCOM had to offer. We were able to tour the campus and I knew then that VCOM would be a potential candidate to continue my career. This idea was solidified during the interview process when I was able to interact with different faculty members and was given details on what my journey would be like. I could not wait to get started.
What do you enjoy most about living in the area around your campus?
I enjoyed the close proximity of VCOM to Auburn University. As an Auburn graduate, I was glad to see that I could follow medicine while still being near the university that I grew to love. I could continue to meet the friends and mentors that helped me along the way. This familiarity helped me through the transition process into medical school.
Are you interested in a particular practice or specialty once you graduate? What has inspired your interest in this specialty?
I am currently focused on internal medicine. The first doctor I shadowed was a nephrologist and my first area in research involved the kidneys which inspired me to think of nephrology in the future. While most of my previous experience was with the kidney itself, learning about the different organs during the GI block has left me open for more options.