Who or what has inspired you while at VCOM?
I am inspired every day at VCOM to be my best and work my hardest. I have the administration and facility to thank for that. Our dean, Dr. Cannon, is one of the most personable and caring people I have ever met. It took me a while to work up the courage to introduce myself to him but when I did he was so friendly and made sure to offer any advice he could. This is the same mentality of every administrator and faculty at VCOM. I never feel like I can’t go to a professor for help in a class I am struggling with. They truly want you to succeed and because of this, it pushes me to do my best. It also helps that they offer any and all resources they can to aid in our studies. Their dedication to our success is what inspires me to be the best student I can be.
How has the VCOM mission inspired you as a medical student?
Part of VCOM’s mission is to train globally-minded, community-focused physicians. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to take part in VCOM’s Global Health course that they offer to students. In this course, we reviewed cases covering important topics that impact global health such as poor water quality, infectious diseases, and poor nutrition. We would then have video conferences with international medical students to discuss these topics and how we could solve them. This class taught me how to address global health issues on an international and community level and has inspired me to continue to be globally-minded throughout my career.
Who or what inspired you to study medicine?
I began having an interest in the medical field halfway through college when I realized I would rather learn about what my nursing friends were learning than what my financial accounting class was teaching. What truly inspired me to study medicine was the surgeon who operated on my dad. She was personable, caring, and compassionate when treating my dad and it made me want to do the same for others. Thereafter, every D.O. physician I worked with, shadowed or volunteered for had these same qualities and I attributed this to their osteopathic training. I knew I not only wanted to pursue medicine, but I wanted to become a D.O.
Why did you choose VCOM?
When applying to medical schools, I made an entire spreadsheet of the medical schools I applied to and the pros and cons of each. I chose VCOM primarily because of its mission statement - I wanted to go to a school that gave me opportunities to do research and travel internationally for mission trips. Looking back now, the main reason I am happy I chose VCOM is not only because VCOM offers opportunities for those interests, but mainly because of the continuous support I receive from the administration, faculty, and fellow classmates. If I could go back to when I was trying to figure out what the most important quality was when considering which medical school to go to, I would tell myself that the number one thing that outranks everything else is how supportive the school environment is. VCOM tops every other school in this category.
What do you enjoy most about living in the area around your campus?
I come from Delray Beach, a decent-sized city in South Florida. I was hesitant to move to a smaller city but to my pleasant surprise, Spartanburg has been incredible. I love that there are an endless amount of spots where I can study or hang out and that you will always run into someone you know. I remember one time I was studying at the Starbucks downtown and four other classmates were studying there too. We decided to join tables and spent the rest of the day studying together which made it more bearable.
What do you like to do in your free time?
It is true that you lose a lot of your free time when you are in medical school but when we do find that time, my friends and I take advantage of the local shops and restaurants downtown, the nearby hikes, and the occasional day trips to Asheville or Charlotte. There is always some activity going on that someone in my class will post about in our group chat so I never run out of things to do.
What truly inspired me to study medicine was the surgeon who operated on my dad. She was personable, caring, and compassionate when treating my dad and it made me want to do the same for others. Thereafter, every D.O. physician I worked with, shadowed or volunteered for had these same qualities and I attributed this to their osteopathic training. I knew I not only wanted to pursue medicine, but I wanted to become a D.O.
Who or what has inspired you while at VCOM?
While at VCOM, those who inspire me are my fellow classmates and many faculty members. Within our class, VCOM was able to cumulate a group of extremely intelligent, well-rounded, and extraordinary people. One thing that inspires me about every single classmate is their story of how they decided on medicine as a career and chose VCOM to pursue medicine. After hearing so many unique stories, I can attest to one thing: despite the differences in the journey that led each individual into medicine, the admiration to do great things in the future lies within every single one of us. While becoming accustomed to medical school, I had the opportunity to meet with Dean Cannon at the beginning of our second block. After our first conversation, where we were able to get to know each other, I knew he would be someone I could look to as a mentor throughout the rest of my career. Not only did his ability to be a great physician inspire me, but his ability to be a leader that is personable, able, and realistic inspire me to take on leadership roles within our institution.
How has the VCOM mission inspired you as a medical student?
The mission of VCOM aligns with many of the personal and professional goals I hope to accomplish as a future physician. Specifically, being from a rural area in South Carolina has allowed me to see, first-hand, why the goal of VCOM is to meet the needs of rural and medically underserved populations. As I am someone who has always had an interest in advocacy, the mission of VCOM, along with my personal experiences of living in a more rural area, has inspired me to represent the needs of the medically underserved in our local communities, state, and nation. Thanks to VCOM and faculty, I have been able to get a head start on my goal to advocate and help make positive changes for those that are in rural or medically underserved areas by discussing legislation with lawmakers at the federal, state, and local levels. In addition, I have also had the opportunity to discuss these needs with physicians within our state at many professional events. By seeing first-hand accounts for the need for globally minded, community-focused physicians, I am so fortunate to be inspired to make a positive difference within the medical field.
Who or what inspired you to study medicine?
Ever since a young age, I had always had an interest in medicine that was ultimately rooted by seeing my grandfather go through many medical battles, which he won after many procedures and hospital stays. I am very close to my grandfather, as he took me to the golf course so many times at a young age. After playing many sports, I decided to focus on golf. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to play collegiate golf, while also studying Biochemistry at Anderson University in Anderson, SC. At the end of my sophomore year in college, I had a shoulder injury that ended up requiring surgery. This was the beginning of a long road ahead, where I learned an abundance of new things about myself. One thing that stood out to me the most was the psychological resilience I gained after returning to competition. Over time, my interest in medicine was strengthened through the relationships I made with my medical team. Pushing physical limits daily, I found myself in the role of a patient needing help and needing someone to trust. From this vulnerable perspective, my respect and gratitude towards all the doctors and caregivers who took the time to make a real contribution to the well-being of others intensified and led me to pursue medicine as a career.
Why did you choose VCOM?
After applying and interviewing at medical schools in South Carolina, the personal touch that VCOM makes on every individual reminded me of how I was raised. VCOM makes it a priority for the institution to not be the medical school you attend, but the family you belong to. In addition, after attending a smaller undergraduate university, where every professor knew my name, I knew I wanted something similar for medical school. The ability to get to know so many mentors and people who have been in "your shoes" is arguably the most valuable piece to the quality of education you receive. Every faculty member at VCOM is more than willing to talk to you, know you, and help you when you need it.
What do you enjoy most about living in the area around your campus?
Living in Spartanburg has been an incredible experience! Spartanburg is an epicenter of growing businesses, many restaurants, and social gathering locations. With all of the big industries in the area, Spartanburg is also home to a big young professional population, which allows medical students to interact with a diverse population of people in the same stage of life. With all of its continued growth, it still has a small, southern town vibe that I have been accustomed to my whole life. Geographically, we are at the base of the mountains, near many lakes, and close to both Greenville and Charlotte. The cost of living is also very reasonable, which is important for a student. Being from the state, it was a very easy place to adjust to.
What do you like to do in your free time?
When I am in Spartanburg, I like to work out, golf, and hang out with my fellow classmates. We go to many of the local restaurants and also have the opportunity to attend many Clemson football games in the fall (Go Tigers!). During the summer months, while we are in school, I like to go to the lake. I love wakeboarding and wake-surfing as I have grown up going to the lake. I also enjoy going to the beach, traveling, and spending time with my family.
Are you interested in a particular practice or specialty once you graduate? What has inspired your interest in this specialty?
I came to medical school set on doing something that involved procedures. After many lectures from physicians in all specialties, my mind has been opened to so many things. However, I am still leaning towards something in the surgical realm, as I love gastroenterology and cardiology. I am looking forward to clinical rotations 3rd and 4th years, where I can decide what fits my personality best.
I can attest to one thing: despite the differences in the journey that led each individual into medicine, the admiration to do great things in the future lies within every single one of us.
