Carolinas

Name of practice or hospital where you currently work

University of Massachusetts Medical Center

Specialty

Orthopedic Sports Fellow

What my Practice looks like today

Finishing my last year of training. Using every opportunity to learn as much as possible before starting my own practice. Hoping to start my practice back in the Carolinas region.

What is the best advice you can give a medical student to help them in their path towards being a physician?

Be persistent, stay humble, and remained focused on the reason you wanted to become a physician in the first place.

The accomplishment I am most proud of thus far in my career is

The accomplishment I am most proud of thus far in my career is matching into Orthopedics.

When I look back on my time at VCOM, I think fondly about

When I look back on my time at VCOM, I think fondly about the lifelong friends I met, the early struggles of being in the inaugural class, and persevering and watching friends accomplish their goals and matching into their #1 specialty and location.

For me, the most unforgettable moment in medical school was

For me, the most unforgettable moment in medical school was graduation day.

When I am not working, I enjoy

When I am not working, I enjoy relaxing and spending time with my family.

When I look back on my time at VCOM, I think fondly about the lifelong friends I met, the early struggles of being in the inaugural class, and persevering and watching friends accomplish their goals and matching into their #1 specialty and location.

Current Practice

Lee Obstetrics, Auburn, AL.

The accomplishment I am most proud of thus far in my career is

The accomplishment I am most proud of thus far in my career is receiving baby photos in the mail thanking me for being a good doctor and delivering my patients' children!  It makes it worth all of the blood, sweat, and tears!

When I look back on my time at VCOM, I think fondly about

When I look back on my time at VCOM, I think fondly about all of the people that I met along the way, and friendships with medical school classmates that I will cherish forever. Being the first class at VCOM-SC was very special in so many ways.

For me, the most unforgettable moment in medical school was

For me, the most unforgettable moment in medical school was working in the clinics of Punta Cana for a month. Truly an eye-opening experience that taught me not only medicine, but also how to be resourceful and grateful for what we have.

When I am not working, I enjoy

When I am not working, I enjoy arts and crafts, Pinterest-ing, and fun, festive holiday decorating! I also love to cook, but I hate following recipes, so I just play around and try new things!

A career in medicine is worthwhile because

A career in medicine is worthwhile because you are able to help people in ways in which nobody else can. They cling to you in times of need, and even when the prognosis is not favorable they look to you for support and guidance as they face difficult decisions. The trust that your patients have in you and your abilities is so rewarding, and something that I will never take for granted.

What my practice looks like today

I am in my sixth year as a private practice OBGYN in Alabama. I have wonderful partners at my practice who make my job enjoyable and fulfilling.  I am loving delivering babies and forming relationships with women of all ages from puberty to menopause. The saying is true - if you love what you do you will never work a day in your life!

What is the best advice you can give a medical student to help them in their path towards being a physician?

Make sure you follow your gut. You are about to make BIG decisions that will affect your life in big ways! Do what you love and don't settle for anything less. Your happiness is the most important thing, always. Be confident. Use your best judgment. Make lifelong friends/colleagues. Most importantly - be good people and good physicians.

I believe VCOM helped prepare me well by giving me hands-on training that I needed to stand out both along the interview trail and intern year.

Name of practice or hospital where you currently work

Brenner Children's Hospital, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

Specialty

Pediatrics

What my Practice looks like today

I am a pediatric hospitalist and love taking care of all children who are admitted to our hospital. Additionally, I do pediatric palliative medicine, specifically with some of our pediatric oncology patients. That is a special group of kids, and I am very grateful to work with them and their families.

The accomplishment I am most proud of thus far in my career is

The accomplishment I am most proud of thus far in my career is bringing my graduate studies in Bioethics to my everyday work as a pediatrics resident. I have a large interest in pediatric palliative care. Being there for my patients and their families during the most trying moments as they make difficult choices for their children is incredibly rewarding.

When I look back on my time at VCOM, I think fondly about

When I look back on my time at VCOM, I think fondly about the craziest events our administration let us plan for students! We truly had the best time as med students between 60 feet of subs to feed the students and a DO Palooza carnival on campus. We always had a good time, and VCOM made that a part of our education.

I am pleased to be a DO because

I am pleased to be a DO because it allows me to bring another thing to the table both for my patients and my co-residents. Being able to utilize my osteopathic training in my practice and sharing techniques with other residents has made me a better doctor, and at the end of the day, I know I am treating the person, not the patient.

For me, the most unforgettable moment in medical school was

For me, the most unforgettable moment in medical school was building my family that I still have today. I have made lifelong friends at VCOM that have become family, in addition to meeting my husband and starting our own family. VCOM is where it all started and will always be a home for us!

When not working, what activities do you enjoy?

Playing with my husband and kids!

I believe VCOM helped prepare me well by structuring our lectures with many different physicians who brought clinical background to everything we learned. VCOM also instilled in us a strong sense of professionalism and pride that I have carried with me as a resident physician.

The accomplishment I am most proud of thus far in my career is 

The accomplishment I am most proud of thus far in my career is being able to make a difference in the lives of others on a daily basis.

When I look back on my time at VCOM I think fondly about the excellent education, friendships, flexibility for audition rotations, and for VCOM truly giving me the leverage and opportunity to succeed and match into the speciality that I wanted.

I am doing residency at Cleveland Clinic Main Campus (Taussig Cancer Center) in Radiation Oncology_ and believe VCOM helped prepare me well by providing me with excellent education, mentors, high quality rotation options, and faculty.  VCOM was always very supportive in my ambitions and always willing to coordinate my research rotation at MD Anderson and Emory University to allow me to get the experience I needed to match into a very competitive field.

For me, the most unforgettable moment in medical school was graduation day, when Dean Rawlins was saying my name to walk across stage, and my mother yelled out “Way to Go John Boy” and everyone laughed and I could only smile, look out to the crowd, and blow her a kiss, and also one to my grandmother above who was my inspiration for going to medical school.

When I am not working I enjoy reading about life, culture, relationships, etc, and I am very active, so love to do anything physically challenging on my body, and also enjoy watching live sports and music.

A career in medicine is worthwhile because I care about people, and I want to help them continue their journeys with those they love.

I’ve traveled around the world. I feel like I have a lot of life experience from being raised in a small town, growing up in a trailer park, being in the military, etc. An ultimate goal of mine is to one day be a life coach or speaker to young boys graduating high school and help them to become their best selves.