What inspired you to want to pursue a career in medicine?
Growing up, my grandfather was a pharmacist who wanted to be a doctor at one point in his life as well. He was extremely interested in the human body and always bought medical books for me, which sparked my interest at a young age. In addition, I had unfortunate circumstances within my family that caused me to be at the hospital a lot. My grandmother lived with an autoimmune disease that required a liver transplant, and my mom was diagnosed with cancer when I was in high school. Even though these were very tough circumstances for my family, they exposed me to see how impactful good physicians can be to families at a young age. As I saw the immense comfort physicians were able to give my family through these tough times, I knew that that was what I was called to do as well.
Why did you choose McGovern Medical School?
I was always drawn to McGovern Medical School since the very beginning of my application process. Something about McGovern felt so comforting to me which was confirmed through my interview process. As I went through interviews in my application cycle, McGovern stood out as truly caring about creating a team-like environment and family atmosphere between students and faculty. I immediately felt at home after meeting faculty members and students as they were all extremely welcoming, which really meant a lot to me. I truly could not see myself being anywhere else!
What motivates you?
I am motivated by the vulnerability of medicine. Patients come from all walks of life entrusting physicians and giving them the privilege of seeing the world through a deeper lens. I want to be the physician who views every interaction as a chance to make a positive impact on someone’s life, no matter how big or small.
Who is your hero?
My mom is my hero. She will always be the person I turn to for comfort, advice, and wisdom throughout my life. She is the true definition of resiliency and has held our family together throughout many hardships all while beating cancer. She is my biggest encourager in my medical school journey, and I would not be where I am today without her.
What is your ultimate goal for your career in medicine?
My ultimate goal for my career in medicine is to be remembered as the physician who truly made a difference in my patients’ lives. I want to be the physician who not only listens to patients’ concerns but truly hears them and goes above and beyond through empathy and research in order to give patients the hope needed to make a full recovery.
What kind of emotions do you feel as you’re beginning medical school?
As I am beginning medical school, I feel extremely grateful and excited to finally be beginning the profession that I have felt has been my calling since I was a little girl. I know that being a physician is a true privilege as I will get to help people from all walks of life in their most vulnerable states, and I can’t wait to begin to learn that responsibility in my new journey.
What are you looking forward to most about medical school?
I am looking forward to meeting many new friends throughout my medical school journey. I know that some of these new relationships will blossom into my closest friendships in the future and I can’t wait to see how it all plays out. I am also extremely excited to learn the intricacies of the human body to a level I have never known before.
If you had to pick a medical specialty right now, what would it be and why?
If I had to pick a medical specialty right now, I would most likely choose anesthesiology. After shadowing an anesthesiologist, I fell in love with the variety of surgical settings you get to experience with this specialty. In addition, I know how scary surgery can be after having it myself, so I want to be able to be a calming presence to patients who may be extremely nervous before surgery in the future.
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