What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine?
I was first introduced to medicine through athletics. As a runner, injuries were an unfortunate constant, and doctor visits meant confronting setbacks I could no longer ignore. I started Track and Field in 8th grade and continued competing at the University of Texas at Austin.
My experiences with sports medicine and orthopedic physicians left a lasting impression as they paired technical skill with genuine empathy. That early exposure sparked my interest in medicine, but it was a serious accident during my sophomore year that solidified it as my calling.
Just weeks before the Big 12 Conference meet, I suffered a severe concussion and multiple facial fractures. I was diagnosed with a zygomaticomaxillary complex fracture and had to get reconstructive facial surgery. I remember being terrified that I’d wake up with scars across my face. I even begged my surgeon to do whatever he could to help me look like myself again.
To my surprise, there were no new visible scars. The procedure was done through the inside of my upper lip and a small existing cut near my eye. His ability to bring me back to myself, both in how I looked and how I felt, meant everything. That experience changed me. I want to be the kind of doctor who helps patients heal in every sense of the word, physically, emotionally, and in the parts of themselves they thought were gone.
Why did you choose McGovern Medical School?
I wanted to be in a place that gave me the same feeling my teammates gave me at Texas. The feeling of support through both triumphs and defeats, of being surrounded by people who strive for the best while pushing those around them to do the same.
My team back home was full of camaraderie, encouragement, and most importantly, it felt like family. After interviewing at McGovern, speaking with medical students, and touring the campus, it was clear to me that this was the kind of supportive, driven community I had been hoping to find.
Who is your hero?
My mom is my hero because she showed me what strength and unconditional love look like. She worked tirelessly to give my sister and me a life full of opportunity, always putting us first no matter how hard things got. She believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, and everything I am today is because of her.
What is your ultimate goal for your career in medicine?
There are many things I hope to accomplish as I pursue a career in medicine, but my ultimate goal is to help people reclaim a sense of comfort, confidence, and joy after life-altering challenges, whether it’s the heartbreak of a career-ending injury or the fear of facing oneself after a traumatic accident. I want to help restore not just function, but the parts of life that make people feel whole again.
What kind of emotions do you feel as you’re beginning medical school?
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but my excitement definitely outweighs the nerves. I’ll be the first doctor in my family, so this is uncharted territory for both me and everyone who’s supported me along the way. Still, I’ve never felt more ready to begin this journey.
What are you looking forward to most about medical school?
What I’m most excited about at McGovern is the opportunity to connect with everyone, the faculty, the patients, and especially my future classmates. It’s inspiring to think that we’ve all taken different paths to arrive at the same place. I’m looking forward to learning people’s stories, building meaningful relationships, and growing alongside others who are just as passionate about becoming physicians. Honestly, I feel truly grateful to be part of it all.
If you had to pick a medical specialty right now, what would it be and why?
Surgery has always appealed to me. I remember tearing a tendon in my foot after a track meet and becoming fascinated with the recovery process. I would constantly visualize how that tendon worked, how it tore, and how badly I wanted to repair it, even though I obviously had no idea how to at the time.
Orthopedics has been on my radar ever since I became an athlete. But after my accident, I was introduced to a side of plastic surgery I never knew existed. My surgeon was phenomenal, and to be honest, I want to be just like him. If I had to choose a specialty today, it would definitely be in orthopedics or plastic surgery.
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