1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Hi, I’m Taylor! I recently graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder where I completed concurrent BA/MS degrees in integrative physiology and a minor in business analytics. I took full advantage of the myriad opportunities CU had to offer by pursuing research experience in a sleep and chronobiology lab and volunteering in the Boulder community. By returning to my hometown in Southwest Colorado, I have really gained a new perspective on the rural, medically underserved area I grew up in. As I work towards becoming a physician, I hope to stay grounded in my roots and practice medicine in an area where patients have the greatest medical need.

2. Who was your favorite teacher in school and how did he or she impact you?
Junior year of college I took an endocrinology class and the instructor, Dr. Tsai, was definitely my favorite. She was so inadvertently funny, and her use of analogies and diagrams really helped to solidify my own learning style.

3. When did you first decide you wanted to become a doctor and why? It actually wasn’t until my junior year of college that I decided to pursue a career in medicine. A shift in school mixed with a lot of soul searching (and a little bit of panic) helped me to realize my proclivity for the sciences and passion for connecting with people one-on-one. Although my understanding of what it meant to be a physician was still evolving, it was enough to really propel me forward. Research, shadowing, and clinical experience mixed with a lot more soul searching has further solidified my desire to pursue a career in medicine and to work with the medically underserved.

4. What area of medicine are you interested in? Right now, I am interested in oncology/hematology, but this could still change. I want to practice rural medicine and I want to raise a family, so for me, it will be really important to find a specialty with a work/life balance that fulfills my role as a doctor and as a mother.

5. What’s the coolest experience you’ve had so far on your premedical journey? Honestly, I think applying to medical school has been my coolest experience so far. Not for the reason it may seem, but because writing essay after essay has resurfaced every single one of my premed experiences – even those I so desperately wanted to forget. Just last week I got my first rejection notice, and don’t get me wrong this definitely stung, but in a weird way it also made this entire process suddenly feel like a reality. As though this was my first indication that I actually applied to medical school and that I actually might live out my dream (at a school that is not this one). I wish I knew how to better describe this feeling because it has hands down been the coolest.

6. What is your favorite book? Yikes… I should read more. Any suggestions?

7. Tell us one thing interesting about you that most people don’t know. Most people don’t know that I really enjoy going to the movies by myself. Something about sitting in a dark, air-conditioned theater not having to share my copious amounts of popcorn is really soothing.

8. If you couldn’t be a doctor, what would you want to do? If the healthcare profession were to suddenly vanish, I could see myself pursuing a career in education. The ability to make a significant, positive impact on the lives of future generations is something I find extremely gratifying. The best teachers in my life really pushed me to realize my full potential and helped develop my passion for learning.

9. What has been your biggest obstacle as a premed and how did you (or are you) overcome it? The biggest obstacle on my journey to a career in medicine has probably been myself. In such a hyper-competitive, high pressure environment it can be hard to surrender comparisons. When I’m faced with difficult situations it is tempting to just let my mind wonder. Practicing mindfulness has enabled me to stay cognizant of my present without judgement, criticism, or comparison. This will be a life-long process, but certainly worth the effort.

10. What do you like most about PreMed STAR? In such a short amount of time, I have been so inspired by members’ sense of acceptance, support, generosity, encouragement, and just over all good vibes. Unlike other sites that treat insight as a commodity or a platform to gloat, PreMed STAR leverages their resources to increase transparency and facilitate positive, open conversation between premed students.

Are you a premed? Join Diverse Medicine now. It's free!