1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. I am a senior at UNCC studying biology and spanish. I am a raleigh native, so I am excited to study abroad in Santander, Spain in the spring because I have never been out of the country. When I become a physician, I hope to use my spanish minor to provide spanish speaking patients a positive experience.

2. Who was your favorite teacher in school and how did he or she impact you? My favorite teacher was my High School Health Science Academy Advisor. She taught most of my health science classes and was my first exposure to healthcare. Her passion for the subject was inspiring and subsequently sparked my interest in health care.

3. When did you first decide you wanted to become a doctor and why? 
I first made the decision to become a doctor when I joined the Health Science Academy in high school. We explored different aspects of medicine and I became increasingly interested in the profession. I want to become a doctor because human physiology is extremely fascinating and I love problem solving.

4. What area of medicine are you interested in? I am most interested in surgery. When I took biomedical technology in high school, we watched a few minimally invasive surgeries and I found it compelling. I am a hands-on person and being able to identify a problem and physically fix it is exciting.

5. What’s the coolest experience you’ve had so far on your premedical journey? I spent the summer of 2017 at Duke university in their Summer Biomedical Sciences Institute. During this apprenticeship, I was exposed to different areas of the hospital. My favorite day during this experience was when I shadowed a doctor in the emergency department. There was a dialysis patient found unconscious and septic. It was exciting to watch the team handle his care and procedures. He could have lost his life, but the diligence and attentiveness of the team allowed him to live. I saw first hand how rewarding my chosen profession can be.

6. What is your favorite book?  My favorite book is “Complications: A surgeon’s notes on an Imperfect Science” by Atul Gawande. I enjoyed the book because it discusses his different experiences in surgery. It covers not only his views on surgeries, but issues he found in healthcare that he felt needed to be addressed. The book opened my mind to new perspectives on medicine.

7. Tell us one thing interesting about you that most people don’t know. I am a classically trained violinist and pianist. I also play the guitar! I have played music since I was five years old. Although I don’t get to play as often as I use to, I still have such a passion for music.

8. If you couldn’t be a doctor, what would you want to do? If I couldn’t be a doctor I would become a biology teacher. I am passionate about biology and I love being able to apply it to virtually anything. Sharing and showing others how cool biology is every day is something I would love to do.

9. What has been your biggest obstacle as a premed and how did you (or are you) overcome it? I have always struggled with self doubt. Being a pre-med is extremely competitive. Pre-med is popular and it is hard to feel confident and competitive among many students. I continually have to remind myself about what makes me unique and remind myself of my goals regularly.

10. What do you like most about PreMed STAR? What I like most about PreMed STAR are the articles and forums. I love reading about ideation and innovation in medicine. Reading the journeys and experiences of other pre-meds students is both encouraging and inspiring. I love to see the different paths we take to reach similar goals.

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