1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.  I am from Brunswick, Georgia. I grew up playing football and basketball. I am a fun, outgoing person that really enjoys giving back to the community.

2. Who was your favorite teacher in school and how did he or she impact you? My favorite teacher was my high school anatomy professor, Mr. Hall. He saw the potential in me and always motivated and encouraged me to be the best person that I can be. I had a lot of personal issues and he was always someone I could trust and confide in when I needed someone to talk to. He took me to visit colleges and I actually attended the same college that he went to because of his influence on my life. He is a great man, and even now we stay in contact. He has been a blessing to me, and I am blessed to meet a man like him.

3. When did you first decide you wanted to become a doctor and why? I decided I wanted to become a doctor around the age of 8 or 9. I am from a small rural and underserved community that is plagued alcoholism, HIV/AIDS, homelessness, and many other health disparities. I chose medicine because I wanted to have a positive impact on the health problems in communities around the world and to provide health care to those who would not normally have access. Also, around that time my aunt died from HIV/AIDS so it gave me a stronger drive to want to make a difference through medicine.

4. What area of medicine are you interested in? Medicine as a whole is very interesting. In general, I am interested in being in the OR, so I am leaning towards the surgical aspect of medicine and practicing in underserved communities.

5. What’s the coolest experience you’ve had so far on your premedical journey?  The coolest experience I have had so far in my journey has to be performing clinical research at NIH for two years. Being able to get an in-depth understanding of how to do clinical research and provide excellent patient care has been amazing. Working with African immigrants day in and day out has really given me a greater appreciation of the many difference between people but also showed me how building an interpersonal relationship with your patients is key to establishing trust which is essential in medicine.

6. What is your favorite book?  My favorite book is called, Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned by Walter Mosley. I read it my sophomore year in college at Morehouse. This book connected with me on so many different levels and taught that no matter what happened in your past, you can change and have a positive impact on the present and the future for those around you.

7. Tell us one thing interesting about you that most people don’t know. One thing about me that most people don’t know is that I am the oldest of 9 siblings and I am a really strong chess player.

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