Congratulations to Will! Premed of the Week!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.   I’m a nontraditional full time student. I’m also a full time 911 paramedic. I’ve been a paramedic for over 15 years. I work in NYC, but I attend school and live in PA. So my commute is approximately 1100 miles per week between school, work and home. Personally, I’m proudly raising my daughter Hannah, who is 4 years old and I compete in MMA/boxing.

2. Who was your favorite teacher in school and how did he or she impact you?  My favorite teacher is my Calculus Professor, Dr. Noblet. Taking this course during the summer has been more than challenging for me, but she had been very helpful and encouraging. She has a true passion for teaching, and it shows whenever she is in front of the classroom. She expects nothing less than 110% effort in all of her students. And to have someone believe in me that much gives me even more motivation to succeed. Dr Noblet is a wonderful person and professor.

3. When did you first decide you wanted to become a doctor and why?  Becoming a doctor wasn’t something that I decided on. Cliche aside, its something that I was meant too be. My greatest joy and passion comes from treating and helping the sick. My mother told me that from since is was able to walk, whenever someone got hurt or was crying, I would look for ways to take care of their boo-boo. As I got older, I had many operations performed on me. But regardless of what was going on with me physically, I always wanted to help to person beside me. I would ask the doctors 1000 questions a day about treatments. why this and why that. I’ve always had a love for the science of helping people. Learning how to care for people. And the practical application of treating people. I believe that physicians are literally the hands and instruments of God. The impact that a Doctor can have on a patient is profound. I experience that on a smaller scale as a Paramedic. I desire to care for a patient from the time they walk into the hospital to the time they walk out.

4. What area of medicine are you interested in?  Because of my work background, I have an inclination towards emergency medicine. But I like to work with my hands building things. So I find myself very much interested in Orthopedic Surgery.

5. What’s the coolest experience you’ve had so far on your premedical journey?  My coolest moment occurred outside of the classroom. I was sent to an ob-comp inside an apartment building during the winter. When my partner and I got to the patient, she was in a unlit apartment laying on the floor. Her water has already broken and she was in labor. As we were preparing to deliver the child, I saw that the child was breached. The child’s left foot was out and we noticed that the child showed signs of poor circulation. Further examination showed that the umbilical chord was wrapped around the child’s neck. The Fire department arrived and all the firefighters shined their lights upon us. My partner went to stabilize the mother as I delivered the baby. Once delivered, the child was in respiratory arrest, so we began resuscitation efforts. Thankly, both the child and the mother were both fine. A week later, I received a letter at my job, written by the patient. She thanked me and said that she named her child after me. I was so humbled and honored.

6. What is your favorite book?  I have so many, but my absolute favorite is the Alchemist.

7. Tell us one thing interesting about you that most people don’t know.  I love riding motorcycles.