Medical School: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
Most of my formative years were spent in El Paso, TX (which is where I learned to speak some Spanish). I was homeschooled throughout high school and finished at fifteen, enabling me to travel the world some before officially graduating and going to college. I lived in India for three months during this time and taught English to children in the orphanage. After I returned home, I attended Baylor University with the intention of becoming a nurse. I completed all of the pre-requisites and moved to Dallas to attend Baylor School of Nursing. After a semester, I realized my passion was in piecing together the puzzle as a diagnostician and that I wanted to be the leader in the room. I made the decision then to change my major and pursue a career in medicine. In order to keep my scholarship, I had to complete 18 hours each semester and over my last two summers. Looking back, I have to say it was good preparation for medical school!
I attended medical school at the Paul L Foster School of Medicine, and I knew on the first day of shadowing in the emergency department that emergency medicine was for me! I loved the pace, the people, the culture, and the variety of pathology. I had so much fun on shift that everything else just seemed to pale in comparison.
I chose Corpus Christi because the program creates the type of physician I wanted to become. I’ve heard over and over how important it is to have mentors alongside you and ahead of you on the path you want to pursue in life. During my fourth-year rotation in Corpus Christi, I saw so many examples in the people around me of not only the future physician I hoped to be, but also the future person. This program is full of people with “can do” attitudes who are hands-on with a faculty supportive of you performing your own procedures, creating a place where it’s safe to step outside your comfort zone and learn new things and where faculty and your co-residents have your back and help when it’s needed. Because let’s be real, life can throw some curveballs, and it’s always nice to have people around to help when you need it. This program was unique to me because everyone’s lives continued while in residency. People have babies, plan weddings, go on vacations together, etc. I remember looking at the senior residents and thinking if I was half the physician they were in three years, I’d be happy. I was told on the interview trail to look at the senior residents at each program because that’s who I would be in three years, and if I wasn’t happy with what I saw, to look elsewhere.
My advice to all you interviewing medical students is to surround yourself with wonderful people who have your back and life will be better. If you are looking for a place like I’ve described, then come see us!