Brooke Hartenstein

Why FSU?

I chose to attend Florida State University's College of Medicine because of its astounding focus on patient-centered medicine that fosters the close patient-doctor relationships that I value so much. FSU has been my home since pursuing my undergraduate degree, and I feel so privileged for the opportunity to continue my education and training at FSU. Along the way, I have met many incredible friends, mentors, and faculty members who have cultivated a community of unparalleled support and encouragement.

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

One of my favorite quotes by the author Jay Shetty is “Your passion becomes a purpose when you use it to serve others.” While I have always had a strong interest in medicine, it was not until I began working in clinical research with patients with Parkinson's disease that my passion for medicine and love of helping others became my undeniable purpose. Watching research translate into symptomatic relief for patients has been absolutely captivating and realizing the boundless potential for research and new innovations to change the lives of patients is incredibly exciting to be a part of. I truly never envisioned myself feeling as happy and fulfilled as I do now in this process of becoming a part of a patients' care.

Importance and/or impact of research and work

Despite growing research and formal recognition that sex and gender have a profound impact on healthcare outcomes, disease prevalence and risk, and efficacy and side effect profiles of particular treatments, there still exists a significant gap in gender-based medical research and education. For example, the most recent national survey found that over 70 percent of U.S. medical schools lack formal sex and gender-based medical curricula. This training deficit translates to real-life disadvantages and treatment inequities for patients. The Sex and Gender Health Collaborative (SGHC) is a physician-led advocacy subcommittee affiliated with the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA), with the goal of advancing sex and gender-based medicine (SGBM). I am extremely proud and grateful for the opportunity to have served on SGHC’s Student Leadership Committee for its National Sex and Gender Education Initiative over the past two years. The aim of this initiative is to encourage consideration of sex and gender in disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment through the development of publicly available resources for trainees and through advocating and educating on this topic at local and national medical conferences. With more than 300 pre-medical and medical students who have joined this project from national and international AMWA chapters across the globe, this initiative also aims to expand the community of medical professionals dedicated to SGBM while providing students with intimate mentorship from faculty and peers along with opportunities to develop their research and leadership skills.

Career aspirations

I am currently in the process of applying to a medical residency in Internal Medicine and have an interest in potentially pursuing a subspecialization in Hematology and Oncology afterward. Throughout residency, I hope to continue diversifying and strengthening my clinical training while remaining an active leader in efforts supporting women’s health and healthcare equity.

Advice for anyone considering graduate school

Graduate school can be incredibly tough at times. It is essential to remember to be kind to yourself and give yourself grace. Find joy, excitement, and fulfillment in what you are doing. It is very easy to lose sight of how truly amazing the work you are doing is when you feel discouraged, overworked, or tired. Taking a step back to ground yourself and refocus your perspective can be incredibly helpful in reigniting your passion and drive.

Accomplishments during graduate career

I am proud to have participated in local and national work with the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA). The Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) recently published a member highlight featuring the work I’ve been doing with AMWA on our latest national project, the National Sex and Gender Education Initiative. I discuss the project and our research’s goals in more depth within this interview.