Why FSU?

I had the opportunity to attend FSU for my undergraduate career. During this time, I developed a meaningful appreciation for this community and the tenets by which it stands. FSU College of Medicine's mission resonated with my personal goals as an aspiring physician to practice patient-centered medicine, serve underserved communities, and increase healthcare accessibility, so the choice was an easy one!

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

I've always found a purpose in pursuing challenges. Consequentially, the practice of medicine—both in education and in application—was the ideal place for me to continue challenging myself. My desire to push myself serves only as a prerequisite for my interest in medicine; life experience and a desire to serve headline my true motivations to develop into a well-equipped physician who positively impacts my patients on a daily basis, on a widespread level.

Importance and/or impact of research and work

My involvement in the Global Health Collaboration Project (GHCP) stems from prior medical mission trips that ignited a passion for serving underserved populations. GHCP is centered on improving patient outcomes and the health statuses of individuals from vulnerable populations. Through conducting research on current challenges facing these communities and the implementation of interventions aimed at addressing the three levels of prevention for certain conditions, we hope to improve the burden of disease on these communities and improve quality of life.

Career aspirations

Throughout my undergraduate years, and even during medical school, I worked as a clinical assisting student at Dermatology Associates of Tallahassee. This role allowed me to gain insight into standards of practice regarding skin cancer diagnostics and therapies and to investigate factors with potential correlations to patient outcomes through analyses and case studies. Through my steady development of my clinical skills and the inquisition of potential risk factors related to skin cancer, both in this position and as a medical student, I hope to decrease dermatological morbidity and improve patient outcomes.

Advice for anyone considering graduate school

Pursuing a graduate degree is an opportunity to further your education in a field you are passionate about. It serves as the foundation on which you build that helps you make a difference in the world. Additionally, a graduate degree can provide you with the skills to help you succeed in a variety of career paths.

Accomplishments during graduate career

I published in AAD International, I presented at multiple conferences, and I presented clinical trial data at AAD's Innovation Academy in Vancouver, Canada (2022). I was a panelist at AAFP's FMX Conference (2022) and at AAFP's Center for Global Health Initiatives' Webinar (2021).