July 29, 2024
I did not know until I was in college that I would pursue a career as a physician. As the first person in my family to pursue this path, I was confused and overwhelmed by applying to medical schools. I found the lack of accessible health care in the county where I grew up incredibly frustrating, so my motivation to apply to medical school stems from my interest in providing accessible, comprehensive care in a primary care setting.
I was born and raised in a small, rural town east of Raleigh. I graduated from Bunn High School before earning my associate’s degree from Wake Technical Community College and my bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University. During my time in college, I worked for several years as a medical assistant at a multi-specialty clinic in Raleigh that offered Family Medicine, internal medicine, gynecology, pediatrics, and gastroenterology. I enjoyed getting to know multiple members of one family who were all patients at our practice. These interactions further drew me to primary care, since I would love to be able to build long-lasting physician-patient relationships, get involved with public health initiatives, and see a variety of patients and conditions as a physician.
Through the NCAFP’s 2024 Summer Rural Health Experience in Western NC, I was able to confirm my love for Family Medicine by immersing myself in two different residency programs in western North Carolina over the course of two weeks to live and work with doctors at those programs. Along with three other medical students, I spent the first week at Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) Boone, shadowing the residents in the hospital and in the outpatient clinic, as well as participating in lectures and workshops like the LGBTQ health session, the wilderness medicine session, and the rural medicine session. One of my favorite days was when the program participants, residents, and attendings spent the day at Grandfather Mountain and at an alpine roller coaster. I loved interacting with everyone in that relaxed setting.
During my second week, I worked with residents and attendings at MAHEC Hendersonville, where I shadowed, interviewed and presented patients, and observed procedures. I even got to perform my first pap smear!
I discovered the endless possibilities that are available with Family Medicine: seeing patients of all ages, working in inpatient and outpatient settings, performing countless procedures, and advocating for at-risk populations in the community. I previously did not see myself practicing in a rural setting but after participating in this program, I am now very confident that I would love to apply to a rural Family Medicine residency with a smaller, community-based hospital.
I am so incredibly thankful to the NCAFP Foundation for hosting this program and the doctors who hosted and accommodated me with their busy schedules. This program felt like an amazing introduction to Family Medicine and a safe environment where I learned as much as I could. This program solidified my desire to become a family physician and opened my eyes to the many possibilities that rural Family Medicine residencies offer.