Hometown: Wheeling, WV
Undergraduate Degree: None

1. What made you decide to get your MD degree at WVU?

It was a combination of things. First off, I wanted to stay close to home, I am from Wheeling, West Virginia and I went to undergraduate school here as well. Lastly, I knew they accepted students after their third year of undergraduate education because my father did that when he attended medical school here.

2. What was appealing about the MD program?

I feel like there is a big enough hospital that you can see a lot of different cases, but it is small enough that it has a community feel. I like how accessible the faculty and staff are and how they care about you as an individual. I also like the opportunities for research, I feel like there are a lot here.

3. What is your favorite part about the MD program?

So far I like the PDCI class the best. It gives you the clinical experience and helps you learn where the clinical sciences apply. I also like the shadowing because you get to see what the doctors are doing. It reminds you why you are here and what you want do when you are out of medical school.

4. How do you balance school, home, and social life?

My social life changed from when I was an undergraduate to being in medical school. I have much less free time, but I do have some free time. I did not know most of the people in the medical school class before I started. So I spend time with them. We all became friends through the experiences of our first year in medical school. When you do have some free time it is nice to hang out with your classmates because they know what you are going through.

5. Do you think that your involvement in various interest groups (emergency medicine and surgery) has added to your experience here at WVU?

Yes, because you get to hear from residents and faculty. You learn about the different programs and what each of them involve. I am also involved in various community service activities with my class.

6. What are you goals after graduating?

Right now my goals are to get into a residency program. I am still in my first year so I am keeping on open mind on what area of medicine.

7. What is your favorite thing to do outside of school?

I like to watch junk TV, exercise every day, and hang out with my friends including my friends from undergraduate as well as my friends from medical school.

8. Do you have any advice for anyone who wants to attend medical school?

One: try to get into shadow doctors to see if medicine is what you really want to do and to get involved in medicine year one. Second: the harder you work in undergrad the more opportunities you will have later in life.

9. Why did you decide to apply for medical school a year earlier than most?

I always wanted to be a doctor. My dad is a physician and I know this was something I always wanted to do. I studied biology in undergrad and I saved all my general electives for my last year. My dad went to medical school after three years of undergrad so I figured it was a good thing to try.