What drew you to the field of medicine?

Growing up, my childhood was riddled with cardiologist appointments and visits to the Children’s Hospital in Atlanta, undergoing heart surgery to repair my congenital heart defects. The compassion and understanding shown to me by the doctors treating me helped shape my core values and served as a catalyst for my passion for service and helping others. As I have grown older, my love for service has grown with it as I immersed myself in work with the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and as a volunteer at my local hospital. I hope to become a doctor to treat patients with the same kindness I was shown as a child, serving those around me through medicine.

What are your future plans?

In the future, I hope to maximize my time at the University of South Carolina by engaging in undergraduate research with the USC School of Medicine and participating in volunteer and shadow work with the healthcare facilities in Columbia. Currently, I am interested in cardiothoracic surgery, but hope to explore all of my interests and deepen my love for medicine during medical school.