What to know
About Me
Picture of me standing in front of a waterfall in Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska
A picture I took from the balcony of our room on a cruise ship to Alaska while passing a glacier
Picture of me teaching a lesson about viruses spreading
Picture of me standing in front of a waterfall in Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska
WHERE I COME FROM
I am the oldest of three and I am lucky enough to have both of my parents. Being surrounded by my family has fostered a space of support and encouragement. I am able to communicate my fears and concerns as well as my excitement about my future.
As most pre-med students, I stress about my grades, scholarship, and ensuring that I meet all the requirements for my medical school applications. I feel very fortunate that I am able to turn to my family, even my fourteen year old brother, to vent or just update them about my daily activities. My parents have fostered a safe environment where it does not matter if I succeed or fail, their support does not change.
This foundation has enabled and encouraged me to take risks and pursue my passions on my path to becoming a doctor.
Why the Medical Field
My sophomore year in high school I joined the Sports Medicine class. I loved the kinesiology and medical terminology courses associated with athletic training. This foundation inspired me to become a Student Athletic Trainer. There I learned taping and injury assessment, but I wanted to understand the why behind the what. Why is the tendon able to tear? Why does chugging mustard help a muscle cramp? The following year I enrolled in an anatomy and physiology class. That was the moment. That was when I knew what I wanted to do with my life. Graduation was approaching and I knew that I had to continue my journey while pursuing my college degree. I started researching any medically related jobs I could get as someone fresh out of high school. I discovered a Red Cross Certified Nursing Assistant course and immediately enrolled a week after my graduation. Four weeks later I passed the course and my certification exam was scheduled. Due to the pandemic, I had to wait until the following January to sit for the exam but I finally earned my certificate to work. I found a job at a nursing home and started right away. I loved being able to help my patients with tasks that I often take for granted, like bathing and eating. This experience continued to fuel my desire for healthcare and I knew I wanted to do more and learn more. Understanding the root causes of disease states, comprehending the mechanisms of pharmacotherapy, and ultimately being able to uncover the root cause of pain or illness excites me. I want to be an educator for my patients and help them face their diagnosis as an ally.
Gift of Life
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My Gift of Life Experience
Through an AED service opportunity, I registered to be a bone marrow donor and was matched in December 2022. The matching process involved many scheduled calls, group meetings, and doctors appointments. The initial timeline of February 2022 for the donation was delayed due to the health of the patient. I had a physical and blood work prior to being flown out to Boca Raton, FL, the week of September 15th, 2023. I received stem cell stimulating injections for three (3) mornings which caused joint pain and body aches. The injections were given prior to the donation day which is where I would be hooked up to a dialysis type machine that would filter out the stem cells.
How this experience impacted me
One (1) in two hundred and fifty (250) donors are matched with a patient in need. I was matched with a twenty eight (28) year old female with Leukemia. The stem cell stimulating injections I received in Florida, made me feel like a grandpa. Unfortunately, the evening prior to the donation, it was put on hold as the patient was not stable enough for a transplant. Since the donation could not proceed, I was flown back home and put on "hold" to assist the same patient at a later date. During February 2024, I was contacted and informed that the patient was stable again and so I went through the scheduling process again, including physicals and conference calls. A month later, I was called and informed I was being put on hold again since her condition once again became unstable. Sadly, I received a call in May 2024 that the patient has passed. It was heartbreaking to hear this news and I can’t imagine how her family felt. I have been placed back into the donor pool to hopefully be matched with another person in need. I am glad I was able to give the patient and her family hope, I wish I could have done more for the patient. Being a part of this process has shown me how much work is put into donations and all the background people who are involved in a patient's care team.