First Times in Medicine
Medical school is a series of firsts.
Journeys in Education
This category contains student reflections on key moments in their education that gave them new perspective and deeper insights to healthcare.
Medical Student Contributing Writer
University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Greenvile
Alexis originally hails from Montreal, by way of New Haven, Los Angeles, West Palm Beach and Baltimore, each of which he at one point called home. Before medical school, he worked as a professional actor, produced Christmas movies for the Hallmark Channel, and conducted theater-for-therapy workshops in South Africa and Swaziland. He has since created an acting-based curriculum to improve the communication skills of healthcare professionals, which educational research he has presented at multiple national conferences that include the ACEP and SAEM Annual Meetings. He attended Yale for his undergraduate B.A. and is presently a fourth year medical student pursuing an emergency medicine residency.
“What’s Your Name?”: The Question That Can Make All the Difference
In line with my training, I have been taught to identify myself by name and position when introducing myself to patients. And so I do: I say, “My name is Rasan Cherala and I am a fourth-year medical student who will be taking care of you today.” This introduction is supposed to set the stage for a productive relationship.
A Different Perspective on Gender in Medicine
I have never felt as though my gender has affected my ability to succeed in medicine. I have never received “the short end of the stick,” and I have never felt discriminated against in any way. My medical knowledge and clinical reasoning have never been questioned because I am a woman, and no preceptor has ever doubted my career aspirations, no matter how grandiose they might seem.
Medical Student Contributing Writer
Albany Medical College
I am currently a medical student at Albany Medical College. I love listening to music, playing video games, cooking, baking, and hanging out with my cat Cinnamon in my free time. My medical interests are primarily in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. I am originally from Connecticut, and have loved living in New England for most of my life. Hope you enjoy reading some of my pieces!