Hustle and Heart
Medical student Navjot Singh teaches us how to surmount racism with composure, grace, and courage.
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Medical Student Contributing Writer
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
My name is Navjot Singh, and I am a fourth-year medical student at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. I decided to pursue a career in medicine after having a profound experience along with wonderful mentorship during a medical mission trip to an orphanage in India. Starting off as a volunteer with the escort department at RWJUH to eventually matriculating and now almost graduating medical school, it has been an amazing journey full of growth in retrospect. I plan to specialize in interventional spine and sports medicine, with a particular focus on minimally invasive spine interventions to target pain. In addition, I value selfless service as a core component of my career. During my time at RWJMS, I cofounded a health maintenance initiative that is currently in its fifth year of activity that provides the homeless population of New Brunswick, NJ with education and empowerment to take charge of their own health. I will be receiving a Distinction in Service to the Community award upon graduation for this project. I hope to exude positivity, acceptance, and genuine care to all of my future patients, colleagues, and mentors.
A Visceral Experience
Medical student Micaela Mcgregor gives profound advice to other future black doctors who will one day represent only 4% of practicing American physicians.
What Is In a Name?
Medical student Nkiruka Aniagolu explores how understanding someone’s name or title can foster deeper trust with patients and those around us, as our names are ‘pieces of our personal mosaics’ that give glimpses to who we are.
The Difficult Patient
Medical student Allen Betts explores the often underrated effect of psychosocial determinants and the integral part they play in the influencing health and well-being. Read more to find out how he has come to appreciate the soft skills a physician gleans through patient encounters rather than through books.
One Day
Alicia Pugh writes a poem that reflects on how our backgrounds impact the way we view our patients.
Disparities in the Management of Cardiovascular Diseases in Women
Jean Anne Adomfeh unravels a common gender bias, contained in diagnosing chest pain, that has existed in medicine for decades and how through a few simple yet profound words of a teacher, combined with experiences along the way, she is inspired to help change the narrative.
The Pause
Katherine Panushka asks readers to reflect and acknowledge that our patients’ stories extend beyond their final moments in her poem, “The Pause.”
Headlights
Medical student Joaquin Zetina details a poignant example, illustrating the often overlooked and nuanced barriers and adversities faced by immigrant students that can shape their perspectives of themselves as well as society.
The Unusual Curse
Medical student Scott Jamieson dissects the delicate balance of wanting to carry the burden of all of society’s health problems with necessary personal down-time and how students often struggle with these aspects of their lives.
Mourning’s Glory
Lindsey Nae Wright reflects on mourning the losses that come with being a medical student.
More Than Poster Boys
Dekoiya Burton reflects on how he often feels like a prop in a “diversity” scheme when academic medicine doesn’t follow through with messages of diversity and inclusion beyond pamphlets and brochures.
Conquering the Mount Everest of Education
Future surgeon Kayla Flewelling describes, in scrupulous detail, the psyche of a medical student as they traverses the learning pipeline, all the while trying to maintain a semblance of sanity, perseverance and perspective.
Medical Student Contributing Writer
Central Michigan University College of Medicine
I am a 4th year medical student at Central Michigan University College of Medicine. I am applying to surgery for residency and my favorite activities include writing, playing my guitar, painting, and crocheting!
