DocDreams

From moving to the US at age 10 without any knowledge of English to becoming a Fulbright scholar after college, William’s story is marked by adaptability, maturity and focus. William was born in the Central African Republic, to a father with a passion for education and teaching who overcame polio in his left leg and a loving mother who read him fables as a child. An attempted coup in 2001 set in motion his father’s plan to take his two sons to the US. Fast forward to high school and college, with the help of invested mentors, William cultivated his natural scientific abilities with the dream of becoming a physician. However, after a formative return to the Central African Republic in college, he realized he wanted to eventually combine medicine and management to bring improved healthcare to areas like where he was born.

Born to an American mother and an Austrian father, Sophia spent the early part of her childhood between the two countries. Her bicultural experience even influenced her teachers in Colorado who adopted Austrian arithmetic techniques she’d learned overseas. During our conversation, she shares stories about her love of science and medicine and projects she pursued since her teenage years to her time at CU Boulder. She also offers evidence-based advice on why each of us should aim to get quality sleep! As a medical student at HMS, Sophia’s enthralled by the early opportunities to immerse herself in patients' stories and sees the application of science to alleviate suffering as her purpose for entering medicine.

After leaving India with his parents, Maaz lived in Kentucky for a few years before moving to Illinois. His interest in medicine began when he lost a childhood friend to a heart condition and he would later attend Duke with a focus on becoming a doctor. His story is anything but a straight shot into the medical field, however. Over the years, he’s had to reflect on how he wants to make an impact on others, what it means to be a family man, and how to put his faith to practice. He hopes to become a physician working at the intersection of health administration and biotech.

If I’ve ever come across a person who knows what he wants and how to go after it, it’s Jalen. During our conversation, he opens up about moving from D.C. to Florida at an early age and how this experience changed his educational trajectory. He also shares valuable lessons he’s learned through difficult times during his years at Dartmouth College and what initially inspired him to become a physician. His story is one of resilience and a reminder to us all that we should never take “no” for an answer when it comes to chasing our dreams.

Yanet shares stories from her childhood in Cuba and her family’s unbelievable journey to the U.S. She learned English just after arriving in Florida and quickly became one of the top performing students in her high school. Her scholastic achievements secured her admission to Harvard College and the memories of her parents’ challenges with medical care fueled her desire to pursue medicine. She hopes to become a doctor who's deeply invested in her patients and goes to great lengths to make them feel heard.

Born to Indian parents who emigrated to Canada, Rubee shares what it felt like to grow up in two different Canadian cities and to attend high school in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She credits her introduction to dental medicine to a serendipitous networking event while a student at UMass Amherst. As HSDM’s class president, she’s led initiatives to expose children from underserved local schools to the health fields. She currently plans on pursuing a career at the intersection of administrative leadership and education within dentistry.

A native of Bridgeport West Virginia, Mitchell recounts growing up in a large family with parents who were involved in public service. His desire to give back to his country led him to attend the U.S. Naval academy where he served in leadership roles and broadened his worldview during a trip to Ghana. Mitchell’s motivations for entering the field of medicine are deeply personal and his commitment to serving military families is unwavering.

Terrance’s story is LITERALLY one in a million! Born in Accra Ghana, he moved with his family to the United States after they've won a visa lottery and settled in North Carolina. At his parents’ urging, he was able to secure a spot at an accelerated high school program where he witnessed first-hand the vast inequities that exists within the American educational system. He attributes much of his personal growth to his experiences at Williams College where he studied neuroscience and his time abroad in the UK. His mission in medicine is to direct the power and privilege of established institutions toward addressing injustice.

King breaks down his early childhood experiences in Hong Kong and how moving to Oregon affected the dynamics of his family. His life story is full of interesting facts like receiving a golf caddy scholarship in high school and interning in the House of Commons in the UK. He credits his social and intellectual transformation to the University of Notre Dame where he studied sociology and international development. He’s still crafting his path in medicine but hopes to be at the forefront of understanding the global structures shaping healthcare.

Her name is Lashyra, but she’s made it a point for all to call her Lash. In this episode, Harvard Medical School's student council president Lash Nolen reflects on growing up in Compton, being a student at Loyola Marymount University, and her transformative experiences as a Fulbright scholar in Spain and health coach in Chicago. During our conversation, she also gives her insights on the health implications of racism in America and her efforts to address these problems through community engagement and storytelling.