What drew you to a career in medicine?
I have always been interested in a career in medicine. My interest in science and the body was evident from a young age, but so too was my penchant for listening and literature. I participated in both free clinics and healthcare volunteering as well as writing UILs, serving as a de-facto first-aid expert and the go-to girl for paper editing. Though these may seem disparate, the end goal was always medicine. I ended up with a degree in English from my undergrad and found that medicine was a fine place to study both the human body and the stories that make us human.

What is the next big milestone in medical school for you?
My next big milestone will be matching to residency in the spring of this year, followed by graduation!

Why do think medical humanities is important?
I think medical humanities are particularly important not only because of my long standing interest in the liberal arts, but also because medicine is at its core, a humanistic pursuit. Without seeking to understand the human drama, the lives around us, their complexities and nuances and subtle idiosyncrasies, we fail to understand patients as people. Science does not exist in a vacuum, and medicine even less so. I have come to realize that treatment is much more than prescriptions. The medical humanities both complicate healthcare and place it in context, an import place of discomfort to explore. 

What has been a favorite moment of the Sawyer Seminar for you this year?
My favorite moment(s) in the Sawyer Seminar have been when elements of someone’s background come out in discussion. I love learning about the varied life experiences we have all had and how those enrich our conversations. Hearing about work for foreign governments, residency experiences, fascinating research, or classes someone is teaching makes me realize the ways that medical humanities are even more interdisciplinary than I had thought, and make me so excited for the horizons I get to explore in my professional career.

Do you have any advice for medical students interested in humanities perspectives on healthcare?
My advice for medical students interested in the humanities is twofold. (1) engage with different perspectives as often as you can, without feeling like you’re burning yourself out. Medical school is a lot and you have your whole career to work on your niche. I like to read just a few articles or books or follow one podcast series a semester to keep myself immersed without feeling like it’s a chore. (2) develop your own narrative voice, in whatever way that feels natural to you. Being able to put these complex thoughts into words is an exercise in understanding and processing itself, and a valuable one that may help you relate to patients or co-workers or stave off burnout. If it’s writing poetry, or op-ed-like responses, or keeping a journal, whether it’s engaging in a narrative medicine course or responding to plays…think about and nourish your own voice in this space, as well.

When you need a break from your studies and work, what’s your favorite thing to do?
When I need a break from my studies I usually do one of two things: I’ll go for a really nice long swim, or I’ll start planning my next backpacking trip!