The students featured in last year’s article have continued to grow in their medical journeys, facing new challenges and making meaningful contributions to their communities.
We first met these students at the Next Level event last summer, where they had the opportunity to engage with the Madison community. At this event they took a hands-on role by donning scrubs and providing health checks, such as taking blood pressure and pulses for event attendees.
The transition from classroom learning to clinical rotations marks a significant milestone for these students, offering them the opportunity to apply their knowledge in real-world settings. Through rotations in fields such as internal medicine, family practice, emergency medicine and more, they will gain a deeper understanding of their chosen specialties—or, in some cases, explore new possibilities.
As a community, we can continue to support and encourage these future doctors, who one day may be the ones caring for our families and neighbors! Here are three of their updates:
Kenyana
What new experiences or challenges have shaped your journey at the School of Medicine and Public Health over the past year?
In January, I started my clinical rotations, which means I’ve been in hospitals and clinics seeing patients of my own! As someone who grew up in an underserved community on the Southside of Chicago, it is both inspiring and motivating to serve communities like mine. It never gets old to see patients’ faces light up when they see someone on their healthcare team who looks like them.
How has your involvement in research, community work or diversity initiatives evolved since last year?
I’ve been a part of the urban health program with my medical school. This means I do my rotations in an urban setting (Milwaukee) and work on a community project related to underserved patients. My project is with the Bread of Healing free clinic, where I help connect uninsured patients who are discharged from the ER with a primary care physician. The goal is to reduce ER visits for this population.
What are your goals or priorities moving forward in your medical education or career path?
My goals are to remember why I started this journey, advocate for my patients’ needs and enjoy the journey as I continue learning about medicine.
Jared
What new experiences or challenges have shaped your journey at the School of Medicine and Public Health over the past year?
In January, I began my clerkship year. This period of being in the clinic and participating in patient care has been exciting, challenging and a significant period of growth for me.
How has your involvement in research, community work or diversity initiatives evolved since last year?
I’ve become more involved in research and advocacy over the past year. Most of this work happens outside the university, but I hope to see it make a difference in children’s lives soon. By next year, I aim to share the results and impact of this work.
What are your goals or priorities moving forward in your medical education or career path?
My goal is to continue learning and growing as a medical student. I’m pursuing the physician-scientist pathway with a focus on children’s health and rights advocacy. I’m excited to carve out my own path in this field.
Kalifa
What new experiences or challenges have shaped your journey at the School of Medicine and Public Health over the past year?
As part of the Training in Urban Medicine and Public Health (TRIUMPH) track, I’ve been doing clinical rotations in Milwaukee since January. This experience has been nothing short of a whirlwind. It has offered an incredible opportunity to witness firsthand how the principles we learn in the classroom integrate with the complexities of patient care, revealing nuances that textbooks often overlook. Some aspects of medicine can only be fully grasped through direct clinical experience.
I’ve been fortunate to learn from exceptional physician educators in Milwaukee and grateful for the patients, particularly patients of color, who have shown so much appreciation for my journey into the medical field.
That said, the transition from classroom learning to clinical practice has presented its own set of challenges. Balancing the role of a clinical provider in training while also keeping up with exams and assignments outside of daily responsibilities has been physically and mentally demanding. However, the meaningful patient interactions have been a source of joy, helping me push through the more exhausting days.
How has your involvement in research, community work or diversity initiatives evolved since last year?
Since moving to Milwaukee, I’ve started working with Pathfinders, an organization that supports homeless and runaway youth. They provide shelter, housing and a range of services, including a drop-in center, social support, anti-sexual violence programs and trauma-informed mental health and substance abuse care. Pathfinders serves a diverse population, particularly Black, Latinx and LGBTQ+ youth.
In collaboration with the organization, I’m helping to develop a survey that captures the experiences of the youth they serve. Our goal is to assess the factors contributing to youth homelessness, identify the strategies and services they rely on for survival, and evaluate the role Pathfinders and federal programs play in meeting these needs.
I have always been passionate about working with young people, and I hope this project helps amplify their voices and ensures that interventions are tailored to their unique challenges
What are your goals or priorities moving forward in your medical education or career path?
One thing my clinical rotations have taught me is that I’m more drawn to working with “little people” rather than “big people,” so I see pediatrics in my future. I’m excited to explore this field further and integrate my public health knowledge to create a meaningful and fulfilling career.
These students continue to demonstrate their passion and dedication, making a positive impact on their communities as they progress in their medical education.
