The doctor is in: Q&A with MIDP’s Noah Thompson Orfield
Nov. 2, 2021—Noah Thompson Orfield, PhD, brings in-depth scientific experience to inform his medical education by Lexie Little While all students who graduate from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine MD curriculum leave with the title “Doctor,” those in the Medical Innovators Development Program (MIDP) enter with that form of address. MIDP prepares students with existing PhDs...
M1 Starina D’Souza champions cultural care
Oct. 26, 2021—Vanderbilt University School of Medicine offers a path to fulfilling dreams in her own backyard by Lexie Little Walking between the columns of University School of Nashville as a high school senior, Starina D’Souza looked back at the building established in 1925. Peabody College students had ventured over to what was then the Peabody Demonstration...
International man of community: First Kurdish VUSM student on what makes Nashville home
Oct. 20, 2021—A “lucky” string of events leads Amad Amedy to Vanderbilt University School of Medicine by Lexie Little Sitting at Barcelona Wine Bar and Restaurant in the Edgehill Village neighborhood, M1 Amad Amedy feels an evening breeze filtrate through the open-air patio. As he peruses the tapas listings, the humid air density and smell of café...
M1 Samuel WiseCarver finds purpose at VUSM
Oct. 13, 2021—When a high school injury derailed his future plans, Sam WiseCarver found a path to Vanderbilt by Lexie Little Standing in his biology classroom at Science Hill High School in Johnson City, Tennessee, a 17-year-old Samuel WiseCarver thought more about soccer practice after school than the Punnett squares in his textbook. He took rigorous classes...
Friday Five – Five Things to Do This October
Oct. 7, 2021—Are you hoping to have a spooktacular October in Nashville? Check out these five local events compiled by MD-PhD candidate Clara Si: Head to a local pumpkin patch for pumpkins to carve with friends. Don’t forget to buy some apple cider donuts and caramel apples while you’re there! Lucky Ladd Farms has been voted No....
Field of His Dreams: Derek Riffert returns to VUSM
Oct. 5, 2021—An undergraduate experience through Vanderbilt’s Summer Science Academy prompted M1 Derek Riffert to return for medical school by Lexie Little M1 Derek Riffert shares a first name with his hero, Derek Jeter. As a kid in West Lafayette, Indiana, he watched the five-time World Series champion lead the New York Yankees to win after win....
Medical Scholars: William Quach explores a different approach
Sep. 28, 2021—by Lexie Little When William Quach (MD ’23) arrived at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine after studying biology at the University of California San Diego, he brought research experience with him. Quach, an aspiring anesthesiologist, examined how a specific protein traditionally known to play a role in the death of cells actually helped ovarian and...
‘Paging Drs. White-Dzuro’: Siblings continue VUSM legacy
Sep. 23, 2021—Family bonds strengthen at VUSM for two students, one alumna by Lexie Little Google “White-Dzuro M.D. Vanderbilt” and three names will appear: Gabrielle (Brie), an anesthesiology resident at Massachusetts General Hospital; Colin, a fourth-year medical student; and Claire, a first-year medical student. Each studied biochemistry as undergraduates. Each played collegiate volleyball. Each hails from Toronto,...
Bass Military Scholar looks to lead
Sep. 19, 2021—by Lexie Little As 1st Lt. Gunther Wong crouched behind a dusty wall in Afghanistan in 2016, a career in medicine didn’t pop up on his radar. However, as he reflected on the civilian needs he observed, he set his sights on applying the values and discipline he gained in the U.S. Army to a...
Threads old and new: HPSP students take oath at White Coat Ceremony
Sep. 10, 2021—by Lexie Little M1 students Sean Luong and Natalie Jones commit to service as officer-physicians When Lt. Col. Will Hansen officially retired from the U.S. Army on Sept. 1, 2019, he stashed his uniform in the closet not knowing light outside would ever reach its stitching for a military reason again. Five days later, he...
How doodling leads to innovation: a conversation with physician-innovator Reed Omary
Aug. 23, 2021—by Emma Mattson For radiologist and physician-innovator Reed Omary, MD, doodling isn’t just a hobby— it’s an essential step in the innovation process. “The concept of sketching or doodling is a way to ensure my own understanding,” Omary explains. “When you write, don’t you feel like you learn the material better and you clarify your...
M4 Lex Erath rejoins VUSM after MBA year out, reflects on med school experience
Aug. 9, 2021—by Emma Mattson Five years ago, when Boston native Lex Erath first joined the Vanderbilt community, she packed a few doubts into her suitcase. “While I was thrilled to be attending Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, I was also a little nervous about the culture shock of the South and Tennessee in particular,” Erath wrote...
Wellness priorities a year after COVID: A conversation with Katie McKay and LeAnn Lam
Jul. 26, 2021—by Emma Mattson The Student Wellness Committee (SWC) transitions leadership this fall, as 2019-20 presidents Jaclyn Lee and Cooper March pass the torch to Katie McKay (M4) and LeAnn Lam (M3). Both McKay and Lam dove into wellness work almost as soon as they arrived on Vanderbilt’s campus. “I’ve known from when I got to...
A Year Like No Other: M2 shares powerful stories from clerkship year
Jul. 19, 2021—intro by Emma Mattson & reflection by M2 student This summer, our M2s reached an important medical school milestone: completing their six core clerkships. Besides marking the halfway point through medical school, the end of clerkship year also signifies that you’re ready to take on increased clinical responsibilities during your Immersion Phase. The M2 year...
COVID-19 fundraiser organizers reflect on med students’ role in global health
Jul. 12, 2021—by Emma Mattson In early May 2021, in the middle of an intense Brain, Behavior & Movement block, one question was simmering in M1 Shreyas Krishnapura’s head: How could the Vanderbilt community contribute to COVID-19 relief in India, which was being particularly hard hit by the pandemic? Now, six weeks later, the fundraiser organized by...