What advice would you give a prospective med student?
Don’t get so caught up in trying to reach the destination that you forget to appreciate the journey. Everyone who comes to medical school was one of the smartest people in their class; they are type A, go-getter people. When we have had these characteristics cultivated throughout our educational lives and had to overcome so much to be here, it is easy to keep your eyes fixated on whatever the next big goal is. Residency, a competitive specialty, a good board score, whatever it is. But medical school is more than just a series of obstacles to overcome and classes you have to pass. It is an experience that will change you and define you, both professionally and personally. Don’t forget to give yourself room to grow, to make mistakes, to not have to be the very best at everything. Don’t be that person doing Step 1 flashcards on their laptop during the lecture on how to speak to patients about death. I promise your future patients will benefit from you putting your laptop away. Remember the journey.
Why did you choose Long School of Medicine?
Long School of Medicine seemed very integrated into the community. I wanted my medical education to be centered around service to others, especially the most vulnerable in the community. The student-run clinics were very appealing because I knew becoming a doctor would take a lot of practice, and I wanted hands-on opportunities both to improve my clinical skills as well as get involved in the patient care I wanted right from the beginning. LSOM also has good education and great research opportunities, but service was what I was most passionate about. When I interviewed here, everyone seemed laid back and friendly, which was a relief because I had always heard that medical school is cut-throat and intensely competitive. On the contrary, I’ve found a community of friends and colleagues here that are some of the greatest and most inspiring people I’ve ever met. While it is competitive sometimes, we lift each other up and really root for each others’ successes. I’ve never met anyone who was willing to put a classmate down to get ahead. That community is important during medical school but also after you graduate too.
Describe the Long School of Medicine in three words…
Community, Passion, Service
I described a bit about the community in the paragraph above; I think this refers to both Long School of Medicine’s place in the community and also the community within LSOM. I see passion in the eyes of almost every student I speak to. They want to be here and enjoy being here and learning. My colleagues and I are passionate about causes and take full advantage of opportunities to get involved. We are given the tools to let our passions drive us. We aren’t just memorizing class powerpoints; we get out there. We get involved. This brings me back again to service, which I spoke about in the paragraph above.
-Drew Sanderson ’23
Photo By: Brandie Jenkins, Senior Photographer