After completing my bachelor’s degree at IUPUI, I plan to enroll in an M.D. program and eventually practice as a physician. I would like to continue going to school in an urban environment and hopefully participate in programs that allow me to travel as part of my education. In 2014 I was fortunate enough to spend a week in the Dominican Republic helping run free clinics for underserved populations (see “Service"). While I'm not yet sure if I would want to practice abroad  permanently, my time in the Dominican Republic really opened my eyes to the world of global health, and I would like to continue to participate in medical service trips like this throughout my career.

     Although I've made no decisions regarding the pursuit of a specific medical specialty, my education in neuroscience and familial experiences with mental health have fostered an interest in psychiatry. My work with PARC (see “Research”) has been a great insight into the field from both clinical and research perspectives. It has definitely influenced my desire to work with patients directly, as opposed to the more lab-related experiences I have had previously.

     While I have become quite fond of the global and mental health fields, I am also interested in neurology, emergency medicine, and surgery. I've had some experience shadowing in these areas, and I hope continue getting more observational experience at the college level to help define my interests. That being said, I personally don’t have a problem leaving IUPUI without a solid decision in specialty. Assuming I am successful in going to medical school, I would like to go in with a set of defined interests, but a more open mind toward specific career paths.