Graduated AUA, applied to both USA and Canadian Residency Cycles but decided to stay in the running for Canadian residency, where at the time, you could not stay in both application cycles. I was offered jobs in the USA but I wanted to ultimately be home in Canada. I matched into my program of choice in Manitoba, Canada, as a Family Medicine Northern Remote Residency Program in July of 2023. Rural and remote training has given me the opportunity to hone on my procedural skills that I had the opportunity to learn while in my clerkship years at AUA. I’ve learned to adapt to a variety of clinical environments with large volume of patients, but with limited resources and staff.

As a current PGY-2, and upcoming graduate in 2025, I would like to continue my teaching work with the Undergraduate Medical Education for medical students, continue my mentorship and to execute plans for quality improvements in primary care. Current graduation plans include continuing my work with Indigenous and vulnerable minority populations in Northern Manitoba. Finally, my five-year goal is to open a multi-disciplinary clinic within Ontario, while also servicing Northern communities.

I am grateful for the quality education and experiences I had as a student at AUA. I can still remember the long days and nights in cold but quiet cubicles at the library, and the late night buses to get me home safely. I will forever be thankful for all the ups and the downs because without them, I would not be where I am today. This is something I’ve dreamed and prayed for every single time I was ready to give up. Being a doctor means that you have the power to change the world, and if you care enough, you can. I aim to make change by integrating my knowledge, power, and heart. This also means lessening the stigma surrounding international medical graduates and guiding future students towards success!

I was drawn to AUA after not achieving academic success with the MCAT. It was inspiring to see that a medical school valued my potential as an aspiring doctor despite my mcat score. I came to AUA shortly after graduating with a degree in Microbiology. I was exposed to the staff and fellow students who encouraged me to follow my passion of medicine. 

I went onto a residency in primary care in the Beaumont Health system as I wanted to make a difference in my community. In residency, I was drawn to vulnerable and aging populations. The elderly is our fastest growing population in great need of care and attention. I completed a fellowship in geriatrics and started working exclusively with the underserved elderly. It’s amazing to see what spirit and lessons we can take back from our older population. It’s an honor to serve them and keep them healthy. 

I’m now the medical director of a managed care geriatric practice in Houston, TX. Success in your career is easily achievable when you are passionate about what you do. 

I graduated from AUA in 2013. Since my graduation, my career has taken me on a journey across the country where I have had the opportunity to train and work with several mentors who have guided me to my current path today. I knew early on that I wanted to work with children, especially children with cancer. My experiences in residency and fellowship provided me with the opportunity to gain an understanding about the pediatric oncology field and provide a hands-on approach to working with children and their families to ultimately cure them of their disease. I currently have a hybrid role where I work with children with leukemia while also taking care of patients undergoing bone marrow transplant. This dual role allows me to work with children with high risk disease and follow them from diagnosis to hopefully cure, while also being able to incorporate various immunotherapies for those patients who do not respond to conventional therapy. While this field presents many challenges, I find that the chance to work with my patients and their families is rewarding in being able to help them through this difficult process while also using the knowledge and experience from these situations as a platform to help future patients and their families. 

I wholeheartedly encourage all AUA students to persevere and maintain their diligent efforts, as there is undoubtedly a promising future awaiting them at the end of this challenging journey. Additionally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to AUA for granting me the invaluable opportunity to embark on this transformative path.

I came to Antigua in 2009 and lived in Jolly Harbor, which was tucked away from most places and a great place to unwind. During free time, I definitely enjoyed what the island had to offer. In particular, I remember going to La Bussola for amazing food, followed by Connor’s to play pool (not sure if it is still around). I chose AUA because of the milestones it achieved in such a short period of time. They also finished construction of the new campus while I was there, which was impressive; though our class never got to fully enjoy it. Basic science and clinical rotations geared me towards board preparation, but it was the extended hours of self-study and staying disciplined that put things into perspective. Developing these traits at AUA really helped me achieve each milestone during medical school, residency and beyond. It has been 6 years since graduation, and I am working on a second fellowship sub-specializing in interventional neuroradiology. Best of all, I continue training in my home state of Texas, as a board certified neurologist. In retrospect, AUA was the initial “stepping stone” I needed to jumpstart my journey into medicine. And for that I am truly grateful.