Class of 2024

Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Undergraduate: Baylor University, Waco, TX
Medical School: Trinity School of Medicine
Stats: I am a first-generation American and only child to Romanian immigrants, so my family and our heritage are everything to me. Would love to start a family of my own one day, but am thinking of adopting a little fur baby for the time being! 
Hobbies: You can catch me doing anything related to music – singing/karaoke, guitar, ukulele, and piano. I also enjoy playing volleyball, weightlifting, watching scary movies/TV-shows, checking out new coffee-shops, and playing Sudoku in bed after a long day.
What I did before medical school: I started medical school right after attending college at Baylor University where I earned a B.S. in Biology – Sic’em Bears!
Why I chose UT-Jackson: There is so much that I can say as to why I chose UT Jackson. Being an unopposed program, I felt that UT Jackson would grant me full exposure to anything and everything, therefore truly preparing me for my work as a physician in the future. As someone with a deep passion for medical mission work, I also appreciated the program’s efforts towards global health and international mission trips through Residents Without Borders. Most importantly though, I was especially impressed by the camaraderie and teamwork of the residents and the faculty members. The residents I spoke with during my interview clearly conveyed their enthusiasm for the program. They expressed that the residents all had a great team-dynamic, that they could access faculty with ease, and that faculty members were always willing to teach – factors that were extremely important to me. Although interview season was virtual, the process was so seamless, as everyone made an effort to make me feel welcome and like I was part of their family. Ultimately (and as cheesy as it sounds), in my heart, UT Jackson truly felt like the best choice. I could not be more grateful.

Hometown: Moline, IL
Undergraduate: University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Medical School: University of Medicine and Health Sciences, St. Kitts
Stats: Oldest of two brothers. Son of the most loving and supportive parents.
Hobbies: I enjoy being active, playing and watching sports, participating in game nights, watching movies, listening to all kinds of music, axe throwing, traveling, and spending quality time with friends and family.
What I did before medical school: Spent my time developing a lifelong passion for the Orange and Blue (I-L-L)! I went directly from undergrad to medical school. 
Why I chose UT-Jackson: For me, it started with the people. The atmosphere the residents and faculty created when I visited was extremely warm and welcoming. Along with that, UT-Jackson offering an unopposed family medicine residency program allows me the opportunity to grow into the best physician that I could be with the various cases and procedures I will be exposed to. In the end, I ranked UT-Jackson number 1 because I felt like I found a family I could grow with.

Hometown: Ripley, TN
Undergraduate: Rhodes College, Memphis, TN
Medical School: A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Stats: Cat mom to Pia and Pimms
Hobbies: I enjoy painting, reading, traveling, and almost anything outdoors.
What I did before medical school: I continued my undergraduate research at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics.
Why I chose UT-Jackson: I chose Jackson after spending a month with the program during an audition rotation. I was looking for an unopposed program that embodied full spectrum family medicine, and Jackson was the perfect fit. Everyone was so nice, and the training was unmatched.

Hometown: Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Undergraduate: University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus
Medical School: University of Medicine and Health Sciences, St. Kitts
Stats: Currently in a relationship with best friend, Karla. We have a furry child named Diego, a tea-cup Chihuahua.
Hobbies: I enjoy everything related to physical activities, particularly going to the gym, water sports and exploring outdoors. Also love to cook, going on road trips and spending quality time with family and friends.
What I did before medical school: I worked as a photographer’s assistant (second camera man) while doing my bachelor in Molecular Biology. On my free time and before starting medical school I explored every corner of Puerto Rico and enjoyed surfing a lot!
Why I choose UT-Jackson: While exploring residency programs, UT-Jackson came to my attention for being a community-based, unopposed program with a strong obstetrics component which is one of my interests. After talking with residents during the virtual interview season, I encountered a genuine unparalleled camaraderie and family environment that made me feel like part of the team already. The program is well-rounded in all aspects of family medicine and will definitely help me become an outstanding physician.  

Hometown: Dorado, Puerto Rico
Undergraduate: University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón
Medical School: University of Medicine & Health Sciences, St. Kitts
Stats: Single
Hobbies: Crafting and spending time with my family and friends 
What I did before medical school: I worked as a medical transcriptionist for radiology reports.
Why I chose UT-Jackson: I chose to apply to UT Jackson because it is an unopposed program and also offers an Emergency Medicine fellowship. Even though my interview was virtual, I could feel the pride and excitement of current residents and staff towards their program. Everyone was so nice and welcoming, that within a few hours I felt like part of their community. 

Hometown: Troy, TN
Undergraduate: University of Memphis
Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Stats: I have a twin brother that teaches English at Houston High School in Memphis.  We are both first generation college students.
Hobbies: I particularly enjoy rock climbing, running, and cooking.  Board game and trivia nights with friends are also great fun.  I'm also a big Tennessee Titans fan!
What I did before medical school: I studied Biomedical Engineering at the U of M.  During my summers, I worked as a Docent at Discovery Park of America in Union City.  
Why I chose UT-Jackson: I have had continuous exposure to UT-Jackson since my first year of medical school.  I have enjoyed working in the clinic and hospital with the residents and attendings each year as well as completing a summer research project.  West TN is my home and I wish to practice here.  Training here at UT-Jackson was a natural choice for me, not only due to the location and people here, but also because of the valuable training opportunities that will help me become the physician I want to be. 

Hometown: Wasilla, AK
Undergraduate: Eastern Washington University, Spokane, WA
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Stats: Married for 12 years as of June 2021, my wife, Carmen, and I are excited to welcome our first child in December 2021.
Hobbies: Very much an outdoor person, I enjoy photography, hiking, biking, sports and pretty much any activity that invites me out into the fresh air and sunshine.
What I did before medical school: I worked primarily in the construction industry in business management, administration and other leadership roles. Also, I lived in China for 2 years, studying Mandarin Chinese at a university in Beijing and participating in humanitarian mission efforts all over Asia.
Why I chose UT-Jackson: On the virtual interview trail, UT-Jackson stood out from the rest of my interviews for several reasons. The hospital is quite large for an unopposed program, which creates outstanding learning opportunities. Additionally, the program facilities are excellent, the town of Jackson is quite well developed for a "small" town, and the cost of living in this beautiful part of Tennessee is surprisingly low. Most important to me, however, was the quality of the learning environment and the "fit" for me personally, and that is something that seems very special about this program. The faculty and staff are exceptionally kind and attentive, and the general atmosphere among the down-to-earth residents is as comfortable as it is collegial. 

Hometown: Covington, LA
Undergraduate: Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Medical School: William Carey College of Osteopathic Medicine
Stats: Single
Hobbies: Running, cycling, working out, reading fantasy novels, video games and rooting on the New Orleans Saints & LSU Tigers.
What I did before medical school: I worked as a scribe in an emergency department in a small, underserved underserved area in Louisiana called Bogalusa. 
Why I chose UT-Jackson: It was very interesting interview season for my class as COVID made it nearly impossible to travel anywhere for in-person interviews. With this in mind, I was pretty set on staying close to home in south LA for residency as I thought how could I get to know a program in an afternoon over zoom. Upon interviewing with UT-Jackson, that was all thrown right out of the window. I was so impressed with the faculty, residents, and outstanding board scores. I felt that I would be prepared for whatever avenue I choose to pursue after my training here. Most importantly, though, was the feeling of a family-like atmosphere that they were able to demonstrate (even over a zoom call). I was blown away by this program and knew I had to try and be a part of it. My gut told me the answer was Jackson, and I couldn’t be more thankful to be here!

Hometown: Carthage, TN
Undergraduate: Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN
Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University- DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Stats: I’m a small-town girl, 3rd generation doctor, 1 of 5 kids, aunt to 3 nieces and 3 nephews, and in a relationship with my high school sweetheart (rekindled after 6 years apart). 
Hobbies:  I enjoy doing nails, spending time with my family, going to UT and Titans football games, laying out at the pool, shopping, and binge-watching Netflix.
What I did before medical school: I worked at my family’s medical practice as a receptionist and volunteered at Vanderbilt Health.
Why I chose UT-Jackson: I chose UT-Jackson because of the amazing people in the program. They made me feel like part of the family from day one. During my 4th year rotation in Jackson, every single day I was in awe of what I got to see and do.  I knew it was going to be tough, but the training is exactly what I would need to come back to my small-town hospital and clinic.  When I left after 4 weeks, I genuinely missed it. I just got this feeling that it was where I was meant to be. It was a feeling that I just couldn’t shake, and I knew that it was home.

Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Undergraduate: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Undergraduate: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Medical School: University of Medicine and Health Science, St-Kitt's
Stats: I speak four languages.
Hobbies: I enjoy watching sports, traveling around the world, hiking, and taking photographs.
What I did before medical school: I was a Registered Nurse.
Why I chose UT-Jackson: The renowned training and incredible preparation, as well as the family dynamic of this program. The faculty treats you like family and the other residents are absolutely incredible.

Hometown: Rochester, NY
Undergraduate: Penn State University
Medical School: St. George’s University
Stats: Married to my best friend, Austin. We have a beautiful fur baby named Mya. 
Hobbies: I love going to the gym, building legos (Friends and Harry Potter) and reading fictional novels. I also love to travel, lay on the beach and try new foods (This girl loves to eat)!
What I did before medical school: I worked as an EMT in Rochester NY and then waitressed in Mount Juliet, TN.
Why I chose UT-Jackson: I had been inquiring about UT-Jackson since my first semester of medical school, that’s how much I knew this program was where I was supposed to be. I chose UT-Jackson because of the curriculum and the people. I knew I wanted to be a full scope family physician, that included significant emergency medicine training. UT-Jackson offered that and so much more with their EM fellowship. Though I wasn’t able to interview in person, I had the opportunity to visit after match day. The people were absolutely incredible and I could feel the family atmosphere. I was looking for a residency program where I felt both challenged and supported, this program was it.

Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Undergraduate: The University of Alabama
Medical School: Edward via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Auburn
Stats: I married my beautiful wife, Breah, on March 6, 2021. We have a golden retriever, Monroe, and a cat, Merideth. 
Hobbies: I love to turkey hunt as well as any other type of hunting. I enjoy anything outdoors and just about every sport there is. I also really love being active in the church with the youth as well as enjoy playing the guitar. 
What I did before medical school: I worked as an engineer for Halliburton in Pampa, Texas. I also worked construction for two years as well as tutored math and science. 
Why I chose UT-Jackson: I had heard about the residency from a friend and decided to do an audition rotation. What stood out was the relationship the residents had with each other and just how they enjoyed being around each other. I expect to work hard in residency and that's what everyone around here does. It became obvious within the first week that this is the place I want to be!

Hometown: Oviedo, FL
Undergraduate: University of Central Florida
Medical School: A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Stats: Single 
Hobbies: I enjoy anything outdoors or sports related; especially fishing, kayaking, baseball or disc golf. I am a Christian, so I also love being a part of and involved in the Church. 
What I did before medical school: I worked in a bariatric clinic, as a scribe in the Emergency Department, and led a student ministry in Orlando. 
Why I chose UT-Jackson: I chose UT-Jackson because I knew I would get great training in all aspects of family medicine. When I interviewed with the faculty and residents, everyone was genuine, friendly, and supportive. I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of.