Hometown: Port Saint Lucie, FL / Kingston, Jamaica
Name of Undergraduate Institution: University of Miami
Major(s)/Minor(s) in College: Major: Health Science / Minor: Public Health
Name of Medical School: Florida Atlantic University – Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine
Favorite Quote: “Everyone has a plan till they get punched in the face.”
Contact Info: Cell: 772-979-0676
Additional Links: IG: @kwill_g35
Where are you currently at in your career path and why did you decide to pursue this career path?
I am currently a second-year medical student. Unlike many black kids, I was blessed to have role models in my family that were health professionals. My mother is a dentist, uncle an ophthalmologist, cousin a dermatologist, and another cousin in his 4th year of medical school. All of these people helped me gain exposure to the medical field and it was this exposure that made me realize I wanted to follow a career path in medicine.
If you could go back and have a chat with your naïve college freshman self, what would you tell him?
I would definitely tell my younger self not to stress as much as I did about getting into medical school. The task can seem overwhelming, but if you work towards your goal every day you will attain your goal. Try your best to avoid the added pressure of comparing yourself to your classmates and enjoy every step of the process.
What is your favorite thing about your medical school?
I love FAU’s medical school because of their small class size, which brings with it a lot of personalized attention. I also like the way they structure the curriculum to include a lot of hands-on learning instead of lectures. My favorite quality about FAU is their willingness to adapt and make their program better for their students. They are constantly trying new learning techniques and approaches to help their student succeed.
Did you take some time off before medical school? If so, what did you do during that time?
I took one year in between graduating college and starting medical school. I felt like it was good to take a break from school. I spent the first few months directly after graduating studying for the MCAT and drafting my application essays for medical school. Once all of my applications were out, I got a job in healthcare administration working for the Broward Health Hospital System. I worked specifically in the process improvement department, doing data analytics for all of the hospitals.
Do you have any passions outside of school? If so, what are they?
I definitely have a passion for the automotive industry as well as car racing. I hope to one day collect cars or own a small exotic car dealership. I also hope I raise a son that becomes a race car driver, but that dream is a bit more of a stretch.
What do you like to do for fun?
I play basketball a lot. It helps me to de-stress and get a workout in at the same time. Medical school is all about maximizing your time.
What do you do to get through the stressful nature of medical school?
I think it is important to have interests outside of medicine because it is easy to be consumed by the medical field. I’ll stop in the moments I feel the most stressed and realize that I haven’t done or talked about anything other than medicine in the last few days or even weeks. Keeping up with my hobbies, interests and friends outside of medical school has helped me deal with the stress.
Who are some of your favorite musicians? Favorite books? Shows? Movies?
Movie: James Bond Casino Royale / Book: Shutter Island
Thanks a ton for giving us some great insight into your path in medicine Kyle! You are very much appreciated! I agree especially with the necessity of having interests outside of medicine and with avoiding the temptation of comparing yourself to your classmates! Best of luck to you as you continue to strive towards your goals!
Health Career Spotlights Home Page
Posted on October 16th, 2018