Hometown: New York
Name of Undergraduate Institution: Harvard University
Major(s)/Minor(s) in College: Major: Psychology; Minor: Global Health and Health Policy
Name of Medical School: Medical School in Los Angeles š
Favorite Quote: āYou have the same 24 hours as Beyonce.ā
Contact Info: trisha@threethousandmilesblog.com
Additional Links:
Blog:Ā Three Thousand Miles
Instagram: @threethousandmiles
Twitter: @trisha_therese
Where are you currently at in your career path and why did you decide to pursue this career path?
I am a medical student currently pursuing an MD/MBA. I toyed with the idea of getting a dual degree before applying to medical school but when it came down to apply, I really didnāt know how a second degree would be applicable. By the time I got to medical school, I had increasing interests in the intersection of business and medicine. Iām really passionate about bringing innovative solutions to healthcare and managing healthcare systems. I also realized that I donāt think I want to practice for my whole life, so an MBA allows me to have other options as well.
If you could go back and have a chat with your naĆÆve college freshman self, what would you tell her?
āTry new things and explore.ā I think that in college, I really didnāt take advantage of all the opportunities available to me. I struggled between doing what I wanted to do and pleasing my parents. If I could go back in time, I would have told myself to choose my happiness first and pick my courses and major based on MY interests and no one elseās. Thereās really no time after medical school to pursue other interests and I really wish I spent more time exploring my other interests aside from medicine and science. This also applies if you are so focused on getting into medical school that you ignore everything else around you. Be sure to pursue your interests and passions and not just things that look good on your resume for medical school apps.
What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue a similar path as yours?
Donāt be scared to ask for help. Whether itās reaching out to a mentor, a professor, an advisor or a friend, you should ask for help when you need it. A sign of maturity is realizing when you canāt do something on your own. People will say no or turn you down, but thereās always going to be at least one person who will support you and help you.
Do you have another professional degree? If so, how has it impacted you?
I donāt have another degree yet, but I am going to get an MBA before I graduate medical school. Iām really excited to start business school (I think more excited than when I started medical school). Nowadays a lot of programs have healthcare concentrations/specializations where you get to really tailor your curriculum so that it is relevant to your role as a future physician. I havenāt started yet, but after speaking to mentors and other friends with an MD/MBA I realize that this additional degree will provide me with many beneficial skills and it will really stretch my thinking, leadership and management abilities.
What advice would you give to someone getting ready to start their application process to medical schools?
Donāt wait until the last minute. I started my application in January of the year I wanted to apply. For some schools, timing matters and if youāre late in the game, the competition increases because thereās fewer spots left. Also realize that everyoneās journey is not the same. When you get to medical school, youāll realize that so many of your classmates took different paths to get to the same spot you are. Just trust the process and work hard. Also after you submit your apps, let it all go. Thereās really nothing you can do but wait so please donāt drive yourself (and everyone else around you) crazy.
Did you take some time off before medical school? If so, what did you do during that time?
Yes, I worked as a medical scribe at a hospital near my house in NY. It was an amazing experience and I would do it all over again. I learned SO MUCH and the best part was that my schedule was really flexible, which left me with plenty of time to write my apps, go on interviews, and really just enjoy life before medical school.
Do you have any passions outside of school? If so, what are they?
I love writing and blogging. I also LOVE cooking and baking and Iām almost always making things from scratch and feeding my friends. I just got a new camera too so Iām trying to dabble in photography a little bit.
What do you like to do for fun?
Truthfully, sleep (I need like 9 hours a night). But when Iām not sleeping, I love playing tourist in LA and frolicking with my friends. I also spend a good chunk of time Facetiming my friends from the east coast. Iāve never been this far away before so Facetime really helps with the occasional homesickness. I also love any excuse to dress up and go out with my girlfriends in Downtown LA for food and drinks and dancing.
What did you do during the summer before you started medical school?
I did nothing and it was glorious. I moved to LA several weeks early so I could wait for my car to ship from NY and so I could get better acquainted with the city. I spent that time decorating my apartment, seeing touristy places, and just meeting new people.
What do you do to get through the stressful nature of medical school?
I go to church, which is really helpful and motivational. I also hang out with my non-med school friends, and that really helps a lot. They force me to talk about things other than med school and remind me that there is a life outside of OSCEās, lecture, lab, and block exams. I also reward myself a lot (#treatyoself). Iām addicted to Amazon Prime and I will find any excuse to get myself a ātreatā.
What is it like attending school in your city?
LA is awesome. The weather is amazing, the food is amazing, the beaches are pretty and itās pretty nice overall. Thereās always something to do. I just hate how expensive it is and how large and spread out the city is, especially since I love to walk and LA is not really a walkable city. I still have yet to explore Long Beach, Los Feliz, Silver Lake and a bunch of other really cool neighborhoods. Iām making it a personal goal to really get out and explore more areas outside of my med school bubble.
Who are some of your favorite musicians? Favorite books? Shows? Movies?
- Music (according to my most played Pandora stations): Beyonce, Chance the Rapper, John Legend, PartyNextDoor, Drake, Future.
- Books: I really havenāt read much recently. I read a lot of blogs via the bloglovin app on my phone though.
- Shows: The only shows I watch consistently are Real Housewives of Atlanta & NJ, Dance Moms, Insecure, and Atlanta. Anything else I watch is simply background noise when Iām home alone and donāt want to hear silence.
- Movies: I donāt remember the last time I actually watched a movie. I get bored and restless and about half way through I realize that Iād rather spend my time doing something more active.
Thank you so much for your very sound advice and for sharingĀ a bit about yourself with us Trisha! Those who will come across thisĀ feature will be very appreciative of what you had to say! I'm looking forward to seeing where your MD/MBA journey takes you!
Health Career Spotlights Home Page
Posted on February 17th, 2017