I’d always been interested in medicine, but it wasn’t until I was standing in front of real medical students, watching graphic surgeries and handling needlework for the first time that medicine suddenly wasn’t just a career I’d read about. It was right in my hands. Real-world opportunities like these are what made the UCI MedAcademy Summer Program one of the most fulfilling experiences I’ve had as a student pursuing a career in medicine.

The program brought together around 60-80 students, all with a keen interest in medicine, and separated us into smaller cohorts where we worked under a medical student at UCI for us to ask questions about their experiences. During the 5-day immersive program, we attended workshops on suturing, where we learned to handle needles properly; ultrasound imaging, where we learned how to handle a transducer; and CPR. Med students shared their experiences from medical school, and doctors from various specialties discussed their training and focus.

But the seminar I found most insightful was the panel on applying to med school. One of the most surprising things I learned was that clinical experience and research were as important as GPA as an undergrad student. Many professors emphasized that medical programs are looking for students who demonstrate qualities of leadership, empathy, and self-awareness. One medical student shared how even though he had a 4.0 GPA and volunteering hours, he was still rejected from medical schools for 2 years. His story showed us that accomplishments in medicine are truly driven by learning, failing, and a commitment to serving others.

As a Korean American, I’m particularly interested in disparities in healthcare access among immigrant communities and the challenges of healthcare in low-income populations. And for the first time, I got to witness the value of empathy in patient care when I interviewed a patient who pretended to come from a low-income, minority background. On my group’s first attempt at understanding a patient, we struggled to sound confident, but we actively listened, making the patient eventually speak more comfortably.

Perhaps the most standout feature of the program (and the most thrilling) was the medical simulation. Anyone interested in medicine would love the chance to suture a wound and operate an ultrasound. Being right up at the patient, placing the transducer on his body was an experience I’ll never forget. We imaged the heart, the liver, and the gallbladder, making sure our images were clear. On top of that, we got to experience collaborating as a team, where I realized the second most crucial aspect of being a doctor: it isn’t a solo effort.

I’m truly grateful that I got to spend a summer at UCI MedAcademy. It wasn’t just eye-opening; it was transformative. While the application is competitive, as you need to create several essays and a letter of recommendation with a very limited amount of space, for me, it marked the moment my dream of becoming a healthcare professional stopped being just a goal and started becoming my future.

<Connor Jung 학생기자 트로이 고교 10학년>