Natalie Waldron, Current MD Candidate
BU Major & Graduation Date:
Major in Neuroscience, Minor in Biology (May 2020)
Current School and Year:
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, MD Program (Class of 2026, M1)
Preferred Pronouns:
she/her/hers
Hometown:
Concord, MA
What school are you attending and what you are studying? Why did you choose to apply to this school? What do you think makes your school unique?
I am a current M1 (first-year medical student) at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (JHUSOM). The incredible clinical curriculum, research opportunities, College Advising Program, and working with the Baltimore patient population are a few aspects that drew me to Hopkins and what I think sets it apart from other schools.
In their first semester, first-year students learn how to take histories and perform physical exams. The following semester, we start a longitudinal clerkship where we meet with patients under the guidance of a preceptor. I think this sets us up really well for clerkships. The research opportunities at Hopkins are also fantastic. There are always so many projects going on, and the faculty is incredible. They are very helpful and happy to have medical students doing research with them.
In the College Advising Program, students are divided into 4 colleges. The 4 colleges are further divided into “molecules” of 5 students plus an advisor. The advising program makes it easy to get to know your classmates, and having a built-in advisor who is there to answer any questions/give advice has been great.
Going to school in Baltimore also gives students the opportunity to work with a diverse and largely underserved patient population. I think that working with this community allows us to identify some of the barriers in access to healthcare and provides us with the skill set to start addressing them.
Is there a specialization and/or specific population you are interested in? Why? How did you get into it and/or learn more about it?
Like many first years, I am not completely sure yet what I would like to specialize in. Some current areas of interest include internal medicine (IM), anesthesia, critical care (an intersection between IM and anesthesia), and med-peds (combined internal medicine and pediatrics). The beauty of med school is that I have a couple of years to rotate through the different specialties and see which is the best fit!
What are one or two of your favorite experiences/activities and why?
One of my favorite experiences was working as a medical assistant in a med-peds clinic at MGH during my gap years. Since the clinic provides care across the lifespan, I really enjoyed interacting with patients of all ages—from 2 days old to 100 years old!
Did you take any gap years?
Yes, I took two gap years. I worked as a Medical Assistant for part of my gap years, then worked as a Research Assistant at MGH in the Skates Lab, investigating the early detection of ovarian cancer. Outside of work, I also volunteered as a mentor with the program Partners for Youth with Disabilities. I enjoyed these gap years and feel that the experiences helped me grow as a person and prepared me for medical school.
What was your favorite BU course and why?
It’s too hard to pick one, so two of my favorites were Drugs and Behavior with Dr. Caine and Molecular Biology of the Neuron with Dr. Ho. Drugs and Behavior because it was interesting to learn about pharmacology and the mechanisms of different drugs, and Molecular Biology of the Neuron because I find the biological basis and pathology behind different neurological disorders to be fascinating. Also, I had great professors!
Were you involved in any clubs/groups at BU?
Some groups I was involved in at BU included BUEMS as a Lead Lab Instructor, and Project Sunshine as a volunteer. BUEMS is BU’s EMT course, which trains students to become EMTs after taking the national exam. Project Sunshine is a volunteer club where students make craft kits for pediatric hospital patients and visit hospitalized children (though I’m not sure if this part has changed due to COVID-19).
Have you always known you wanted to be a doctor? What/who has been your biggest inspiration?
While I always had an interest in STEM, I was not sure exactly what field I wanted to go into when I started at BU. After gaining experiences in both research and in a clinical setting, I realized my passion lies in connecting with patients. I want to be able to make a difference in the lives of others as a physician.
My biggest inspirations were the physicians I worked with as a medical assistant. Initially, I had reservations about a career in medicine (the length of training, the long hours, the debt). When I spoke to the physicians at the clinic about my hesitations, they gave me valuable advice and answered my questions. Furthermore, seeing them so successful in their careers while maintaining a work-life balance was inspiring. I am still in contact with some of these mentors.
What resource at BU did you find most helpful or want to spotlight that others might not know about?
One resource I found very helpful was the Pre-Professional Advising Office. My advisor, Dr. Rachel Weiss, read my personal statement and I was able to implement her helpful feedback.
Another great resource is the career center, where students can practice interviewing skills and have their resumes read over. This was very helpful in preparation for my gap year job search.
What are your hobbies/What do you like to do for fun outside of the classroom?
Some of my hobbies include running, reading, and cooking (especially with Trader Joes food). I also recently got a puppy, so I love anything dog related and have been enjoying spending time with her. Something I have learned in school is that it is important to take time for yourself and continue doing activities you enjoy outside of the classroom, as this helps prevent burnout.
Are there any tips/advice you would like to share with current pre-health students?
Something I have learned is to focus on doing what you are truly interested in. Medical schools like hearing about activities you can speak passionately about, even if they are not the typical “cookie cutter” pre-med experiences. It is still important to be a well-rounded applicant (having clinical experience, volunteering, and research); however, there is such a huge variety of experiences and avenues you can take to explore medicine.
I know the process can be so daunting and difficult at times, so my other advice is to give yourself grace and do not be too hard on yourself. You have worked so hard to get to this point and you will be successful in whatever you put your mind to!