Matt Walker, Current MD Candidate
BU Major & Graduation Date:
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (May 2021)
Current School:
George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Preferred Pronouns:
he/him/his
Hometown:
Las Vegas, NV
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’m a first year student at GW in Washington, DC. Anyone who knows me knows that I am very passionate about politics and community service, which is why I applied to GW since they have excellent programs that allow you to engage with both of those activities. What makes GW unique is we have “scholarly concentrations” (sort of like majors) that allow you to complement your preclinical curriculum with a field you’re passionate about. For example, I’m in the Clinical and Translational Research program, but I have friends in Disaster Medicine, Health Policy, Community and Urban Health, and more. They give you a tremendous amount of space to explore your passions, take advantage of great internships on the Hill, and provide ample hospital time to explore your interests. The end of your first semester is capped with an HIV summit that allows you to work with state directors to address unmet needs in their community, so it’s an excellent way to integrate public health and clinical medicine.
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?
I want to be an orthopaedic surgeon. I knew going into school I wanted to be a surgeon, but didn’t know the type. GW has amazing shadowing opportunities, and so I tagged along with the ortho team for a day and absolutely fell in love with the patient population, OR team, and procedures.
What are one or two of your favorite experiences/activities and why?
In 2020, I worked for a group called Doctors for Biden. It was a weekly zoom call where doctors and health professionals from all over the country met to pitch op-eds to swing states explaining why folks should vote for President Biden through the lens of protecting healthcare. This group inspired me to apply to GW since they showed me how doctors can advocate for their patients beyond the walls of a hospital and how our voices as healthcare professionals can be used for social justice.
Did you take a gap year?
I did and cannot recommend them enough. I worked at CRISPR Therapeutics for a year in their Immuno-Oncology program. Working for a year gave me great insight about how to exist outside of school and explore who I am, what my interests are, and how to take care of myself without the rigorous schedule that BU provided. Plus, it was great to apply my degree and all the classes I took towards something I was passionate about.
What was your favorite BU course and why?
Global Health Nutrition. I’m not sure if it’s still taught by Professor Locks, but that class completely changed my perspective about health and wellbeing being tied to what we eat. So many science classes focus on the nitty gritty molecular details, which is great, but this class gave a macro perspective about how the food we eat, where it comes from, and how its prepared can impact our health, development, and ecosystem. I cannot recommend this class enough.
Were you involved in any clubs/groups at BU?
I was a Student Health Ambassador for 4 years and a researcher in the Elliott Lab.
Have you always known you wanted to be a doctor? What/who has been your biggest inspiration?
I’ve known since high school I’ve wanted to be a doctor, so following that passion into college was a no brainer. My biggest inspiration has been my parents. They have impeccable work ethics and have supported me through this whole journey to medicine, so making them proud is what keeps me going.
What resources at BU did you find most helpful or want to spotlight that others might not know about?
Working with the pre-health office on my application was integral to me getting in. The advice they provided was excellent and, from talking to my peers who went to other schools, is much more structured and robust.
What are your hobbies/What do you like to do for fun outside of the classroom?
I’m a regular at SoulCycle and Barry’s, and I have a pretty large plant collection. My gap year, I learned how to cook. All these activities I carried with me to GW and they’ve been integral to my success as a student. Work-life balance is the secret to doing well!
Are there any tips/advice you would like to share with current pre-health students?
Have hobbies you’re passionate about, keep in contact with your loved ones, and remember it’s a marathon, not a sprint. There’s a million hurdles to get through before you get to medical school, so having a strong support system, both internally and externally, will make all the difference for your success.