Eunice Lamothe, Current MD Candidate
BU Major & Graduation Date:
Major: Economics, Minor: Biology, 2022
Current School and Year:
Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, Class of 2028
Preferred Pronouns:
She/Her/Hers
Hometown:
Atlanta, Ga
What school are you attending and what you are studying?
I’m currently attending Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine’s MD program. Along with KPSOM being tuition-free, I chose to attend KPSOM because of the innovative curriculum structure, early clinical exposures, and endless supports for student wellness. The curriculum utilizes a flipped classroom model, where concepts are learned outside the classroom, and we use the majority of in-class time to apply the knowledge learned to clinical cases. Additionally, KPSOM is one of the only schools to integrate a comprehensive health systems science curriculum, where we learn key concepts in Community and Population Health, Health Policy, and Quality Improvement, a piece that was key for me in choosing KPSOM. KPSOM also uses a Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC) model for our clinical rotations, allowing students to have a longitudinal relationship with physician preceptors and patients.
We began our first rotation, Internal Medicine/Family Medicine, in our first year, which has given me a ton of clinical exposure and practice of key physical exam, history-taking, and oral presentation skills. Lastly, one of my favorite parts about KPSOM is having access to a Research team that supports students in finding projects across the Kaiser Permanente system and supporting the design and implementation of student-driven projects.
Is there a specialization and/or specific population you are interested in?
I’m currently interested in pursuing a career in Internal Medicine, either working in primary care or specializing further, possibly in Cardiology. My goal is to enter a specialty that allows for longitudinal relationships with patients and plays a role in chronic disease management. A combination of my personal experiences and passion for community organizing, has led me to be particularly interested in working in a community health setting, improving healthcare access for marginalized communities.
What are one or two of your favorite experiences/activities and why?
During my time in undergrad, one of my favorite experiences was interning at the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers or “Mass League”, in the Government Affairs and Public Policy Department. This experience was crucial in reaffirming my interest in sitting at the intersection of advocacy and clinical practice. Between policy research and preparing for statehouse hearings, my work centered around advocating for policies that would expand and resource federally qualified community health centers (FQHC’s) across the state. Through connecting with leaders at the FQHC’s, I became fascinated with their innovative approaches to provide comprehensive, culturally appropriate care for marginalized communities, as well as developed an interest in using data for storytelling within our healthcare system. I’m now hoping practice in an FQHC in the future and work in improving social service integration within our healthcare system.
Additionally, during my senior year, a couple of friends and I entered the Campus Hunger Challenge through the Build Lab. My team and I worked to develop and pitch Food@BU, an initiative that aims to streamline university food resources and explore innovative approaches to promote food justice on campus. We were awarded $10K in seed funding from the Campus Hunger Challenge and partnered with BU Student Wellbeing to launch and grow our initiative. As someone passionate about improving food access, this was one of my favorite experiences during my years at BU. We were able to connect with many community organizations and other universities doing this work around Boston and got to hear from many students directly experiencing these issues. I learned so much about how food insecurity can appear differently in different populations and new strategies for removing stigma around receiving assistance. The lessons from this experience will definitely stick with me as a further in my career, hopefully expanding social services for patients in need.
Did you take gap years?
I took two (2) gap years in between obtaining my Economics degree at BU and starting medical school at KPSOM. During that time, I moved back to Atlanta where I worked as a scribe in an ophthalmology office, under a glaucoma specialist. One of the most fulfilling elements of the role was building lasting relationships with our patients, many who are older. I gained valuable insight into how to provide compassionate care for older adults and strategies for navigating the distinct set of challenges they face. Additionally, I worked as a project manager for a start- up organization, focused on resourcing on-the-ground organizing groups to respond in the aftermath of climate disasters and build long term resilience within their communities. In that role, I’ve learned how disasters exacerbate community health issues, including housing shortages, food insecurity, and unsafe working conditions, and the importance of a multi- sectoral approach to mitigate these inequities. I also had the incredible opportunities to travel to seven different countries and visit many communities across the United States.
What was your favorite BU course and why?
One of my favorite courses at BU was Sociology of Race and Ethnicity. This course provided an in-depth history of the development of race and the function that race plays here in the United States. One thing I really enjoyed about the course was the opportunities we had to apply what we were learning to our areas of interest through our assignments. For me that manifested as opportunities to research and write about health equity issues, particularly issues that are relevant for Black women.
Were you involved in any clubs/groups at BU?
At BU, I was involved in Alpha Phi Omega, BU’s gender-inclusive community service fraternity, which provided ample opportunities for being involved in the Greater Boston community, a number of leadership opportunities, and most importantly, gave me some of my best friends at BU. Additionally, I was involved in programming at BU’s Community Service Center, specifically Student Food Rescue, a program where we worked to eliminate food waste by collecting high- quality food leftovers from grocery stores and delivering this excess food to community organizations across the Greater Boston Area. On Saturday mornings, we would arrive at our local Whole Foods, sort through boxes of produce to confirm food was in a condition that was dignifying for our community members, and deliver the food to the Dorchester Community Fridge. We then worked with local organizers of the fridge to hold a pop-up food distribution for community members experiencing food insecurity. This experience was one of many that ignited my passion for addressing issues of food insecurity and resourcing innovative community-driven solutions.
Have you always known you wanted to be a doctor? What/who has been your biggest inspiration?
I was one of those kids who have always been interested in healthcare, particularly because of these experiences of my family. As a young kid, chronic illness was familiar to me — my family dealt with a myriad of conditions: it was treated as an inherent part of life. However, I quickly found myself asking why this occurs so often, not only within my own family, but among other families that looked like mine. This question sparked my initial interest in medicine and my passion for advocating for those at the margin of our systems, an intersection I plan to explore as a physician.
My interests were reaffirmed through my own experiences as a patient, where following a major surgery, my primary care provider became an important person in my life. She knew my history, listened patiently, and even as a young adult, allowed me to be involved in my own care: presenting options and carefully considering my opinions. I admired her methodical clinical questioning and her ability to explain my situation in terms I would understand. Post- surgery, she not only monitored my recovery progress, but made sure I had the resources and support I needed to stay healthy moving forward. She treated the whole person. I knew from that moment that I wanted to be a provider who had the empathy and approach that my primary care did with me.
What resources at BU did you find most helpful or want to spotlight that others might not know about?
For anyone looking to learn more about Boston and give back to the communities that surround BU, I would highly recommend getting involved in the programs at the Community Service Center (CSC). I really fell in love with their programs during my time, including the First- Year Student Outreach Project (FYSOP), Student Food Rescue (SFR), and the Education/Reflection programming provided by the center. These experiences were essential in discovering more about what I was passionate about both inside and outside of the medical field and discover more about myself through opportunities for reflection. Also, a being involved in the CSC was a great way to make new friends and build community both on and off campus!
What are your hobbies/What do you like to do for fun outside of the classroom?
Outside of the classroom, I love to read both fiction and non-fiction, learn about urban planning/design, explore new community events and third spaces, and most-recently, have been reconnecting with old hobbies, like taking dance classes!
Are there any tips/advice you would like to share with current pre-health students?
Rest is a radical act, an act of resistance. Do not be afraid to rest, fill your cup, connect with loved ones, and do the things that make you feel alive.