Natalia Kelley, Current MD Candidate
BU Major & Graduation Date:
Biology, 2022
Current School and Year:
Drexel University College of Medicine, 2028
Preferred Pronouns:
she/her
Hometown:
Paradox, CO/Moab, UT
What school are you attending and what you are studying?
Drexel University College of Medicine, MD. I chose to apply to this school because of its location in Philly, its dedication to making a positive impact in the surrounding community, and its focus on building a collaborative and diverse class.
Is there a specialization and/or specific population you are interested in?
I’m currently interested in ob/gyn because it’s a surgical specialty with opportunities for longitudinal care and the potential to subspecialize later, perhaps in gyn/onc. I’m also particularly drawn to ob/gyn because it has a strong culture of advocacy.
What are one or two of your favorite experiences/activities and why?
One of my favorite experiences so far has been working on resumes with parolees. It has been an opportunity to get to know the participants on a more personal level and learn more about the prison and parole system from their perspectives. I have been able to work on multiple occasions with a parolee who was incarcerated for 56 years from age 20 to 76. We have been working on digital literacy, since his incarceration spanned huge technological advances. He has offered a lot of insight on the prison system over time and the process of readjusting to civilian life.
Did you take gap years?
I took two gap years during which I finished working as a chief medical scribe at MGH and transitioned to working in a translational sarcoma research lab at BWH. I thought both of these experiences were extremely helpful before coming to medical school.
What was your favorite BU course and why?
My favorite BU course was my printmaking course because it was a fun opportunity to use my hands and creativity. I also learned a lot about working with different materials.
Were you involved in any clubs/groups at BU?
I was the secretary and later president of BU’s Capoeira Club which gathered to practice Capoeira several times a week and collaborated with the Capoeira group in Cambridge. I was also involved with the climbing community at BU as a climbing instructor and wall-attendant at FitRec and as a de facto member of the climbing club.
Have you always known you wanted to be a doctor?
I didn’t have a lot of exposure to medicine growing up in rural CO, but I was always curious about the field. During my gap year before college and during college, I gained more exposure and developed more of a professional identity in clinical research spaces. As a gained experience and my interests grew, it just became harder and harder to imagine not spending my professional career in medicine. My biggest inspiration has probably been my PI at BWH, Dr. Fletcher. He channels so much energy into his work, and regardless of whether I stay in cancer/research, he is an inspiration in regard to his passion, mentorship, and leadership in the sarcoma community.
What resources at BU did you find most helpful or want to spotlight that others might not know about?
I think the most helpful resource by far was the Preprofessional Advising Office. Their resources while applying for medical school were incredibly helpful to prepare a strong application, assess readiness, prep for interviews, build school lists, and understand the complex process of applying to medical school.
What are your hobbies/What do you like to do for fun outside of the classroom?
I love to climb, run, hang out with friends, read books, ski, and travel. It’s been great to find that I can still make time for these things while in medical school.
Are there any tips/advice you would like to share with current pre-health students?
I think aside from the BU advising office, finding mentors in medicine who can vouch for you during your journey is the other most important thing you can do early on. These can be people who you know outside of medicine or people you meet professionally. Either way, establishing these relationships is so important. Even once you’re in medical school, it’s helpful to have people who really know you to be able to write letters of rec for research and summer opportunities. My only other piece of advice is that the application process can be so stressful, so make sure you explore ways to keep yourself grounded, lean on your loved ones, try to stay present and appreciate the time before med school, and remember that it will all be okay.