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Student and Faculty Profiles

Meet Nicole...

Class: 2007
Hometown: Litchfield, Connecticut
Undergrad: University of Notre Dame
Major: Biology
Program: M.D.

The first person to influence me towards the health field was my mother, a nurse, who instilled in me a keen interest in science and a compassion for others. In my sophomore year of high school, I had a wonderful anatomy and physiology teacher who stimulated my interest in the study of the human body. In my senior year, I took an AP biology course with another engaging teacher who encouraged me to pursue biology in college. I followed his advice and declared biology as my major at the University of Notre Dame. After surviving the basic sciences I began to really enjoy electives such as genetics and immunology.

One of my goals in college was to study abroad. Although initially encountering some opposition from my advisors, I planned a curriculum approved by the biology department and spent my junior year studying at the University College of Dublin in Ireland. Dublin provided me one of the greatest experiences of my life and gave me the opportunity to become a much more independent and confident person. Taking science classes in Ireland challenged me to become responsible for my learning as courses are not taught with textbooks and the final exam is your total grade. I also had the unique opportunity to learn about my own cultural heritage including meeting distant cousins. Studying abroad also allowed me to travel through Europe and experience diverse cultures and customs.

I returned to Notre Dame for my senior year and began focusing on a career path in medicine. After graduating magna cum laude from Notre Dame, I took a year off to experience the practice of medicine first hand. I became documentation assistant to a pediatric neurologist, which allowed me to accompany the doctor into the room during patient visits where I prepared an instant electronic medical record. During this year I was able to learn history taking techniques as well as common pediatric diagnoses and medications. This year only furthered my dedication to the medical field.

I was very excited when I learned of my acceptance to Georgetown University. Georgetown not only has an excellent reputation, but Washington D.C. appealed to me as well. When I was accepted at UConn I knew I had a very difficult decision to make. UConn appealed to me for many reasons. First is the school’s proximity to my family. Second, I had particularly enjoyed interacting with the students during my interview. Students I met seemed genuinely happy at UConn. Third, I liked the Student Continuity Program (SCP) which would allow me to continue interacting with patients and a physician mentor immediately. Fourth, I felt the size of the program was perfect, small enough to get to know everyone but large enough to offer diversity. Lastly, the curriculum appealed to me both for its organ-based approach with fewer course hours as well as the pass-fail system which seemed to promote cooperation and collaboration among students. When I pondered my decision, I quickly realized UConn was the school for me and I have been happy with my decision ever since.

Highlights of my three years here include my continued appreciation for the SCP program. I have the unique experience of being placed at the pediatrician’s office where I grew up. This has allowed me to stay in close touch with my community and enjoy a weekly dinner at home with my family. My preceptor has also become a close friend and mentor. I have been with her through her two pregnancies and seen first hand how she juggles motherhood, family, and a career in medicine. I have seen the practice evolve with the retirement of my old pediatrician and the hiring of a new one. I have also acquired invaluable knowledge in pediatrics.

I have also become involved in the volunteer clinics offered at UConn. UConn fosters an environment of giving and the students run several clinics providing free medical care to the homeless and migrant workers. I organized the South Park 5K Road Race my second year raising over $5,000 to provide free medications to the destitute. This year I have taken over the public relations position on the South Park Board. In addition, I was recently selected to attend the Association of American Medical Colleges' national conference where we discussed such relevant issues as student debt and medical school curriculum and evaluation.

I feel privileged to be a medical student at the University of Connecticut and I have thoroughly enjoyed my three years here. Although I have not yet determined which area of medicine I will pursue, I look forward to more experiences ahead which will help me make the next decision on my career path.