Priscilla Reyes – Florida State University News

Name: Priscilla Reyes
Major: Public Health
Graduation: Summer 2023
Hometown: Orlando, Fla.

“FSU has introduced me to a variety of organizations and programs that influenced me to apply to medical school.”

Senior Priscilla Reyes entered Florida State University desperate to study public well being. And be taught she did, by way of her involvement in campus well being applications, volunteer alternatives and institution of a corporation for future well being care professionals.

Now, she’s prepared for commencement and ready to additional her training.

Reyes’ public health major coursework led to her involvement in organizations such because the Undergraduate Science Students Together Reaching Instructional Diversity & Excellence, or USSTRIDE, program and Big Bend Hospice.

Her curiosity in public well being got here from private experiences.

She mentioned issues she skilled within the public well being system led to disenchantment, which led to motion. She established a scholar group, “Make Medicine Human,” which might enable audio system with disabilities and issues to share their tales.

Reyes mentioned she hopes the audio system’ shows will encourage her group’s members to turn out to be extra empathetic future well being care professionals.

She emphasizes the facility of firsthand expertise within the medical subject to college students, and impressed by her involvement with USSTRIDE, she is an authorized medical assistant at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.

Reyes participated within the FSU-FAMU Global Health Collaborative Project, by which she engaged with the well being care wants of rural individuals in Honduras. She credit the challenge workforce for her choice to additional her training.

“The empathetic and passionate medical students and staff on the team have inspired me to pursue medical school,” Reyes mentioned.

When not working on the hospital or on campus, Reyes volunteers to serve in Tallahassee’s susceptible communities. She credit her FSU mentors for preserving her motivated whereas balancing work, lecturers and involvement in scholar organizations.

How has your time at Florida State formed your plans after commencement?

FSU has launched me to quite a lot of organizations and applications that influenced me to use to medical faculty. USSTRIDE tremendously supported me on this purpose by offering scholarships for medical experiences and tutoring. The alternative impressed me to volunteer and work as an authorized medical assistant to realize extra expertise earlier than making use of to medical faculty. Being an Organic Chemistry tutor and an Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program chief additional fostered my enjoyment in instructing, which I hope to proceed. 

How has your involvement with the Global Health Collaboration Project developed your profession targets?

The Global Health Collaboration Project launched me to ideas reminiscent of culturally cognizant intervention and the foundations of intricate and productive teamwork. Working by way of the challenges of rural medication developed my new purpose of aiding uninsured and rural communities. 

What impressed you to begin your group “Make Medicine Human,” and what influence do you hope it’s going to have at FSU?

“Make Medicine Human” was an concept that stemmed from my freshman yr at FSU. My mom’s epilepsy introduced my consideration to each optimistic and destructive experiences throughout the medical system, and I needed to stop the issues we confronted from occurring once more. My Health Living Learning neighborhood adviser, Angela Sehgal, guided me in establishing my campus group that invitations audio system to debate their illness or incapacity and medical experiences with future well being care professionals and conduct a Q&A session for the members. At the top of every presentation, the speaker advocates for an out of doors group to donate our members’ funds. 

In what methods has your work on the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital impacted your profession trajectory?

My job as an authorized medical assistant at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital with the Internal Medicine workplace additional fueled my ardour and curiosity in major care specialties. The expertise taught me the important facets of the dynamic and direct affected person care expertise essential to turn out to be a nicely-rounded, future well being care skilled. I’m extremely grateful for my job as a result of it additional confirmed to me that I’m working towards a purpose I genuinely really feel enthusiastic about and decided to realize. 

How has your volunteer expertise influenced the sort of mark you hope to make in your meant subject?

Providing companionship to sufferers at Big Bend Hospice launched me to how a hospice features and the superb well being care workforce that contains it. Working with the aged inhabitants within the hospice middle invited me to contemplate grownup or geriatric medication for the longer term. Once I turn out to be a medical skilled, I try to challenge the compassion and empathy proven towards these sufferers. Though it isn’t associated to medication, I additionally volunteer on the Kearney Center, a homeless shelter the place volunteers can work within the kitchen. Serving a neighborhood exterior of your subject is essential in valuing the work different people contribute to society. The Kearney Center has launched me to compassionate employees and cooks who serve the homeless neighborhood and encourage me. 

How did you overcome any challenges you confronted throughout your tutorial profession?

When a problem arises in my tutorial profession, I search recommendation from my mentors — employees, professors and advisers at FSU. They present me with the motivation to maintain shifting ahead. Every problem poses a possible answer, and I foster the perseverance to search out it by way of the help from my household and mates. Being an authorized medical assistant additionally serves as a every day reminder of what my future holds as I’m going by way of these challenges.