01/28/2022
Hello everyone,
We hope your Winter Quarter is going well!
Dr. Sawyer was a former EMRAP RA who now works as an emergency medicine doctor at UC Davis (with us!). We decided to interview him and ask a few questions on how EMRAP influenced him to become a doctor and pursue a career in the field of healthcare/research.
Q: What do you like about being a doctor?
A: “The patients. Being a physician is an honor. You get to interact with people in your community that you would otherwise never meet and get the opportunity to make a real difference in their life. I also love my colleagues. They are genuinely good people with big hearts and great personalities.”
Q: What has been your most challenging experience as a doctor?
A: “1) It’s all consuming. We dedicate our lives to this path and end up forgoing many other things. 2) Medicine is also not a typical 9 to 5 job so it can make your personal life hectic at times. 3) Practicing medicine is particularly challenging now because of health care system inefficiencies, and the fact many health policy decisions are made by non-physicians. I’m hoping to help change that. At UC Davis School of Medicine, we developed a curriculum we will use to introduce medical students to health systems issues and hopefully begin the process of developing future physician leaders.“
Q: What made you want to be a doctor?
A: “I took a sports medicine course in high school that sparked my interest in emergency medicine. I initially wanted to become a paramedic, but I was encouraged to pursue medical school while working as an ER Tech. I remember one day while on shift in the ER one of the doctors asked me, “What are you going to be when you grow up?” I told him I was going to be a paramedic. He said, “No, you need to be a doctor.” I am forever grateful to him for his encouragement. I enrolled in Junior College and enjoyed the courses so I kept going and eventually transferred to UC Davis. I am fascinated with science and driven to help others in a meaningful way. Medicine is a discipline unlike any other that allows me to pursue both of those interests.”
Q: What did you enjoy the most about EMRAP?
A: “I enjoyed the experience of being in the emergency department and having a role in clinical research. The work done by EMRAP contributes to important research that has, and will continue to, change the way we care for patients. The EMRAP coordinators are great, and you get an inside look in to how clinical research is done. Plus, you are in a busy emergency department where you get the opportunity to see medicine in action. You also get to interact with residents and attendings.”
Q: Do you have any advice for undergrads?
A: “Consider majoring in physiology or at least getting a minor. Doctors are essentially mechanics for the human body. The more familiar you are with the way our bodies function, from cell signaling pathways to organ function, the better prepared you will be in medical school when you begin studying pathophysiology (abnormal physiology aka “being sick”). Go to class and learn the material. Don’t just memorize stuff. The MCAT is geared to test your understanding of concepts, not your ability to memorize facts.”
Q: What advice do you have about extracurricular and experiences?
A: “First, find a way to get meaningful clinical experiences such as EMRAP. When you apply to medical you will need to talk about your pre-med experiences and the rule is quality over quantity. Second, get involved in something you’re passionate about - an experience where you can form relationships with great mentors. It doesn’t even have to be related to medicine, just be sure to show the type of passion, dedication and reliability that is expected of medical student applicants. Finally, do the things you enjoy and find the meaning for why you enjoy doing them. Life is about doing what you are most passionate about. If you love the work you are doing then you are truly setting yourself up for success."
Q: What’s one interesting thing about yourself?
A: “I’m really into technology. I once slept outside on a sidewalk to wait in line for the release of the IPhone 3G.”
