Medical students can commiserate with each other over the experience of med school and share a level of empathy and understanding with one another. But the reality of being a med student is a unique experience for everyone. That is why Penn Medicine magazine began to profile a group of first-year med students in 2015. Two of those students were profiled again recently, reflecting on their third year at the Perelman School of Medicine.
Year three is when students begin to personalize their trajectory, pursue electives, research, and specialized clinical training. Students have chosen their specialty and applied for residency programs.
Michael Stephens and Gina Chang are both in their third year, and have chosen their career paths for the rest of their training. In their interviews during their first and second year in the program, they spoke about their adjustment to a new city and a new program, their relationships with other med students, and their extracurricular activities. Both found the time and the inclination to be a part of the larger Penn community through their hobbies. For Chang, it was the Penn Med Symphony Orchestra. For Stephens, it was Medical Student Government.
Now, in year three, they look ahead at their specialized fields, what lies ahead for their rotations, and additional studies outside of the Perelman School.
Read their story at Penn Medicine News.
