All About Me

Bishop McNamara High School is a small private institution that stresses both spiritual and educational values and is where the foundation was set for my academic and career endeavors. I participated in extracurricular activities such as: basketball, volleyball, track, pom-pom squad, SGA council, peer ministry, and the National Honor’s Society, while maintaining a GPA of a 3.7. As a result of my academic accomplishments, community service and participation in extracurricular activities I was awarded a full academic scholarship to attend Saint Augustine’s College.

Upon arrival at Saint Augustine, I immediately became involved in activities such as; the Village of Science and Technology Scholar (VOSAT) program, the Biology Club, Pre-Med Club, Phi Eta Sigma (National Honors Society), Student Service Core, Student Ambassador, and student research in an effort to gain useful knowledge regarding scientific careers at the PhD level. I continue to understand the importance of good grades and therefore am carrying a GPA of a 3.43. I also understand the importance of expanding my educational horizons beyond Saint Augustine’s College. In that regard, in the summer of 2001 I attended the Minorities in Medicine Educational Program at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee where I took preparatory classes such as organic chemistry, biochemistry, and writing composition. During the summer 2002, I conducted research at North Carolina State University in Animal Science Department in the laboratory of Dr. Brenda Alston-Mills. The primary focus of my research project was to examine the effect of Desmodium Adscendens, (a plant used for medicinal purposes) on lactation in mice. In the course of the summer of 2003, I engaged in research at Elizabeth  City State University in the Undergraduate Research Experience in Ocean  Marine and Space Science (URE in OMSS) summer program. The main focus of my research, under the mentorship of Mr. Kevin Foss, was to investigate the correlation between sea surface temperature as well as chlorophyll and the presence of Bottlenose dolphins. These summer experiences enhanced my desire to pursue both a MD and PhD but also exposed me to the academic and research related rigors of medical school and graduate school.