Pronouns: He/him

Hometown: Charlotte, NC

Undergraduate Education: Johnson C. Smith University

Fun Fact: Quarterback in college

I’m currently a PGY2 at Mayo Clinic.

I was inspired by my older brother, Chris, who is now a pain specialist. He is 4.5 years older than me, so he has been a step ahead of me throughout our medical journey. He did his residency in PM&R, so naturally I wanted to learn more about it. It didn’t take long for me to realize that it was the best fit for what I wanted to do in my career!

I’m interested in this organization because I believe representation matters. There is no way I would be where I am today without those who paved the way before me. I’ve had incredible mentors who I’ve leaned on during times of difficulty. I see this organization as a way for me to connect with others and share experiences. My hope is to build strong, long lasting relationships so we can continue to build each other up, mentor one another, and help each other through tough times.

Equity in healthcare is important because everyone deserves to achieve their full health potential. The demographics of health care providers should mirror the population it serves to realize that potential. I believe getting involved with this organization will be a great opportunity to uplift the minority community.

I have had the imposter syndrome for as long as I can remember. When I was a freshman in college, I told my parents that I wasn’t sure I wanted to pursue medicine. Getting into medical school seemed like an unattainable task. Between getting good grades, volunteering, extracurricular activities, studying for the MCAT, and playing college football, I didn’t see how this could work out.

My parents essentially told me that if I wanted to go a different direction than medicine, that was okay, but quitting on something because I felt like it was “too hard” isn’t a good reason to give up. I took what they said to heart and decided I would keep pushing ahead. I couldn’t have made it without them cheering me on!

My lifelong dream is to become a sports medicine physician. Sports have always been a huge part of my life, for as long as I can remember. My parents signed me up for just about everything growing up, and I firmly believe that the resiliency and discipline required to succeed in sports are huge reasons why I was able to succeed in becoming a doctor. Because of this, I feel obligated to give back to sports, and this is the best way I know how.

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Here’s an article if you want to learn more about me! Article