What extracurricular activities have you been involved with during your time in school? How has it made an impact on your life and in the community?
I did my best to get involved in many opportunities that would enhance my skills and understanding in the best possible way. For this reason, I volunteered at a major hospital and conducted basic research prior to medical school. As a first-year student, I pursued podiatric-specific club opportunities on campus to help advance the field.
Volunteering at the Mayo Clinic was among those experiences which provided me exceptional insight regarding patient care. As an Outpatient Dialysis Volunteer, I met a patient by the name of Michael who suffered from Down’s Syndrome and came in every Monday to undergo treatment. He was always followed by his father wherever he went and simply being around them and helping with Michael’s procedure reminded me of how my father was always there for me when I was extremely ill. Being able to get a glimpse into the inner workings of patient care allowed me to empathize with the patients I worked with. As a volunteer, I was on the provider side of medical care which allowed me to feel a sense of reward and satisfaction incomparable to any I had felt before. My experience at the Mayo Clinic allowed my dream of becoming a physician to soar to new heights.
A career in medicine is heavily dependent on the understanding and practices of the sciences.
A career in medicine is heavily dependent on the understanding and practices of the sciences. Working in basic research provided the opportunity to further grow as an individual because it allowed me to apply constructive and critical thinking while strengthening my understanding of the practices of scientific research. I built a strong foundation in the kind of autonomous analytical thinking that I believe is required for the medical field. Also, being a part of a sports club team, showed me the importance of team commitment and forming bonds with others. I acquired and honed the skills of leadership and communication which are but a few of the numerous hallmarks of a healthcare provider. Upon integrating these values, I was able to make connections as to what I had experienced thus far in the realm of medicine. To simplify, there is a complete hierarchy present within a hospital that can only operate efficiently when those in charge are skilled leaders, capable of accomplishing tasks at hand. Communication is also vital in the interactions between patients and fellow colleagues.
During my first year at Rosalind Franklin School of Podiatric Medicine, I was involved with clubs relating to podiatry and the progression of the field. My courses and involvement in clubs taught me how to learn and sharpen my skills of time management, adaptability, and hard work.
All in all, thanks to these experiences, I was able to cultivate the qualities of empathy, compassion, and diligence which I believe are critical in becoming an excellent podiatric physician. In my humble opinion, I believe I have the necessary personal qualities to become the best podiatric physician I can be-for my goal has always been lifelong service to others.
Evan Jason
Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine
Hallux 