Chelsea Dorsey, MSIV
Age: 25
Hometown: Chicago, IL
College: Rice University
Major(s): Biochemistry and Cell Biology; Psychology
Highlights of Pre-Med Career: Working on a pilot study focused on older adults with generalized anxiety disorder through the Baylor College of Medicine; working as a Health Assistant for the Stanford University site of the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth; participating in the 2004 Summer Medical Education Program at the University of Virginia; 4 years as the first female manager of the Men’s Basketball team at Rice.
Why medicine?
To be honest, I wasn’t one of those people that always new deep down that this was the field for them. I did, however, know that I had a genuine interest in the sciences, and that I also loved a challenge. For me, it was a matter of figuring out how these two passions of mine would manifest.
Why Pritzker?
Where do I begin! One thing I noticed right off the bat when I visited the campus on my interview day was that the students all seemed genuinely happy to be here. In addition, Pritzker is located in one of the best cities in the country (I may be biased) and one of the most diverse communities around. Furthermore, I have always viewed the fact that the medical school is adjacent to the undergraduate University as an asset. The resources we have available to us are astounding.
Perhaps at the top of my list of positive attributes to consider was the group of individuals the University of Chicago Medical Center has the pleasure of serving. The patient population here is comprised of individuals with incredibly complex cases often owing to the health disparities that continue to be characteristic of our nation’s medical care system. I think that here at Pritzker, students take the task of caring for the underserved very seriously, and work hard to improve the health status of everyone that enters the hospital doors.
Encouraging Diversity Through the Office of Multicultural Affairs
The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) is committed to diversifying each entering class and actively works to ensure that underrepresented minority medical students are academically supported during their time here. In addition, the OMA works in conjunction with such student groups as the Student National Medical Association, National Network of Latin American Medical Students, and the Multicultural Committee for Academic Advancement in Medicine.
One of the highlights of the summer after my first year involved working as a teaching assistant for the Chicago Academic Medical Program (CAMP). This is one of the many “pipeline” programs run through the OMA designed to show a diverse group of undergraduates how to succeed in a premedical program.
Impressive Pritzker Mentors
To me, one of the things that stands out about Pritzker is the strength of student mentorship. As a first-year medical student, I remember feeling as though the upperclassmen were really there for me. The mentoring starts with Orientation Week, but continues throughout your time here. There is ALWAYS someone to turn to if you have questions or concerns.
“Health Care Disparities in America” Experience
This program started in the fall of 2006 and it truly sets Pritzker apart from other institutions. Students attend lectures, visit community health centers in the area, and prepare a presentation to be shared with their classmates regarding a particular topic in health disparities. It is a great chance for students to take some time at the beginning of their medical career to think about and discuss difficult issues that they will certainly face as physicians. For many of us, I think the experience is definitely an eye-opener and allowed us to work on communication skills that will help us to be more mindful physicians in the years to come. This initiative was the very first of its kind in the country and now serves as a model for other medical schools.
