Why I Chose Pitt's BMP

As I'm stepping into a new chapter of my academic career, I can now answer the long-awaited question...Why Pitt's Biomedical Master's Program (BMP)? As many of you know, deciding to go to the University of Pittsburgh was and is one of the best decisions I've ever made. Not only did the university provide me with a supportive environment, but it also gave me the opportunity to grow as a student and grow as someone getting used to the world of "adulting". So...what attracted me to the BMP?

Support through Mentorship

One of the biggest selling points for me was the emphasis on mentorship and coaching. Up to that point, I didn't have a great experience with advisors. At Arizona State, I could feel a disconnect between pre-med students and the pre-health advisors. Every time I would go to their office to discuss my future plans, I was met with doubt and disbelief that my dreams of becoming a doctor could become my reality. I knew that I didn't look like the majority of applicants from ASU, but that shouldn't have made my dreams any less attainable. So when it came to choosing Pitt, I wanted to make sure that my new community was full of faculty that genuinely believed in me and wanted to see me succeed. What really drew me in was the three-tiered mentorship and coaching approach that the BMP offers. Along with having a faculty advisor, I also had a career and professional development coach (internal coaching), an individual career coach (external coaching), and also had the program administrators would always had their offices open. With this one-on-one approach, I felt seen and important rather than another number in a crowd. This aspect of the BMP allowed me to build the support system I needed for the transition from undergrad to graduate style learning and the transition from moving across the country.

Research Opportunities

Another reason why I chose Pitt was because it could provide me with exposure to research. When I applied, I had no idea just how much Pitt is an institutional pioneer in research. Even though I had research experience at ASU (clinical research in psychology), I soon found out that in order to increase my competitive edge for applications I needed more research --- specifically, wet lab. Wet lab/bench research is classical research such as characterizing enzymes, protein estimation, cell culture, etc. I was reluctant at first because I didn't think that I could find a lab that would pique my interest, but I soon found and fell in love with a research lab that reflected both my clinical interests and curiosities from life experiences. The thought of having an active role in progressing the field of medicine was intriguing and I wanted to be a part that. Along with being the home of the Polio vaccine, at Pitt you have the access to join research labs in any sector of medicine from basic science to clinical and PIs that are eager to bring you onto their research team. Now I love and appreciate research so much. Researchers and clinician-scientists are truly the unsung heroes of medicine and I'm very grateful for the opportunity to get a glimpse into the integral working pieces of medicine.

Physician Exposure

Along with wanting exposure to research, I also wanted exposure to physicians. What better way to get that exposure than by shadowing?! As one of the largest healthcare networks in the country, the UPMC health network consists of over 4,900 physicians in any specialty and subspecialty that you can think of. When I tell you I took full advantage of this opportunity! During my time at the BMP, I was able to shadow family medicine, cardiac surgery, inpatient pediatrics, surgical oncology, endocrinology, and my favorite obstetrics and gynecology - maternal fetal medicine. Being able to engage with attendings, fellows, residents, and medical students from all walks of life was amazing! Participating in rotations and reviewing CTs and labs gave me a true glimpse of how life as a physician would be and I loved it! From running through the hospital at 6:45 in the morning for an emergency c-section and observing the beautiful orchestra of the OR are moments I will never forget. Even though social distancing cut my shadowing a bit short, I can't wait to jump back in and explore dermatology, plastic surgery, and anything else I can get my hands on!

There you have it guys! The reasons why I decided to join the BMP family: support through mentoring, research opportunities, and exposure to physicians in a variety fields. Looking back on my time in the BMP, out of all the experiences I had, the biggest take away was the connections I made. The mentoring, the friendships, and the support through having a community, I believe, was a key to my success in the program and I would do it all again if given the chance. So remember: When it comes to deciding on whether a program is good for you, as with everything, believe in yourself, trust your gut, and seek a supportive community. When you have all three, you're destined to succeed (: