Pictured: Kaveri Curlin, MS2, UCI School of Medicine
How did your involvement with the AAMC strategic research video come about?
The AAMC sponsored my summer fellowship in at the Philadelphia Inquirer. In my application I spoke about my time as a community-based researcher in Washington, D.C., and our work in decreasing cardiovascular disparities in African American women. Based on my past work experience and involvement with PRIME LEAD-ABC at UCI, they invited me to share my thoughts on the strategic vision of the AAMC. They are heavily focused on supporting innovative research that engages diverse populations and I was happy to share my thoughts about what that is important.
What has you experience been in the medical field?
I come from a medically oriented family that has always stressed the importance of service. I grew up hearing stories from my parents about their work and since starting school I feel so much closer to them because I'm starting to understand the social responsibility of being a physician. I've had wonderful experiences with UCI School of Medicine faculty who are open and honest about the ups and downs of their work and what keeps them motivated in showing up for their patients every day. I'm excited that I get to keep learning and growing as a student physician.
What is the future you hope for underrepresented people in Medicine?
I hope that people from marginalized communities realize how valuable their voice and perspective are. Being a resilient person who must navigate professional spaces that were never designed for you to succeed gives you a unique skillset. You belong and I hope that people feel empowered to add their voices to conversations about how to best practice medicine in an ever-evolving world. I also hope that people from marginalized communities give themselves the space and grace to relax. It can feel like a heavy burden to solve ALL the world's problems, but the truth is that being well and taking care of yourself is its own form of advocacy.
Who are your mentors in medicine?
I am forever grateful to Drs. Candice Taylor Lucas and Carol Major for their guidance in establishing PRIME LEAD-ABC at UCI. I am also grateful to Drs. Bobby Sasson and Tan Nguyen, two UCI School of Medicine Dean Scholars, for being wonderful instructors and physician models. I’d also like to offer my thanks to Drs. Ariana Nelson and Alisa Wray for taking the time to exhaustively answer any and all questions that I have regarding medical specialty choice and work life balance.
Watch the AAMC video here.
Curlin spent the summer writing about disparities in medicine at the Philadelphia Inquirer. Her most recent feature story on the history of Polio can be viewed here.