Krys Foster
Krys Foster
Current Year: M3
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Undergrad: University of Miami
Advice
Look for a school that complements you and what you wish to get from it. Make sure you talk to the different programs, don't just go by what you see in rankings or the MSAR. Medical school is your experience and you want to be positive you are receiving the best education for you! And YES, medical school is difficult, but you gain so much from the experience. Start strong and make the best of it. Find others who will surround you with encouragement. And finally, don't let anything deter you from your dream, and always keep in mind why you wish to pursue this field.
Life in Chicago
Chicago is an interesting city...it has quite a unique mix of people, places, and events to enjoy. Downtown Chicago has a lot of activities, especially in the summertime, but to truly experience the city, the trick is getting out of Streeterville! You can find almost anything you are interested in doing, and though it might take a little traveling, getting around is not too hard. I use the CTA and can get almost anywhere!
Why Feinberg?
I decided to attend Feinberg for a number of reasons - one of those being my interest in minority medicine. Throughout Chicago, there are a number of different and diverse racial and ethnic groups, and I wanted to gain exposure working with various underserved populations. In addition, Feinberg has quite an extensive curriculum, supplemented with humanities-like courses and hands-on experience quite early on, and I wanted to gain an education that was well rounded and would prepare me for the all of the challenges of being a physician.
Classmates
My classmates come from many different backgrounds and experiences, so getting to work with the different personalities helps provide different perspectives to issues. Most students are really friendly and helpful and are involved and passionate about a variety of topics and activities.
Experiences with patients
Every patient interaction I've had thus far provided me with an interesting experience. So far, I have only shadowed and volunteered in outpatient settings, but even those sites varied greatly. One experience in particular I've had with the Peds Clinic really helped to remind me why I love medicine. This site provided free health care for youth who were a part of the Chicago Youth Program, and on the days I visited, a number of new, young mothers came in with their newborns for initial visits. Not really knowing much about motherhood, it was interesting to sit down with these young women and just get a feel for what they were going through. And with the doctor, a lot of their fears were relieved as they were offered suggestions and advice for how to best deal with this new life, despite the struggles they may be encountering. The mothers were so grateful and respectful of the doctors and left me with a very positive and encouraging experience.
Career Goals
I chose medicine because I want to affect change in communities. I wish to pursue community health and I would like to use my knowledge and work ethic to provide medical care to people in underserved areas. Additionally, medicine is a growing field that encompasses so many aspects of humanity and would continue to pique my interest for years and years. I would like to use my abilities to better health outcomes, not only through the science and skill of medicine, but also through patient contact and commitment to others who are seeking quality healthcare.
Involvement inside and outside of school
I am currently a dual-degree student, pursuing both an MD and Masters in Public Health. In addition, I am involved in Student National Medical Association (currently Co-President), was a part of the FUSION planning committee (a multicultural showcase held in the Spring coordinated by a number of student organizations), am a tutor for the Chicago Youth Program teen tutoring program, did some volunteering in clinics, and of course, anything with the Office of Diversity! :) For the MPH, I worked an internship in Westside Chicago at a school-based health center, working with the site on developing healthy lifestyles curriculum and asthma programming.
This page last updated Sep 13, 2011