Beyond the White Coat
Stories that inspire
Every physician has a story, and every story can inspire a future physician. Here are real journeys of doctors who faced obstacles, kept going and made a difference.
Why these stories
Medicine asks for more than grades and test scores. It asks for compassion, dedication, resilience and the wish to make a difference in people's lives.
Every physician started somewhere. If a hard semester, a lower MCAT score, money worries or a disappointing application cycle has you doubting your path, these stories are for you.
Physicians who changed medicine
- Dr. Patricia BathThe ophthalmologist and inventor who turned barriers into a lifelong mission to protect sight.Read the story
- Dr. Paul FarmerThe physician who believed that good health care should never depend on where you are born or what you can pay.Read the story
- Dr. Mona Hanna-AttishaThe pediatrician whose research helped expose the Flint water crisis and protect a city's children.Read the story
Five questions we ask every physician
- What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine?
- What was your biggest obstacle on the way to medical school?
- Was there a time you considered giving up?
- What has been your most memorable or rewarding experience as a physician?
- What advice would you give a student who dreams of becoming a doctor?
Physicians: share your journey
First-generation graduates, physicians who immigrated, doctors who worked through financial hardship or a tough semester: your story can carry a student through theirs. Tell us about your path and we will send you the five questions.