The Career Center is thrilled to introduce Nick Celedón. Nick is a seasoned pre-health advisor, and we are fortunate that he has joined our team part-time as the co-coordinator of the Health Professions Interest Group. Nick is available for virtual appointments through Handshake (choose the appointment type labelled “Pre-Health Foundations”). Contact him at: nicholas.celedon@uvm.edu
ABOUT:
Are you from Vermont? No, I still consider myself a native Texan.
College: Texas Christian University (TCU)
Degrees: B.S. in Movement Science and M.Ed. in Education with an emphasis in Urban Education
How did you begin working as a pre-health advisor?
In my last year of college, becoming a physical therapist for a professional sports team was no longer appealing. After graduating from TCU, I began working with middle and high school kids from under-resourced communities. This experience led to me pursuing a graduate degree and after some soul searching, I came across a position advising pre-health students. Not knowing what pre-health advising entailed, I figured this position would allow me to tap into my experiences as a former pre-physical therapy student. College students also seemed to be the next gradual step in my career. This also allowed me to work with underrepresented students, who I could relate to as a Mexican-American male.
What do you enjoy about working in higher education?
I love working with students. I’m really just a big kid at heart! Interacting with college students not only keeps me young but allows me to stay in tune with what is happening in the world from the perspective of a younger generation. Most importantly, it allows me to be of service to underrepresented students and this has the potential to make a larger impact on society.
Fun fact?
Love traveling and have visited over 25 countries.
Top 3 tips for pre-health students:
Be diligent – activities, coursework, interacting/engaging with professors is not easy, but you have to take ownership of your pre-health journey
Mental health is real! Take time for yourself and know that one exam or one class does not define you.
Learn to be reflective.
Advising Philosophy?
Pre-health can be a rollercoaster and I was fortunate enough to be a part of the ride!
Warrick Sahene has been mentoring and inspiring UVM-ers ever since he arrived on campus as a first-year student in Fall of 2014. We are lucky that he chose to remain a Catamount for medical school: He is now an “MS1”at Larner College of Medicine (LCOM).
The story starts…
…in New Zealand where Warrick was born, the son of Ghanaians. When he was nine, his family immigrated to New Jersey. He began volunteering in his local hospital while in middle school. In high school, he became certifiedas an EMT and began riding with the local ambulance crew.
Why UVM?
Warrick was mainly considering colleges that were within the Tri-State Region. It was his AP Biology teacher — a proud UVM alum — who pushed him to apply here, and he is grateful she did. He is quick to say yes when she invites him back to his high school to talk with her current students about his journey.
Why Medicine?
Warrick is drawn to medicine because of its focus on both science and people. He sees incredible versatility in the career, from direct impact on individuals, to community engagement and outreach, to public and/or global health impact, to participation in clinical research.
Path to Medical School
At UVM, Warrick majored in neuroscience and was an Honors College Scholar. Research was a priority. He was involved in several projects and was selected for the Summer Neuroscience Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SNURF) and University of Michigan’s summer SMART Program. He earned an MS in Pharmacology in 2019.
Outside of academics, Warrick was busy! Alternative Spring Break was an every-year commitment for him, as both a participant and a Site Leader. He worked for the Career Center as a Career Peer Mentor for two years, assisting students as they prepared to apply for jobs and grad school. One of his most impactful roles was as the President ofMAPS (Minority Association of Premedical Students). As an African American man, whose identity is not well represented in the field of medicine, Warrick is committed to helping peers connect with mentors. Through his involvement in MAPS, he was able to find a local and national network of medical students/physicians of color.
After completing his master’s degree, Warrick took advantage of an “opportunity” year before applying to medical school. He worked as a medical assistant and continued to stay involved in research. He was excited to receive multiple offers of admission to medical school and yet chose to stay at UVM, where he continues to build on the strong relationships he has developed here. After finishing up his first semester at Larner, he reports that medical school is not exactly what he expected it to be. “You can’t imagine the volume of work until you’re actually in med school, but the material is amazing!” As a current member of LCOM’s Student Council, he also takes advantage of opportunities to stay involved in student life. He is impressed with the degree of camaraderie he’s witnessed at Larner, with classmates eager to share resources and help each other succeed.
Outside of School:
Warrick is a people person who loves interacting with others. Hosting potluck dinners is a favorite way to gather with friends (when social distancing allows). He also loves to try new things. Last winter, he began learning how to snowboard and looks forward to taking it up again this season.
Advice to Others
In a nutshell:
Reach out to advisors early and often
When difficulties arise, don’t struggle silently
Keep your mind open to a variety of career options
Acknowledge that the path to becoming a physician is long, challenging, and expensive – the motivation to persevere ideally comes from a deep desire to be part of a profession whose overriding goal is to help others
Find a mentor and be a mentor
“Meet” other inspiring UVM alums by accessing UVMConnect. Alums make great mentors.
Meet UVM Career Center’s fantabulous Marketing Manager, Emily Hagan-Howe, who works passionately behind the scenes as part of our Operations Team. Her creativity and vision with digital and social media communications keep UVM students and alums well-connected to our career-oriented resources. In fact, her encouragement and talent have been instrumental in helping the Health Professions Interest Group (HPIG) successfully launch The Steady Pulse.
Emily (she/her & they/them) is pictured above with her wife, Christa Hagan-Howe (she/her), a Diversity Educator in the Center for Cultural Pluralism at UVM. The precious bundle in Em’s arms is Rowan, whom they welcomed to the world on 11/11/20! The family’s recent experience at UVM Medical Center has inspired Emily to share some of her own words of wisdom with all of you who aspire to become health professionals.
“We met the most amazing UVM Medical Center nurses, midwives, LNAs, fetal medicine doctors, medical students, residents, physician assistants, anesthesiologists, and lactation consultants during our time at the hospital. Their collaboration was amazing to watch– so many different skill sets and training backgrounds coming together to keep us safe, educate us about newborns, and ultimately take care of our family. I was deeply moved by the authenticity of our interactions and their genuine care for all three members of our family – throughout our labor, delivery, and recovery process, and during our son’s brief stay at the NICU. Their commitment to celebrating the shape of our family as a queer couple was also significant and helped me feel at ease as the non-gestational parent of our child.
“I share this both to underscore that we were connected to many kinds of providers each of whom played a key role in our care, and to encourage current students and recent alums to celebrate the interconnectedness of different careers in healthcare. And please know the world of a difference that your smile, patience, and transparency can make. I also hope to encourage UVM students to be brave in their clinicals; have the courage to ask questions, make a mistake and then ask how to do it better next time if appropriate, and get to know your patients if they seem open to chatting!
AProud Catamount:
As an undergrad, Emily earned dual degrees (BS, Education; BA, History) and was an Honors College Scholar. A memorable course was American Sign Language, where the kinesthetic style of learning and physicality and beauty of the language inspired (and continues to inspire) her. Emily’s experience as a TA for a D1 course informed her thesis, which centered on peer social justice education.
Service and social justice defined her engagement as an undergrad, particularly through involvement with Alternative Spring Break and Alpha Phi Omega (co-ed service fraternity). As a junior, she was the recipient of the Vermont Campus Compact Engaged Student Award. Participation in the Examining White Identity Retreat as an undergrad was transformative for Emily, and after graduation, she transitioned from participant to retreat organizer and facilitator. Emily shares, “Unpacking my racial identity as a white person and working towards anti-racism through dialogue, reflection, and action has been critical to my own growth, and facilitating those experiences for our students has been so meaningful to me.”
Emily has worked as a UVM staff member ever since graduating in 2015. Her first role was as the office manager for UVM’s Office of Student & Community Relations, using her people-skills to help build community between off-campus students and their neighbors. She appreciates OSCR’s embrace of restorative practices. We at the Career Center feel incredibly fortunate that Emily joined our team in 2018 where she adds value to every aspect of our work. Emily is also a part-time student in the Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration (HESA) program, working toward her M.Ed. in Higher Education.
Life Outside of Work
Emily loves to craft, working mainly on textile and fiber arts projects (hand quilting, knitting, embroidery). She listens to a wide diversity of podcasts. Hanging with her wife and the family pup, Annabelle, is a constant source of joy. Of course, right now, new parenthood – despite its inevitable sleep deprivation – is transforming her daily life in exciting ways. Somehow, she found the time to offer these reflections about her son and the goals she has for herself in this new role:
“I am so in awe of this tiny human and his resilience. As a parent, I hope that I can create an environment in which he has the freedom to explore the world and who he is, express himself and his own ideas, and build a community of love and support through connections with friends and family. In time, I hope to teach him about the power of vulnerability, the importance of speaking his truth, and the awe-inspiring courage it takes to be intentional in giving and receiving love.”
Supporting Pre-Health Students/Alums
Although not a healthcare professional herself, Emily has a pretty clear vision of what it takes to be one and the importance of being an excellent one. Her grandmother was a social worker in the Rhode Island State government who championed healthcare policy for older adults; both Emily’s and Christa’s moms are nurse practitioners, and her mom continues to practice as a cardiology NP, caring for patients on an inpatient cardiology service in Rhode Island. Emily’s brother earned an MD/PhD in May from UT Houston and is now a psychiatry resident at Brown University.
Emily is deeply committed to supporting all UVM students/alums as they seek out paths to impactful careers, and she is eager to continue to support UVM’s pre-health community. The HPIG community is lucky to have her on our team.
Congratulations, Emily & Christa on the birth of your beautiful son!
This week, we contacted Julia Smith, a 2019 UVM alum with an interesting path to her future (and unique) career as an an anesthesiologist assistant (AA). While a student, Julia was actively involved in UVM Rescue. Since graduating, she has worked full-time as an emergency department technician at the UVMMC Emergency Department. In August, she will begin the Master of Anesthesia program at the University of Colorado.
Experience at UVM
Julia came to UVM in 2015 as a biology major though soon shifted her focus to Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. In the microbiology department, she was able to establish connections which helped her attain many goals at UVM and beyond, including eventually getting accepted into the University of Colorado Masters of Anesthesia program. She feels incredibly lucky for the people she’s met and the path she chose at UVM: “I surely would not have had the experiences I did without everyone’s guidance.”
Julia arrived at UVM with life experiences that were a driving force behind her desire to give to others and to be there in times of need. She says that it almost feels like it was her “destiny” to find UVM Rescue. Through Rescue, she discovered the satisfaction of learning how to manage a person’s needs in a time of crisis and loved being able to directly apply new skills in the service of others. Julia reflects that each of her classes within the Microbiology Department challenged her to evaluate how learning and knowledge fit into her pursuit of a career in medicine. Her experiential learning as a first responder allowed her to view her coursework “less like a wall to achievement and more like a conduit to it.” She is amazed at the breadth of knowledge needed to care for patients, and the challenges of applying that knowledge in real life situations. She has come to understand that a career in healthcare is a lifelong journey, not a final destination.
Inspiration for Career Path
Julia’s introduction to healthcare came at an early age. She remembers a time when she was eleven years old, sitting in the corner of an operating room while her mother, a nurse anesthetist (CRNA), quickly set up the equipment and medications she would need for her next case. Since that day, Julia has wanted to pursue a career in healthcare. She was fortunate that her mother was able to coordinate many unique shadowing opportunities for her during high school, across a wide variety of medical roles at the hospital.
At UVM, Julia dedicated an exceptional number of hours on the Rescue crew, being trusted in multiple roles, and responding to hundreds of calls. She sees Rescue as her most significant accomplishment at UVM.
In the growth years she’s had since graduating, Julia has been working as an Emergency Department (ED) Tech at UVMMC ED. Being full-time in the ED has allowed her to learn a lot about the realities of patients in Vermont, and about the complexity of the healthcare system. Through her work, she interacts not only with physicians, but with physician assistants, pharmacists, dentists, residents, and even certified anesthesiologist assistants (CAA). Her role as an ED Tech involves phlebotomy, and performing EKGs, but also more unique tasks, like running the mass transfusion machine (known as the Belmont), and obtaining intravenous access on all critical patients including those who are presenting to the emergency department after significant trauma, or with strokes, myocardial infarction, and other acute illnesses. It is probably no surprise that by this point, Julia feels she has learned how to work well, and communicate clearly, with patients and coworkers, even in very stressful situations.
During much of her time as an undergraduate, Julia thought medical school was the one and only path that she could see herself following. Her thoughts were broadened by the many immersive clinical experiences, and due to certain poignant events in her life. She is grateful for the resources available at UVM, including pre-health advising, which she utilized throughout her time at UVM. “Cara [Calvelli] was always available to me as a sounding board and quite often helped and encouraged me” to explore different options. “In fact, it wasn’t until I had a meeting with her after graduation that I had even heard of the AA career.“ Once she became more acquainted with the field of anesthesia, Julia knew it was the right one for her. She likes how the career will draw upon her undergraduate interests in anatomy & physiology and pharmacology, and she’s also excited about how compact and affordable the education is relative to medical school: In 2+ years, she will be working in the field of her choice. The fact that she will be relocating to Colorado for her education is an extra bonus!
Role of an Anesthesiologist Assistant (AA)
A certified anesthesiologist assistant (CAA) works in hospitals and surgical centers and delivers anesthesia under the medical direction of an anesthesiologist. Furthermore, CAAs can focus within a specific specialty if desired, such as pediatric anesthesia, neurology, or even trauma.
To become an anesthesiologist assistant, a Master of Science in Anesthesia (MSA) is required, which is typically 24-28 months in length, and involves didactic instruction, simulation labs, as well as hands-on clinical training. More often than not, MSA Programs get students into the operating room within the first month of the program, allowing them to observe and apply concepts from the classroom to real-life situations. A certification examination is then required to use the initials “CAA.”
Advice to Current UVM Students:
Julia says, “The best advice I can give to current UVM students is to utilize your resources! UVM has so many people available that can offer you so much support. Do not wait until your senior year to start making these connections. Although you may feel like a small fish in a very big pond your freshman year, professors want to help and guide you down the right path. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people within the Burlington community as well.”
Other advice from Julia:
Get involved in a club of interests but also go out of your way to meet people with many different interests.
Keep in mind that the friends you choose your first year at UVM will shape your college experience. Make sure that friend group includes people who are supportive of your desire to study hard.
Don’t be afraid to try something new or something that may challenge you!
Julia wants to remind students that everyone’s college experience is unique, “so don’t compare yourself to other people. Don’t fret if your college life does not look like it does in the movies or completely match the ideas you had in your head.” She recommends frequently reminding yourself that you are capable of achieving anything you put your mind to. “Take every opportunity as a learning opportunity. Allow yourself to make mistakes and learn from them. Also, make sure you learn from others’ mistakes and successes.”
A final thought from Julia: “It is ok to not know exactly what you want to do when you graduate. Your path to success does not have to be linear. As I reflect on the last few years of my life, I appreciate the time I took to figure out exactly what I wanted to pursue. At first, I was very hesitant to take a GAP year (now called growth year), but now I’m very thankful for the time I have had after graduation. “
Julia’s parting words: “Aim high and don’t give up!”
Keep anesthesiologist assistant on your radar as you consider your future as a healthcare professional.
We have amazing students at the University of Vermont who get involved in wonderful organizations. This week, we’d like to introduce you to Sydney Caldwell, a junior molecular genetics major with a Spanish minor. She is passionate about the research and clubs she has found at UVM.
Career Interests:
Sydney has always been interested in the world of medicine. In the past, she has toyed with whether to pursue a PhD, MD, or combined MD/PhD degree. With over 6 years of research experience, a PhD may seem liked the logical choice, but after doing clinical shadowing, Sydney realized that she loves patient interactions. Regardless of whether she goes on to obtain an MD or MD/PhD, she wants a career in which she an care for patients while also continuing research of her own. Sydney plans to wait a year after graduating UVM to apply to medical school but is hoping that during that year off she can spend time in a Spanish speaking country to continue to improve her ability to communicate in Spanish.
Her Research Experience:
Sydney started doing cancer research in high school at Stony Brook University near her home on Long Island, and also was able to spend a short period of time doing research at UC Davis. Her research involved the study of the spice, turmeric, specifically a component known as curcumin, as a potential therapeutic for cancer.
Once at UVM, Sydney did not let her passion for research die. She met with her advisor during the first month of school and found out about a professor that was doing immunology research. Using her advisor’s connection, she sent out an email to the professor expressing her interest in his lab. The professor responded, and she met with him in person to discuss her passion for research. By October, she was actively involved in the professor’s research lab learning all about immunology and obesity. As a junior, she is still working in this research lab, spending approximately 9-10 hours a week there doing experiments that focus on the effects of a long non-coding RNA in immune cells and obesity.
MedVida:
Sydney is co-president of UVM’s club MedVida. MedVida is UVM’s chapter of the national organization MEDLIFE. MEDLIFE is a non-profit organization that seeks to provide medicine, education, and development to people living in rural areas of Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, and Tanzania where access to care is extremely limited. Students involved in MEDLIFE help provide short term relief during one to two weeklong trips by setting up health clinics in rural villages.
In May of 2019, Sydney and other club members traveled to Peru to assist doctors for 10 days. Sydney appreciated the opportunity to learn firsthand about the importance of public health while interacting with others from a cultural experience different from her own. Generally, the Peru trip happens every year. However, with COVID this fall, MedVida is holding a virtual trip in December. This virtual trip will occur over a week and feature interviews with patients and doctors. Throughout the week, there will be a mix of live and pre-recorded sessions.
Interested in getting involved in MedVida?
MedVida is still holding weekly in-person meetings, despite COVID. The meetings happen every Tuesday at 6 pm. To get more information, send an email to one of the co-Presidents (Samantha.Beaudette@uvm.edu and Sydney.Caldwell@uvm.edu) Other Involvement:
Sydney is an active member in the UVM and Burlington community. Besides MedVida, she also is the UVM Club Gymnastics President and a volunteer for Red Cross. Pre-COVID, she spent time shadowing doctors at the UVM Medical Center. She achieved her shadowing hours by going to the UVM Medical Center’s webpage and emailing doctors from departments of interest to her. She did not hear back from some, but others responded. Specifically, Sydney had the opportunity to shadow an orthopedic surgeon. She was able to spend 10 hours in the OR observing a surgery and found it fascinating.
Advice for Peer Undergraduates:
Sydney’s advice for her peers is to recognize the importance of connections. Whether these connections are with your professors, advisors, or peers, they will help you significantly further your career. Speaking from her experiences, Sydney says without connections, she would not be in her research lab nor would she have been able to obtain shadowing experience. All it takes is some simple, professional emails or conversations to find a path to a new and rewarding experience. Sydney also warns her peers not to lose hope if you do not hear back from a connection. There may be lots of rejections or lack of responses at first, but “everything works out for a reason and you will find yourself exactly where you need to be.”
