Meet Mary Bailey, a second-year medical student at A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Mary Bailey, of Rowlett, TX, graduated from ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ in 2018 with a Master of Public Health/Master of Science in Nutrition. Currently, she is a second-year medical student at A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. Learn more about Mary Bailey’s time being a dual degree student at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ and her medical school journey through the questions below:
What motivated you to pursue a dual degree program and how has it shaped your educational journey? I had always planned on returning to medicine to do work in public health. The nutrition program also gave me a new wealth of knowledge that I could apply to my clinical care. I loved my time in the dual degree program, and I’m so thankful for the knowledge gained as well as the lifelong connections I made.
What are some unique insights or perspectives you gained from studying two different disciplines simultaneously? Through my time in the dual degree program, I was able to, very early on, bridge a gap between the nutritional deficiencies we saw in high risk populations and the various determinants of health we saw in those populations. I was able to lead challenging conversations around root causes of various diseases not only because of my public health training, but also because of the more clinical knowledge I gained in the nutrition program.
What challenges did you face during your dual degree program and how did you overcome them? The greatest challenges I faced in the dual degree program, while also one of the greatest benefits, was creating my own learning objectives. Because there are so many different electives and there is so much room for expanding our knowledge base, I had a hard time reconciling what was the highest yield information, partially because I wasn’t sure at the time what my long term goals were. In that light, I really loved being able to make the program my own. I had endless support from my advisors, with whom I still keep in touch, and they gave me the space and recommendations to truly have the educational experience that I needed to get to where I wanted to be.
What school do you now attend and what do you study ? I’m currently a second year medical student at A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. I chose to return to medicine due to wanting to be more involved in the day to day lives of the people with whom I have the opportunity to work. In public health, it became easy to feel removed from the community. So though I was really excited and passionate about the work I did, I missed the interpersonal aspect that was allotted in clinical care.
Can you share any examples of how your dual degree has given you a competitive edge in your field or industry? I have received work with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. I truly believe my dual degree equipped me readily for these jobs and gave me opportunities many other students do not get. Many people attend post-bacc programs, as do many people attain MPH’s, but to have both and gain not only the degrees, but also the wealth of experience allotted by the ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ dual degree program, has been invaluable in my professional journey.
What long-term career goals do you have?
I’m currently in medical school, and I have an interest in working in the space of micronutrient deficiencies in pediatric cancer populations with an emphasis on high risk populations in the urban setting.
What is your favorite secret or hidden gem in Cleveland, and why do you love it so much? There is this tiny Hungarian restaurant in Cleveland, called Balaton. Totally delicious, absolutely wonderful, feels like home.