Page 5 - Chick-fil-A Westside Service Scholarship

Chick-fil-A Westside Service Scholarship

Making Student Dreams A Reality

Bria Harris and the world is something physician, paying back all
my loans will be a process,
that I am passionate about. I
Nashville, TN am passionate about serving but I have not thought twice
2nd-year M.D. student the underserved and excited about still pursing my medi-
to bridge the gap in heath cal degree.
When you were a child, what did equity.
you say you wanted to be when you What is your take on
grew up? As a child I always dreamed Can you tell me a story the nationwide shortage
of becoming a doctor. about something that has of Black doctors? Why is
happened during medical it important to address
What first interested you in your school that would illustrate that shortage? Among
program of study or medicine? Was what the MSM experience is really active physicians in the United States,
there a “lightbulb” or “a-ha” mo- like? MSM treats everyone like family only 5% identify as Black or African
ment? Can you tell us about it? I have and provides its students with the American. This statistic is unsettling.
always been interested in medicine as necessary tools they need to become It is important to address this shortage
a child and since then, I have taken great physicians. Having faculty and because research has shown that more
necessary steps in my academic career classmates push me to be the best I black doctors save more black lives.
to reach that goal of mine. Science can be is exhilarating. Having representation in the medical
and medicine are two subjects that are field is beneficial to black patients.
forever advancing, and as someone Have you had any difficult chal-
who loves to learn and use the knowl- lenges in your medical/healthcare What do you hope to accomplish
edge, they have gained to help others, school journey? Pursing a degree in your career after graduation/res-
I am sure that is my calling. in medicine has come with a few idency? I hope to make a difference
challenges that include taking the in the world of medicine and provide
Why did you choose Morehouse MCAT multiple times and pursuing optimum level of care to everyone,
School of Medicine? Before coming a Masters degree that would allow especially those who are underrepre-
to MSM, most of my experiences me to improve my MCAT score and sented.
have been in majority environments help further my education. Because
where I was the minority yet, I have I was not able to matriculate directly If you could say or do one thing
always had a passion to serve and to into medical school from undergrad, to thank the Chick-fil-A Foundation,
help others in society. It is this passion I have accumulated more debt in what would it be? This scholarship
that has caused me to desire a medical student loans. means a lot to me. It allows me to
school whose mission is focused on know that there are people that are
primary care and serving the under- Has the financial burden of med- willing to invest in my future and by
served. ical school been particularly difficult doing so I can focus more on my edu-
for you? I am aware that upon gradu- cation without the burden of housing
Was the institution’s mission ating medical school, I will have a lot costs. I would like to thank the Chick-
important to you, when you were of student loans to pay back. Because fil-A Foundation once more. I am
populations in Georgia, the nation, “ I hope to make a difference in the world
choosing a medical school? Why or
truly grateful and appreciative.
I desire to become a primary care
why not? Yes, MSM’s mission to im-
prove the health and well-being of in-
dividuals and communities, increase
the diversity of the health professional
of medicine and provide optimum lev-
and scientific workforce, and address
primary health care through pro-
el of care to everyone, especially those
grams in education, research, and ser-
underrepresented.
vice with emphasis on people of color
and the underserved urban and rural