Answering the call
In addition to upending a traditional Match Day celebration for the MD Class of 2020, the coronavirus pandemic has also altered reality for Warren Alpert Medical School students in the first three years of the program. Despite the numerous logistical and financial challenges they faced this academic year, our students kept up with their studies and used their expertise to support the medical community.
“Many of our teachers and mentors are fighting on the front line. Our community is in need, so we stepped up,” says Tsikata Apenyo MD’23. There are numerous local efforts where medical students are making a difference volunteering for the Rhode Island Department of Health and the National Guard, providing child care help for health care workers, and securing critical equipment through national efforts like GetUsPPE. “We are doing what we have been trained to do, and we are grateful to be doing it at Brown.”
With their resilience being put to the test, these future physicians continue to find their place, even in a volatile health care climate. “What I've learned from this challenge is that there will always be something that we can contribute,” said Benjamin Pallant MD'22. “The people I'm learning with, who will eventually be my professional colleagues, are always going to jump in to do whatever is the most valuable, even if that's different from the initial job that we thought would be at hand.”
Supporting our medical students
During this time, our students have stepped up to help — all while facing challenges of their own. We recently established the Medical Student Response Fund to support these future physicians. Please consider making a gift to this special fund and help our future health care heroes as they move forward in their medical journey.