by Tyler Francischine
Second-year College of Medicine student Altelisha Taylor says the key to academic success is an open mind.
“Things may not work out the way you planned, but if you keep pushing, things will turn out the way they’re supposed to,” she says. “Keep an open mind in terms of your specialty or your path. A lot of students graduate and immediately go into medical school. You don’t have to do it the traditional way. You can still get there.”
Taylor’s path included a bachelor’s degree in public policy from Duke University, a master’s of public health from George Washington University, and a health policy internship at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington D.C.
As a group leader for the College of Medicine’s Global Health Education spring break trip, she visited the Dominican Republic in 2015 and is planning to return in February. Taylor was part of a team of physicians, pharmacists and medical students that provided more than 2,000 patients with vision, dental and overall personal health care.
As co-president of the UF chapter of the Student National Medical Association, Taylor aims to increase diversity in medicine. Every semester, she visits community organizations to educate young people about the medical opportunities available to them.
Taylor says she was convinced to pursue medicine after a conversation she had with a vice-president of a private equity firm.
“I realized at that point, money was important to me, but I wanted to wake up every day and feel like I worked a job where I improved the quality of people’s lives, not just make more money,” she says.