Most pre-medical students aim to begin their competitive medical school applications with enriching research experience, mentorship and professional recommendations. The Ralph R. Jones, MD, FACS Pre-Medical Fellowship looks to provide Boise State University students with all three.
Fellow Cameron Skaggs wanted to be a physician for as long as he can remember. Skaggs spent a portion of his childhood in and out of medical care because of an inner-ear tumor. The physicians he interacted with at a young age, Skaggs said, made him want to grow up to be just like them.
“I knew that I wanted to be a physician to help kids and people like myself,” Skaggs said. “So, I’ve done everything I could to set myself up for that goal.”
The 2020 health studies graduate participated in the Ralph Jones Fellowship during summer 2019 and gained nearly 400 hours of research experience.
Skaggs said the fellowship provided him with a stepping stone to conduct research without having to worry about taking on another job. Skaggs worked with a mentor to research pharmaceutical targets for liver fibrosis.
Skaggs credits his undergraduate success partly to the one-on-one guidance and opportunity the Health Studies program offers.
“I always had the assurance that there was a true team behind me to help me get where I wanted to go,” Skaggs said.
Skaggs was accepted to the University of Washington School of Medicine and is about to complete his first year. As part of his medical program, Skaggs mentors undergraduate Boise State University pre-medical students. He hopes to motivate them to gain new experiences and not just look good on paper.
“Being a well-rounded human being and future physician is so much better than stats on a resume,” Skaggs said. “Find experiences that make you express your want to be a great physician.”
