Luke Martin '00
Medical Student, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University
Intern, Wrightsville Family Practice, Wilmington
I am exhilarated by the operating room. You fix the problem and the person gets better. Instant gratification.
Initially, I was a little apprehensive about medical school. No one in my family had ever gone. But when I got there, I discovered that Guilford had prepared me well. And going to ECU is a big deal, since it was ranked 17th nationally this year for primary care.
In my internship, I see patients, take histories and do physical exams. Then the physicians and I create a treatment plan. Sometimes I get a chance to evaluate patients all on my own, which is pretty cool.
I'm enjoying it, but surgery is my focus. It's such a definitive problem; you have intense responsibility for a short time and then it's over. You operate, but you still interact with patients. It's my kind of medicine.
For pre-med, Guilford was great because you get so much individual attention. For example, in "Honors Chemistry" with Dave MacInnes, nine of us were taught by a Ph.D. and a TA, and evaluated closely, in labs and on tests. Obviously, I couldn't just have a superficial understanding; I had to know the material. It was the same way with most of my classes. In medicine, depth of understanding is key, so that was really helpful.
Some key Guilford values have been helpful too, like tolerance and open-mindedness. When I saw people of different races and sexual orientations at the clinic, I needed to develop trust and communicate openly with them. I can do that now. It's like a gift Guilford gave me.
I really believe that the accepting attitudes and high standards I experienced at Guilford help me with my patients today. In the long run, I'm sure they'll help make me a better doctor, too.
With more than 50 different clubs, 16 varsity sports and numerous volunteer opportunities, students like Luke learn that Guilford isn't just about the classroom experience: it's how to balance work and play.