{"id":6542323,"date":"2019-11-07T12:52:32","date_gmt":"2019-11-07T12:52:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myaua.auamed.net\/wordpress\/?p=6542323"},"modified":"2019-11-07T12:52:32","modified_gmt":"2019-11-07T12:52:32","slug":"grad-talks-about-starting-medical-school-later-in-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myaua.auamed.org\/?p=6542323","title":{"rendered":"Grad Talks About Starting Medical School Later in Life"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cDon\u2019t become a doctor. Marry a doctor!\u201d was something Gloria Hwang was told when she announced she was going to medical school a number of years ago.<\/p>\n

Dr. Hwang says it had a lot to do with the time in her life when she decided to make the leap. \u201cI don\u2019t tell people my age, but let\u2019s just say I entered med school a little later than most.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI Just Wanted to Help People\u201d<\/h3>\n

In search of better opportunities for their children, Dr. Hwang\u2019s parents moved the family from South Korea, where she was born, to Chicago when she was five years old. Eventually they settled in Los Angeles, where her extended family had made a success of operating dry cleaning businesses in California. Fortunately, Dr. Hwang had a few family members in the medical field who could open her eyes to the possibility of one day becoming a doctor. \u201cI\u2019m thankful that my cousin and his wife are physicians. They have always been there for guidance through the whole process.\u201d<\/p>\n

After finishing undergrad at University of California San Diego, Dr. Hwang worked as a drug rep at Parke-Davis, which was acquired by Pfizer in 2000. \u201cI learned a lot while I was a drug rep, but I could tell it wasn\u2019t going to be long term. I would meet with doctors to talk about the drugs I was selling, but in reality I wanted to be on the other side of the table. I just wanted to be able to help people, to provide them with care so they could get better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Getting Strategic About Medical School<\/h3>\n

Dr. Hwang wanted to be strategic about getting into med school. She decided to pursue a Master of Public Administration at NYU as a way to get back into the rhythm of school. She then enrolled at AUA in 2008. \u201cWhen you\u2019re studying so hard and working with others who are working just as hard, there is a sense of camaraderie. It\u2019s like a club, and we\u2019re all struggling through it together.\u201d Dr. Hwang was thankful she had spent the time getting her master\u2019s degree, but AUA still proved to be quite rigorous. \u201cMed school is like drinking out of a fire hydrant. There\u2019s almost a sense of panic because there\u2019s so much you need to learn and a sense of urgency to learn it all.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Now with the white-coat ceremony behind her, Dr. Hwang is completing her third year of residency at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York, which serves a mostly indigent population. \u201cOur patients speak many different languages and have many cultural backgrounds. It\u2019s challenging at times. We treat people who would otherwise not receive healthcare because they don\u2019t have insurance. Sometimes I\u2019m treating people with psychological or life problems, which makes it difficult to find the right course of action.\u201d Dr. Hwang\u2019s time at Montefiore consists mainly of talking with patients, administering pain medications, and coordinating follow-ups. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t say that calling people for follow-ups is my favorite part of the job, but it\u2019s so important to keep people on a schedule to manage their pain.\u201d<\/p>\n

How Hard Work Pays Off<\/h3>\n

Dr. Hwang is thankful for AUA helping her find mentors in the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R). \u201cNothing has come easy to me. I wouldn\u2019t say I\u2019m naturally brilliant, but I am a hard worker. I would not have been able to do this without the help of my mentors, Dr. Stitik and Dr. Foye. Their guidance and connections certainly contributed to obtaining this residency.\u201d PM&R was attractive to Dr. Hwang because of its goal of enhancing the quality of life for people with physical impairments or disabilities. \u201cThe physicians in the field are great to work with, usually easygoing, humble, and kind. It\u2019s very rewarding work because the patients are generally so grateful for the help we provide.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Hwang has one more year of her residency, and she\u2019s excited for the next phase. \u201cIt\u2019s been a long road,\u201d she laughs. Dr. Hwang doesn\u2019t think she\u2019ll stick around New York. \u201cI\u2019m a suburb girl. I\u2019m looking forward to some peace and quiet!\u201d<\/p>\n

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