Herchran Singh '17
Name: Herchran Singh
Graduation Year: 2017
Major: Biology
ATSU-SOMA Student DO of the Year resilient in journey to become first doctor in her family
Your Story: Growing up in Rochester, Minnesota, the Mayo Clinic profoundly influenced the way that I viewed the world. Since childhood, I was exposed to news of the latest medical technologies, treatments, and research in a manner that made it easy to fall in love with the science of medicine. At Gustavus, I continued to follow my passion for medicine by pursuing the pre-medical path, however, I did not limit myself to this field. I took full advantage of the liberal arts and almost every opportunity to engage with the community and learn as much as I could! I participated in many student organizations, volunteered, and conducted research.
Following graduation I am grateful for the opportunities I had to develop professionally and personally. I worked in the Gustavus Admission Office, as well as at Ecumen Assisted Living Facility, both of which provided amazing learning opportunities for me. I also gained my permanent residency status during this time and was able to apply for admission as a domestic student in 2018, and was admitted for the 2019-2020 school year.
I am beyond thrilled to be attending A.T. Still University to become a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Learning about holistic medical care and serving the underserved is a dream come true!
Top Five Activities/Experiences: (in no particular order)
1. Hosting Drs. Antonio and Hanna Damasio for the Nobel Conference and and then doing research in their lab at the Brain and Creativity Institute at the University of Southern California
2. Volunteering in the Emergency Department at the Mayo Clinic (Mankato)
3. Working as a Resident Assistant at Ecumen Senior Assisted Living (St. Peter)
4. Shadowing Dr. Weert (D.O.) for osteopathic manipulative treatment (Mankato)
5. Working at Gustavus as an Admission Counselor
Advice:
1. I highly encourage you to take at least one gap year. This is critical for you to develop maturity, understanding of the real world, and how people work - and most medical schools are looking for these traits! I really did not think I wanted to take a gap year, but it was essential for setting me apart in my applications and for helping me develop interpersonal skills.
2. Applying to medical school is like throwing darts in the dark - you never know what is going to stick with which school. So, I would encourage you to always present your authentic self and how you align with the school you are applying to. How do you fit in with that school’s mission?
3. When studying for the MCAT - do it for the sake of learning and advancing your knowledge, not just to memorize for a test. I am not a strong test taker, but I felt that it was easier to study and retain the information when I was interested in the subject and how I could apply it in the future as a physician. Everything you learn is useful in medical school.
Future Plans:
I am currently in my first year of medical school at A.T. Still University in Mesa, AZ, start Fall 2019. I am involved on campus as the Vice President of the Class of 2023, the student representative for the Strategic Planning Committee, and the Operations Manager for the Coding Club (we are designing an app that will help provide a preliminary diagnosis of melanomas). My school has a unique program that allows for clinical experience starting in the 2nd year at designated Community Health Clinics around the country. I look forward to working with the underserved population of Portland, Oregon during my 2nd-4th year. Ultimately, I hope to pursue a career as a surgeon!
Updated 10/4/2019