A recent article from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) about the unique benefits and challenges of being a nontraditional medical student highlighted students and faculty from the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. At WSU, 50% of the medical student body are nontraditional students, with an age range of 19 to 48.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vice Dean for Admissions, Student Affairs, and Alumni Engagement Leila Harrison, PhD, MA, MEd, notes that nontraditional students draw on a rich lived experience that can be an asset in medical school and in health care careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTheir time working in teams, in different settings, and in diverse contexts allowed them to develop skill sets that contribute to great discussions of learning,” she told the AAMC. “Somebody who\u2019s served in the military might have a great experience with problem-solving in a really difficult context that they\u2019re able to bring to the table.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fourth-year WSU medical student Kevin Guitron decided to pivot to a career in emergency medicine after two decades as a firefighter and paramedic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m not starting from scratch. I\u2019m starting from experience,” he notes in the article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fourth-year student and parent Tristen Lamb, who was inspired to pursue a career as a primary care physician after leading public health initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic, also notes the financial benefits of having a prior career. She finds the rewards of working with patients well worth the challenges of returning to school, however.<\/p>\n\n\n