The possibility of a career in medicine first crossed Anna Chamby’s mind back in middle school.
In sixth grade, she became interested in human biology. As she went through high school and college, her curiosity only grew.
“I started to figure out that medicine was this perfect blend of understanding the science of the human condition and the art of the human condition,” she says.
Still, Chamby had other interests, such as anthropology, languages, and political science, and didn’t want to focus solely on the sciences. At Middlebury College, the New Jersey native majored in international and global studies and volunteered as an EMT.
By the time she graduated from college in May 2016, Chamby was ready to build her credentials to put her on a path toward medical school. She enrolled in UVM’s Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program in fall 2016.
She completed the program in 12 months and worked as a research technician at NYU Langone Health for two years while studying for the MCATs. This fall, Chamby is attending the UVM Larner College of Medicine.
“I’ve always been interested in women’s health,” she says. “I’m leaning toward obstetrics or gynecology, but I’m want to keep an open mind.”
High Acceptance Rate for Med School
UVM’s Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program helps students pursue medical, dental, veterinary, pharmacy, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, physical therapy, and other health professions. The 12 to 24-month program offers specialized tracks that help students pursue a background in a specific medical field of interest.
UVM’s proximity to an academic medical center and the program’s very high acceptance rate for students headed to medical schools and health professional schools were deciding factors for Chamby. She was also drawn to the program for its advising component and the flexibility it offered for courses.
As it’s designed to do, the program’s courses helped Chamby prepare for the MCATs and ultimately for medical school.
“After completing the program, I felt a lot more solidified in my scientific ability, which had been my biggest hindrance in applying to medical school,” she says. “UVM not only helped with my MCAT preparation, but it also put me in a mindset to give me a sense of what medical school would be like.”
As a post-bac student, Chamby also found inspiration in being so close to the University of Vermont Medical Center and the Larner College of Medicine.
“I really appreciated having opportunities to interact with professors from the medical school,” she says. “And I gained a lot of academic confidence at UVM. It was a challenging experience and the year wasn’t a breeze in any way. But walking around the medical school was a daily, physical reminder of what I was working toward.”
Hear more from Anna Chamby in a recent webinar highlighting UVM’s Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program.
Learn more about UVM’s Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program
