Name: Jacob Anderson
Major: BS Chemistry/BA Spanish
HCMP Role: Technology Coordinator
Classification: Junior
Other Associations: Natural Sciences Council, Longhorn Band, Sanger Learning Center
Describe a shadowing experience that has impacted you the most:
One afternoon, I shadowed an internal medicine rotation at Paul Bass Clinic in Brackenridge, a facility primarily devoted to serving the uninsured, underinsured, and underprivileged. Dr. Nanja was the attending that day, and it was a fairly slow day because of the flash floods in — until one couple who spoke limited English came in for multiple health issues the wife was suffering from. No one in the clinic spoke the couple’s native language, Arabic, so Dr. Nanja and the residents had to communicate through a translator. The residents clearly were having trouble, but when Dr. Nanja took command, I was impressed at her ability to empathize, connect, and communicate with the patient despite the language barrier. At one point, the men in the room exited, including myself and the husband, so that Dr. Nanja could check-up on the wife alone. At this point, the husband broke down, crying, trying to explain through limited English to the resident and I how his wife is so sick, has been suffering, and doesn’t deserve any of this. Dr. Nanja later told me that the two were refugees, and had trouble getting on their feet and dealing with their medical issues in the US. I realized how health is so integral to a qualify life, but how difficult it is the underprivileged to maintain their health and even access healthcare at all. I also witnessed how important it was for a physician to be able to work on their feet, and to communicate creatively and maintain empathy and understanding in difficult situations. I decided that, once I become a physician, I would make it my mission to reach out to individuals who have difficulty accessing healthcare, and give them the level of care and attention Dr. Nanja did — because everyone deserves their health, and no one deserves to suffer because they or their loved ones have difficulty getting the medical help they need.
How has HCMP benefitted your professional or individual goals?
Through my experiences shadowing, I’ve been exposed to an incredible breadth of knowledge and skills from the physicians I have shadowed, and an incredible breadth of experience, love, and suffering from the patients they have treated. I feel I have a much wider perspective on the types of people I will be working with and treating someday, as well as the issues and problems facing healthcare and the health of individuals and communities.
What has been your favorite aspect of HCMP?
My favorite part of the organization itself has getting to know the incredibly diverse people of HCMP and learn about their unique experiences and interests. I am constantly amazed by the breadth of knowledge and passion that my peers display during the workshops and presentations they offer during our meetings. I am grateful for the friendships I have formed and am excited to be apart of a generation of intelligent, empathetic, talented, enthusiastic and passionate physicians such as my peers in HCMP.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I grew up a band kid (my grandpa was a band director), so music has always been a large part of my life. Though I’m not as amazing as man of my peers in LHB, I do play the trumpet, and it’s a wonderful escape from all the academia and work. I love going to concerts, musicals, recitals, and more to hear talented musicians make music (particularly classical — the amount of classical music on my iPhone is probably silly). Another way I like to express myself is through writing. I am one of those strange people who keeps a journal, writes poems, and often jots down my thoughts in long, overly introspective notes on my phone. I also like to cook and make hot wings with my boyfriend.
