My name is Rylie Ju and I am a third-year Nutrition major. I am an intern with HCMP, and am also a UT Garden Instructor.

Describe a shadowing experience that has impacted you the most:

I was shadowing a craniofacial and reconstructive plastic surgeon who was operating on a patient with osteoradionecrosis on his mandibular bone. Basically, what happened was when he had his tonsils removed with radiation, the radiation had long term negative effects and formed a tumor on his mandibular jaw bone. To treat this patient, the plastic surgeon took part of the patient’s fibula and replaced the infected jaw bone with the fibula. It was so fascinating to see the patients entire leg cut open. The surgeon was chill enough to let me stand right next to him during the entire procedure. He also gave me an anatomy lesson as he cut apart different layers of tendons and ligaments and muscles. I also had the opportunity to talk with the PA, the anesthesiologists and the nurses and saw firsthand how each member of the team had a vital role to play.

How has HCMP benefited your professional or individual goals? 

Before my experience with HCMP, I was very hesitant on pursuing the pre-med track. I am the first person in my family to graduate high school let alone enroll into college. My background and my identity definitely played a role with keeping my dreams at bay. However, I decided to try anyway and during my junior year, I searched for a community of other pre-health students. This is when I discovered HCMP. I quickly learned that HCMP offered me much more than just resources. I made incredible friends I would have never met if I decided not to join HCMP. A handful of us ended up taking the MCAT on the same day so going through that whole process was very motivating and a lot less overwhelming. Our family is from all different backgrounds. This diversity encouraged me to never let my identity be a source of limitation. Because of our HCMP family, everyday I am closer to reaching my goals with a new sense of confidence in myself.

What has been your favorite aspect of HCMP?

My favorite aspect of HCMP is how much the coordinators and directors dedicate their time into helping the interns. As a current intern, I appreciate this so much because without their help, none of this would be possible. Being an intern is an incredible experience, but I can’t wait for next semester when I get the chance to pass the torch to another group of students.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Go climbing, tumbling, make art for my friends, and read.