MEDICAL SCHOOL UPDATES
NYITCOM : Students Wagner and Nathan Drawn to Rural Medicine in Underserved Areas
Benjamin Wagner and Melissa Nathan both grew up in small towns in Southern Illinois , and when they began searching for the ideal place to earn their medical degree , they both hoped they ’ d land at a medical school that provided them with unique opportunities to train in and experience what it ’ s like to practice in a rural , underserved area .
We ’ re both interested in practicing medicine in underserved areas , and this is great preparation for that . We get to see a lot of unique cases and experience the need for better access to health care in places like this .
Through their first three years at New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University , Wagner and Nathan have received just that .
“ We really connected with NYITCOM ’ s mission to serve underserved populations , especially in the Delta ,” Nathan said . “ We felt like they were going to help us serve the population we want to . I feel like a lot of places talk a lot about rural health care and serving the underserved but don ’ t take steps toward that . We could tell NYITCOM meant it , and we ’ ve experienced how that mission is being carried out .”
Wagner and Nathan met through a premed student group while they were both undergrads at Eastern Illinois University and began dating in 2018 . Wagner graduated ahead of Nathan and worked as a scribe at a local hospital for two years before they began applying to medical school together .
The couple landed several interviews but were drawn to NYITCOM ’ s mission and its presence on a large undergraduate campus , and they enrolled in 2020 .
Wagner and Nathan enjoyed their pre-clinical years in Jonesboro and are extremely grateful for the experience they ’ ve received during the early portion of their clinical training as well . They perform a majority of their rotations in Crossett , where they currently live , but also travel to hospitals and clinics in Monticello and Warren .
“ Because of where we grew up , I feel like we just kind of get it , the feel down here ,” Nathan said . “ We ’ re both interested in practicing medicine in underserved areas , and this is great preparation for that . We get to see a lot of unique cases and experience the need for better access to health care in places like this .”
While in Crossett , they ’ ve enjoyed the opportunity to participate in community service events such as food drives and as medical assistants on the sidelines of local high school football games .
“ In smaller towns like this , the smallest action can make a huge difference because there aren ’ t that many people here and there aren ’ t as many resources ,” Nathan said .
They also appreciate how they ’ ve been welcomed in the community . “ The Southern hospitality is real ,” Nathan said . “ We ’ ve really been taken care of .”
Wagner and Nathan became engaged last May , but wedding plans are on hold until 2024 after residency plans are secure . Those residency plans , and their future practice plans , have certainly been impacted by the time they ’ ve spent in rural Arkansas .
“ We could see ourselves coming back here ,” Wagner said . “ We ’ re very comfortable training in an area like this so we ’ d certainly look at practicing in one like it as well . Every day we talk about how fortunate we are to be able to train here and we just really appreciate all that our preceptors have done to make us feel welcome and give us a great experience .” ■
90 THE JOURNAL OF THE ARKANSAS MEDICAL SOCIETY