Today we feature Keertana Jonnalagadda, a junior in the 7 year BS/DO program with Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine (SOM). Keertana is a Biological Sciences major, is a part of the Honors College and is from Edison, NJ (Middlesex County). Keertana shares with us about her time at Rowan and the opportunities she has been given.
What got you interested in your intended field?
During my freshman year of high school I was really interested in science-based courses. I got the opportunity to start my own club, HOSA, a healthcare-based club for high school students. Being able to found that club with my anatomy and physiology professor gave me the chance to discover what I really like to do. That is to help people and learn more about the human body. That interest got me to think about medicine more. My senior year, I thought I should apply for a program where I can do what i am interested in, which is help people but delve into the science of the human body.
How did Rowan best prepare you for your opportunities?
It really has done a great job so far. I am really happy that I am attending Rowan University. Throughout this whole experience I have been given several opportunities to expand upon what I know now, and also develop several skills that will make me a competitive applicant for the future.
Throughout these three years I have been able to connect with the Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine (SOM) and participate in several activities that they have offered for us. Over the summer I was able to participate in a telemedicine program with some of the physicians, which was very enlightening and gave me a chance to shadow several physicians and learn about their styles of patient care. I also was exposed to a lot more of the medical world in terms of insurance and disease— I was able to really learn what being an osteopath is. I learned more about the core values of osteopathy through that experience and I am pretty grateful that I got that chance.
I also got the opportunity to be in research. Throughout my research experience I was able to learn things that I would not have learned in the classroom. I learned how to talk to several people and how to share what I am learning in my research. But also how to write and read scientific literature and how to share with others what I am working on in the project.
What is the most meaningful experience that you have had?
I am involved with Peer Education, a club on campus that allows us to really connect with individuals on campus. We get to teach them about the core values of thrive. Through peer education I was able to learn more about my campus community and how we can make it a better place for everyone. I remember in those meetings talking about ways we can bring in more awareness to mental health and important topics that every student should know and understand. Also that there are several resources that they can go to be the best student they can be.
How are the professors at Rowan?
I look up to my professors because they were the ones to continue to inspire me to do what I want to do. To follow my dreams, my goals, being in their classes and their research lab just makes me more and more interested in what I am learning and more passionate. I feel that I have better connection to what my future career is because of the knowledge and experience and the advice they have given me.
Is there anything else?
In terms of all the several things I have done on campus, they have all added a little but of who I want to be in the future. In terms of the kind of physician and person I want to be, I know that I would not have been able to accomplish or get to this state without those experiences which Rowan has given me with the relationships I have made here, the experiences here and the people I have met.
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Story and photography by: Stephanie Batista, sophomore Music Industry major
