The AMA “Members Move Medicine” series profiles a wide variety of doctors, offering a glimpse into the passions of women and men navigating new courses in American medicine.
On the move with: Jessica D’Annibale, rising second-year medical student at University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. She plans to specialize in pediatrics.
AMA member since: 2017.
What inspired me to pursue a career in medicine: For as long as I can remember, I’ve been interested in science. As I grew older, I became fascinated with crime shows and murder mysteries. Medicine was intriguing to me because it seemed like a puzzle or a mystery you could figure out by using your knowledge of science, so it was the perfect combination of my interests.
How I move medicine: It feels premature to say that I am moving medicine now, as I’m still in medical school. But my aspiration is to move medicine by practicing patient-centered medicine and by continually being an advocate for my future patients.
Career highlights: Twice in my undergraduate studies, I travelled to Honduras with a group of fellow students and doctors and we set up weeklong popup clinics in underserved areas. We worked hard to ensure our efforts were sustainable long after our stays. My favorite aspect was being a part of teaching children common hygiene practices and the experience really solidified my passion for pediatrics.
Advice I’d give to those interested in pursuing a career in medicine: Work hard and stay focused for the long journey ahead! Health care is certainly not an easy field to work in, but I can’t think of one that holds more purpose. The feeling that comes with making patients happier and healthier is an infectious one and makes medicine one of the most rewarding fields to work in.
Visit MembershipMovesMedicine.com to learn more about other AMA members who are relentlessly moving medicine through advocacy, education, patient care and practice innovation, and join or renew today.
