PracticeMatch Empowered Physician Scholarship: 2024 Winner

"Victoria, there's something I need to tell you."

Quietly stated my mother. In a matter of seconds, my life changed.

Following my parent's divorce, my mother raised me as a single parent, and I watched her struggle and sacrifice to ensure that I could pursue my dreams - with her arduous schedule as a flight attendant, I often remained at home, alone, for multiple days at a time. While my father was rarely in the picture, I never could have imagined losing his physical being so suddenly. Accepting the death of a parent is something you never prepare for; I had to be strong despite struggling to maintain whatever shards of sanity I could.

The practice of medicine provides us with a glimpse into the circle of life, and there is undoubtedly no greater honor than being intimately involved in the care of another human being. In losing my father, I learned that tomorrow is never guaranteed, and I recognize that it is my duty to utilize my talents to heal and serve. As a Black woman, I recognize what a privilege and blessing it is to be able to pursue a career in public service, and with that privilege comes a duty to spearhead philanthropic endeavors and address racial and socioeconomic disparities in health services.

As the former co-coordinator of the Student Dermatology Clinic for the Underserved, I'm committed to providing dermatologic care to uninsured, refugee, and other medically vulnerable groups and increasing awareness regarding disparities in skin of color dermatologic care. I desire to promulgate a model of care in which physicians combine clinical understanding with a philanthropic foundation. I believe the virtue of selflessness should extend beyond clinical practice, and I intend to leverage my experiences to foster the growth of thriving communities.

Aside from medicine, educational equality has always been a passion of mine as it is one of the most pressing civil rights issues facing our nation. One's zip code should not dictate the level of formative education he or she is able to attain; yet, for many American students, a quality education is merely a figment of the imagination. Stable and economically advantaged students continue to thrive and pursue higher education. At the same time, those from low-income families are seven times more likely to drop out than their more affluent peers. Apples 4 Education: Advocating for Educational Equality culminates my passions for educational equality, mentorship, and public service.

As a graduate medical education trainee, former local titleholder within the Miss American Organization, and Miss National Sweetheart 2016, with my three-tier program to first inspire, educate, and then incorporate students into constructive outlets, my mission has been to provide disadvantaged students, similar to myself, the tools to attain educational success. Since founding Apples 4 Education, I have donated almost $12,000 worth of supplies, graduation regalia, prom gowns, and backpacks to students at Title I Schools throughout the states of Florida and Pennsylvania. Since starting medical school, my passions for social justice and equity have only continued to grow, which resulted in the creation of Snacks for STEM: Fighting Food Insecurity. Through a partnership with Fulton PreK-5, a Pittsburgh Public Schools Title I institution, we have provided snacks and exposure to the field of medicine to students whose families struggle with food insecurity. My goal is to open students' eyes to the magic of science and the power of goal manifestation while simultaneously opening doors that have historically remained shut.

Having served as a camp counselor for Camp Anytown, which empowers delegates to create a more inclusive community centered on diversity and the acceptance of others despite culture, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or race, I'm eager to carry on the same commitment I instilled in my delegates within the healthcare sector as a practicing physician. I look forward to expanding the legacy of Apples 4 Education and Snacks for STEM and continuing to give back through underserved clinics. Additionally, I will remain devoted to mentorship, as my passion in medicine lies in not only making quality healthcare accessible to all but also making a career in medicine a reality for many of whom it seems to be an intangible dream. As a former task force chair for the Committee on the Learning Environment, which aims to cultivate an environment of quality pre-clinical and clinical medical education that is rooted in human dignity, I'm also passionate about fostering inclusive spaces and spearheading programming centered on healthcare injustices. This passion will endure throughout my career, as educating our future physicians is the most steadfast means of cultivating leaders to carry on the torches of health equity and social justice.

I chose medicine as a career because I hold the values of equality, diversity, and social justice in high esteem. However, one's health hinges upon more than meets the eye - I chose to pursue dermatology because I understand, from first-hand experience, that health is more than skin deep. I'm fascinated with the crossroads of dermatology, psychology, and chronic and infectious diseases. I want to care for and study skin, hair, and nails of all colors, textures, and types, as demographic imbalances in dermatology are a reality that we, as minorities, continue to face. Earning a coveted spot in the American Academy of Dermatology Diversity Mentorship Program solidified my career choice in dermatology. I'm fascinated with the art of bedside diagnosis, often utilized in dermatology, as well as the utilization of clinical clues to diagnose systemic disease. I enjoy the variety in the scope of practice and the mix of medicine, infectious disease, procedures, psychological health, and counseling.

"Make sure you use enough leg makeup and self-tanner to even out your tone, but don't go too dark because you're already darker than most of your competitors!" Shouted my pageant director.

As a Black woman, throughout my years in pageantry, I've been reminded that my self-worth was contingent upon the texture of my hair, as well as the color of my skin. I've experienced the decreased value that society has historically attributed to black skin and often struggled between asserting my cultural diversity and succumbing to racially homogenous norms. However, nothing made my heart smile more than when a little girl ran up to me with stars in her eyes because she couldn't believe the "princess" had curly hair and a darker complexion like her! I feel privileged to have had a stethoscope replace my crown as the badge of honor I'm entrusted to wear as an agent of change in my community.

The unfortunate truth is that within dermatology, minority populations have historically remained underrepresented in research and the role of the physician, yet overrepresented in terms of outcomes leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Through my research centered on disparities in skin of color representation and the need for increased community service within the field, my goal is to change the status quo and increase awareness surrounding dermatological inequalities faced by minorities. I am keenly interested in dermatologic conditions that often impact women of color. I aim to be a trailblazer and leader in the microcosm of skin of color within dermatology while maintaining a commitment to community service, mentorship, and social justice in healthcare.

Given my history of involvement with the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) as an executive board member, I have aspired to uphold the organization's mission by supporting future minority medical students and addressing the needs of underserved communities, especially regarding social determinants of health and educational inequality. Through the SNMA, I spearheaded a minority hosting initiative for visiting applicants during the interview season and facilitated both the ‘Female Empowerment Mission Summit' for minority high school students aspiring to pursue careers in medicine and a medicine workshop at a local underserved middle school. Additionally, I have served as a volunteer panelist for numerous minority pre-medicine conferences, facilitated a diversity workshop centered on sexism in medicine, and mentored minority undergraduate students along the arduous path to medical school.

For years, medicine has been encased in elitism - inaccessible to those belonging to the lowest rungs of society. The elitism in medicine mimics that seen in our nation's educational system. In founding Apples 4 Education and Snacks for STEM, I have witnessed first-hand the ways in which social determinants of health can influence one's access to healthcare. From housing and food instability to educational inequity and inept community support networks, unfortunately, illness is often a product of circumstance. As a resident physician, I aspire to serve humanity by treating and, most importantly, understanding my patients from a deeper holistic perspective.

I can only hope that my passion, purpose, dedication to serving humanity, and commitment to health equity and leadership have shown through my application. Throughout the course of my medical education (from standardized exams to tuition and essential medical tools), the costs have continued to skyrocket. As a Black woman from a single-parent household, the statistics are not promising, and society often insinuates that your ability to succeed is limited. But I refuse to allow a statistic to define me. Given my total student loan debt of over $100,000, my financial need is greater than ever. It would truly be an honor to be named a 2024 recipient of the PracticeMatch Empowered Resident Scholarship, as it would not only assist in alleviating the staggering costs of medical education but also assist me in continuing to defy the odds and chase my dreams.

Victoria Humphrey