The Beginning of my Pre-Med Journey

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Written By: Shea Baran

Position, Member Since: General Member, Joined Fall 2024

Major & Track: Biology, Pre-Med

Current Year: 1st year

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Hi! My name is Shea Baran and I am a freshman at the University of Florida majoring in Biology on the pre-medical track and minoring in Spanish. I come from Long Island, New York, and I grew up in a very small town called Shoreham- Wading River. Throughout the course of my high school journey, I developed my love for science and the medical field.

Some of my key experiences included volunteering in an emergency room at Peconic Bay Medical Center at Northwell Health as an emergency department ambassador, serving as the President for my schools chapter of the Women in Science and Engineering Club, and volunteering at Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe. In addition to science-based activities, I was also involved in various other opportunities throughout high school. For instance, I served as the Captain on the Varsity Volleyball Team, worked at an ice cream shop for 4 years, served as a member of the Shoreham Wading River Board Of Education, a member of the Legislative Committee, and as a volunteer at the North Shore Public library.

Now, at UF, my goal is to expand my body of knowledge and become involved in my extracurriculars and in my community. My ultimate goal is to work as a physician in Emergency Medicine. I believe that UF AMWA shares the same values, and this is why I decided to join the club upon arrival at UF. AMWA is an excellent way to meet other women in medicine, learn new opportunities to get involved, and improve your overall pre-medical journey. It allows you to foster connections with others who are going through the same process as you, and alleviates the stress of feeling alone. There are others who are tackling the same coursework as you, and people who want to work with you to help. AMWA is an educational and uplifting club that prompts success all around.

In addition to AMWA, I am currently earning my First Responder Certification through First Responder Gator, volunteering at the Wilmot Botanical Gardens, volunteering within the ELI conversation program, and taking the Medi-Gators Virtual Shadowing Course. Next semester, I am planning on continuing with these activities in addition to joining a research lab and applying to become a First Responder Gator TA. Overall, I am at the beginning of my pre-medical journey and I am grateful that I get to work through it with AMWA. I am eager to learn from the team and grow as a member.