From performing on Broadway to medical school in the Caribbean, the path of Molly Kallins’ MD was anything but traditional. We sat down with the 2018 graduate for advice on finding the perfect fit in a medical school, what life was like in Sint Maarten, and how AUC School of Medicine impacted her personal and professional life.
What was your life like like growing up? Did you always know that you wanted to be involved in medicine?
I’ve always been very close with my family. When I was 10, my mom and I moved to New York City so I could pursue acting, singing, and dancing. My dad is a physician (and so was his father) and he stayed in Florida to work and would visit us every other weekend. I was able to get roles in national television commercials, the movie Hide and Seek (with Robert DeNiro an Dakota Fanning), and even on Broadway in the play Gypsy with Bernadette Peters. I remember at the opening night party for Gypsy I met Tom Hanks and he asked me, “Molly, do you wanna be a big star like Bernadette when you grow up?” I responded, “No, I’m going to be a doctor.”
Any advice for undergrads who are starting to apply to medical schools?
Apply wide. Aim for the stars but have a back up plan too. Believe in yourself and your dreams. Work hard. Take time to figure out what you want to do. Understand there will be obstacles and difficulties, but that is true of anything worth having. Realize that “failing” is a part of life and helps to make you not only a better person, but a more empathetic and effective physician for your patients.
Did you have a favorite course or professor at AUC?
I really enjoyed Introduction to Clinical Medicine with Dr. Saleem Farooqi. He reminded us that every patient is a unique individual, that they are someone’s loved one, and that each patient deserves 100 percent of our effort and respect.
What is life like at AUC's campus in Sint Maarten?
It feels very much like a college campus. There is on-campus housing and tons of apartments and condos within walking distance from campus. The students are from all different walks of life. Some are straight out of college but others have families or entire successful careers behind them. Everyone is highly motivated to become a physician. I became very close with my classmates and I still talk to them frequently. Your friends at AUC become your family.
Now in residency, what perspective have you gained about your time in medical school?
I’ve learned that there is no difference in the education I received and the one my colleagues' received at US medical schools. If anything, I find that I have a stronger drive and work ethic because I always felt like I had to work harder. I’m proud of the opportunity AUC gave me to realize my dream of becoming a physician. AUC teaches you to advocate for yourself and continue pushing yourself even during difficult times. You learn resilience and tenacity.
What do you hope to accomplish during your residency or in the future?
I just want to continue to learn, improve, and utilize this time to become the best physician I can be. In general, I want to live a good life and make other people’s lives better as well!
Dr. Molly Kallins is an internal medicine resident at Northside Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.
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