Before starting AUC’s UK-Track Medical Degree (MD) program, K. Jade Robinson joined healthcare professionals on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic in her home country of Bermuda. When the virus first emerged, Jade was completing her Master of Public Health (MPH) degree remotely from King’s College London, and didn’t hesitate when a local physician contacted her to assist with COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Throughout the summer of 2020, Jade conducted nasopharyngeal swabs on a volunteer basis to test for the prevalence of the virus. Then, after completing her MPH, she took on a new position managing a COVID-19 clinic for a private medical practice in Bermuda for several months.
In this role, Jade still did plenty of COVID-19 testing—swabbing up to 20-30 patients per hour following one outbreak—while adding a multitude of new responsibilities to her plate. Under the supervision of physicians, a typical day for Jade as she managed the clinic included assessing patient bookings for the day, preparing her station, gearing up in PPE, verifying patient demographics, collecting patient samples, organizing the transport of the samples to the dedicated laboratories, and liaising with physicians to ensure that results were returned to patients in a timely fashion.
It was undoubtedly a demanding schedule, but for Jade, it was worth it. “I built up the courage to take on this role because I knew that I was serving my country during a health crisis,” she says. “My biggest takeaway from this experience was the opportunity to admire the hard work of physicians who risk their lives daily to provide for their patients. It taught me the value of teamwork, dedication, and solidarity, and reaffirmed that becoming a physician was the career meant for me.”
Jade has always dreamed of becoming a physician and hopes to integrate her diverse public health experiences into her practice to help address social determinants of health and how they impact her future patients. “Today in healthcare, we often focus on resolving the symptoms but ignore the root causes of conditions,” Jade says. She believes applied knowledge of social determinants of health can help her treat patients with a holistic approach, educate them on preventative measures, and ultimately promote wellness.
Now in her second semester of medical school, Jade is grateful that she chose AUC. “I chose AUC’s UK-Track because I was attracted to the smaller class sizes. I loved the idea of a somewhat individualized-based learning, and having a smaller cohort meant that I would have a stronger support system throughout my educational journey,” she says. She also aspires to learn more about the UK’s healthcare system and the strengths of integrated care systems, and is looking forward to the coming semesters.
