An Indirect but Purposeful Path to Becoming a Doctor
“What drew me to medicine is being able to help people & empower them to manage their health.”
I had the privilege of photographing Jillienne Mendoza, MD. She shared some of her story.
“Becoming a doctor wasn’t a direct path for me. I started in Pharmacy school, switched to Health Services Administration, worked for two years as a medical receptionist in outpatient & hospital settings, & then felt the call to medicine. I then took two years to complete a post-baccalaureate to apply to medical school while working as an adjunct lecturer at Stony Brook University & a researcher for a social developmental neuroscience lab. Afterward, I spent a year as a lead medical scribe for several urgent care clinics & outpatient offices across Long Island & NYC before finally applying to medical school. Throughout this process, I was quite conscious of how nontraditional my start to medical school was, often berating myself for deciding on this path so late. But it was not late. I needed all those other experiences to bring me to where I am today. I am who I am because of everything I have experienced, & I am grateful for all the opportunities that came my way when I freed myself from the expectations & timelines of others.
I would advise my younger self not to allow timelines set by others to dictate your life. The right path may not be clear in high school, in your late twenties, or even thirties. You won’t know what is for you without the right exposure, so go out & get that exposure in as many things as you are interested in & enjoy.
Life doesn’t pause for medical school. I was worried that I was entering two major parts of my life at the same time. Blessed with the incredible support system I have, I can manage both. During my first year of med school, I met my husband, we got engaged & bought a home. During my second year, we got married & in my third year, we welcomed our first child. Finishing my fourth & final year of school, I can say it was not easy, but these last few years have been some of the best of my life.
In preparing for residency applications, I wanted a headshot that showed more of who I was than a standard yearbook-type photo. My experience with Alissa was smooth & enjoyable, leaving me with an incredible headshot that depicted the confidence, professionalism, & warmth I hope to convey to residency programs. A wonderful experience & a perfect, perfect, perfect, photo! & now, I am happy to report that this summer I will begin my training in Family Medicine as a resident physician at Northwell Phelps Hospital in NY.”