What does it take to be a successful medical student and a parent at the same time? For two students graduating from the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, the answer is support and some planning.
When Juliana Colvin started medical school in 2019, she was just one of two student parents in her class. Fast forward four years, there are now several students with children who will be graduating alongside her on May 19 with their doctor of medicine degrees.
CELEBRATING SUCCESS: UToledo recognizes the Class of 2023 with a series of stories featuring students receiving their degrees at spring commencement.
This includes new dad Brady Williams, whose son, Ethan, was born on Christmas Eve. He said he was thankful that UToledo provided plenty of flexibility with his fourth-year schedule. As a current stay-at-home parent due to the break between rotations ending and the start of residency, Williams noted that he is grateful for the opportunity to have more time with his son.
“It’s the most downtime I’ll have,” he said, foreshadowing a busy residency schedule come July 1.
After having her first child, Colin, at the age of 28, Juliana Colvin decided to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. She started medical school with her son by her side, who was 3 years old at the time. Her daughter, Lillian, was born between her first and second years of medical school, in June 2020, during the only summer break of medical school.
Originally from Cleveland, Colvin attended the Ohio State University where she majored in molecular genetics and minored in history. She also earned a master’s degree in medical physiology from Case Western Reserve University.
She chose The University of Toledo for medical school to be close to family, as her husband is originally from Perrysburg, and because of the nearby clinic training sites with The University of Toledo Medical Center right on campus and ProMedica Toledo Hospital within a short drive.
Despite the challenges of being a mother and a medical student, Colvin excelled in her studies. She found support through the Academic Enrichment Center (AEC) and the University’s supportive environment for student parents.
Fourth-year medical student Juliana Colvin holds her two children, Colin and Lillian, at the Match Day celebration in March and poses for a photo with her husband, Mike. Colvin matched at Memorial Healthcare System in Pembroke Pines, Florida, for general surgery.
“Being a mom, I have some more baggage than a typical student,” she said. “I felt like people at The University of Toledo were always really helpful. They wanted everyone to succeed.”
Colvin took on a role to help normalize the idea that students can have children while in medical school. As a Rocket Launch mentor, Colvin was paired with students who were married, had kids or wanted to have kids. She also advocated for the needs of parents, such as requesting a pumping station on campus. Her requests helped pave the way for future parents at the University.
During her time at UToledo, Colvin also pursued leadership roles within medical education, including being one of only two student members on the national board for the medical school accrediting body, Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). Colvin credits the University for providing her with great opportunities in medical education.
As Colvin prepares to leave UToledo, she is excited to take the skills she has learned and apply them to her residency and future career. The 35-year-old mother of two will be starting her residency at Memorial Healthcare System in Pembroke Pines, Florida, for General Surgery.
Reflecting on her time at UToledo, Colvin is grateful for the friendships she made and the collaborative spirit of her class.
“We all wanted each other to succeed,” she said. “I didn’t feel intense competition.”
She also credits the faculty for being receptive to feedback and caring about the students’ success.
“I’m very thankful for Toledo. I was never treated differently,” she said. “I felt like I always had people in my corner.”
Colvin’s husband, Mike, has been a constant source of support as well throughout her medical school journey. He made many sacrifices to support her dreams, including working from home so that she can focus on her studies.
“It’s a long, hard road and he’s always been supportive to let me go after my dreams,” she said. “I’m very appreciative of that.”
Fourth-year medical student Brady Williams at the Match Day celebration in March, with his wife and son. Williams matched at The University of Toledo for his internal medicine preliminary year and will continue on to specialize in diagnostic radiology the following four years at the University of Missouri in Kansas City.
Reflecting on his medical school journey, Williams emphasized the importance of support from his wife, Emma. Between studying for assessment exams Step 1 and 2 and becoming a new father, he needed a strong support system.
“It’s a great opportunity that I’m very thankful for,” he said.
The 26-year-old from Defiance, Ohio, completed his undergraduate studies at Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois, majoring in biology. He chose UToledo because he wanted to attend a medical school close to family, and UToledo’s pass/fail pre-clinical years, non-mandatory lectures and excellent match record made it a perfect fit for him.
During his time at UToledo, Williams appreciated the college leadership’s responsiveness to feedback and their commitment to the student experience.
“I was very pleased about how responsive our administration was to feedback,” he said. “They looked out for the student experience first.”
Williams spoke of his first year of medical school, where his spring semester quickly shifted because of the onset of the pandemic. Classroom lectures were quickly pivoted to remote.
He credits the support he received from the administration, his family, and his peers for getting him through the challenges of medical school.
“What I will leave with from my time at UToledo is a quality education that I’m proud of and all that the College of Medicine and Life Sciences has done for me to get me into the specialty of my choice in the location I want,” he said.
Williams matched at The University of Toledo for his internal medicine preliminary year and will continue on to specialize in diagnostic radiology the following four years at the University of Missouri in Kansas City. Williams decided on radiology after a rotation with Dr. Haitham Elsamaloty, professor and chair in the Department of Radiology.
“I enjoyed the whole package. Every aspect of the field appealed to me,” he said. “When you’re off the clock, you’re off the clock.”
As Williams prepares to graduate, he said he looks forward to beginning his radiology specialty and continuing his medical career. He is grateful for the support he received from UToledo and his loved ones along the way.
