Extracurricular Activities
President of the Latter-day Saint Student Association club, secretary of the Echocardiography club, library assistant, resident advisor.
A Little Bit About Me
I am 22 years old and a junior in the Echocardiography program. Providence Portland is my assigned site for externship, and I can’t wait to get started in July! Besides my passion for echocardiography, I enjoy baking and going on hikes. Spending time with family is also a central part of my everyday life. I am one of three children with a close relationship with my entire family, especially my quadriplegic mother. Her physical condition has been a major factor in influencing my decision to enter the medical field. It is because of her that I want to help others and strive to assist in improving people’s quality of life. During externship, I will be able to live with my parents, which means that while I help patients at my clinical site, I will also have the opportunity to help my mom at home.
Why I Chose Oregon Tech and My Major
Oregon Tech was my choice of academic learning because it is one of the few prestigious places that provides a bachelor's degree in medical imaging. Its reputation within the medical imaging field is also significantly influential to many hospitals who hire OIT graduates. I chose to pursue Echocardiography because the heart is such a unique and vital organ to the human body, making treatment very important.
My Influential Professors
Two of my biggest influential professors here at Oregon Tech are Tara Guthrie and Joel Beard. Tara is the head of our Echocardiography Department. She consistently displays professionalism while pushing her students to be their best selves. Joel is an adjunct professor from Sky Lakes Medical Center. During his time being my instructor, he always made an effort to help me with scanning and provided constructive feedback. Often, Joel went above and beyond to make learning fun, engaging and memorable. Both of these professors have made my learning at OIT a positive experience.
My Greatest Learning Experience At Oregon Tech
My greatest learning experience here at Oregon Tech has been that every person has their own story. Being able to interact with actual patients, I have come to understand that everyone comes from a different walk of life. A lot of what patients are going through is often not visually seen, and you only realize just how much they are suffering once you actually communicate with them. Having the ability to empathize with these patients has taught me the importance of never overlooking what someone might be struggling with.
My Plans After Graduation
After graduating with my bachelor’s degree in Echocardiography, I plan to continue working at a cardiac hospital and further aspire to help patients suffering from adverse cardiac conditions. I also plan on getting married shortly after my graduation before I officially start working. Further down the line, I would like to specialize in pediatric echocardiography.