Alumni Spotlight

Ian Coe received a biology degree while on the bluff and is currently a 4th year medical student up on the hill at OHSU. While at UP, Ian was involved on campus as an RA but also was involved off campus with activities including shadowing and clinical volunteering. These activities along with his desire to serve the community, manage patient's care at the highest level, and advocate for health equity confirmed Ian’s decision to apply to med school.

While at UP, Ian was also the recipient of a ½ price MCAT preparatory course award offered through the UP health advising office. Ian went on to take the MCAT the summer of his Junior year allowing him to apply and begin at OHSU the fall after graduating from UP. Ian will graduate from OHSU in early June and will begin a residency training at the Montana Family Medicine Residency in Billings, MT.

1. What is the best part of your role as a medical student / health care provider?
The best part of my role as a medical student is being invited into patient's lives during really important (and sometimes difficult) moments, building relationships with them, and applying my knowledge to treating them and improving their health.

2. How did your time at UP help you with your career path? (involvement, academics, research, advising, etc.)
Career advising from Dr. Flann and the Career Center were incredibly valuable aspects of my time at UP. In addition, many UP faculty have connections to OHSU, which helped me to find clinical volunteering opportunities so I could get a foot in the door. Volunteering in the OHSU ER, working as an in-home caregiver, and being a Resident Assistant were some of the most valuable activities I was involved in.

3. What are your favorite memories of UP / any highlights?
Some of my favorite memories from UP are a massive snowball fight and sledding day with my residents during a major snowstorm my Junior year, late night pilot house runs with friends, and going to some of the CPB weekend events as an underclassman.

4. What advice would you give aspiring pre-health types?
I would advise pre-health students to find a mentor as soon as possible. Whether it be a faculty member or clinician, one of the most useful things they can do right now is have a go-to person for career help and advice. Get involved at a local hospital to volunteer or shadow physicians. The position title doesn't matter as much as the connections you will make with people in the healthcare field and the utility of these experiences in helping you decide which career pathway to pursue. Also, don't be afraid to research health careers other than physician (PA, NP, DMD, OT, PT, etc). Looking into these careers and even shadowing one of those professionals is an important part of making sure being a doctor is the right path for you.