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MEDICAL SCHOOL
EVALUATION & GRADUATION

one dealing with pathology. And just re-
cently, I called her to give me a refresher on
some general medical diseases that I had for-
gotten about.

Advice for Parents of
Pre-Med Students:
• Your student must have a plan to enter
medical school. Not just in words, but in
actions: forgoing many fun events in col-
lege to study and work hard.
• They must have drive to achieve that
goal. It cannot be your passion: it must
be theirs. The road is so long and ardu-
ous, your passion cannot be the only fuel a parent in the medical field that I would not Time Passes
for the drive. have experienced otherwise. I had a sneak Surprisingly, I am already finishing my sec-
• The essays required by medical schools peak of the “behind the scenes” personal life ond year of medical school. Despite some
are critical. Passion to practice medicine of a physician. With many weekends on-call COVID distortion, my class was still able to
and future contributions to the profes- and holidays postponed, I learned firsthand complete pre-clinical education and practice
sion must both be demonstrated. Nic- that medicine is a profession that demands a clinical skills. I look forward to the next two
hole worked hard on her essays for life-long dedication to the service of others. years of medical school and beyond, as I fi-
several months, writing and rewriting nally get to interact with patients and apply
Hesitation
them to reflect this. When finished, each all the knowledge I have learned. My next big
essay was unique, personal and inspiring. Most people are surprised to hear that I decision will be residency, and although I
was initially met with hesitancy from my fa- have had plenty of exposure to my father’s
David Henkes, MD is a Practicing Patholo- ther when I chose pre-med at Baylor. He specialty, pathology, I have never felt pres-
gist, the recipient of our Distinguished Service knew about the long hours studying and sured to go into it. I am so grateful to my dad
Award and served as the 2005 President of the working, and the delayed gratification physi- for introducing me to medicine. If he had dis-
Bexar County Medical Society. cians face. In fact, I have spoken to quite a few couraged it early on, I probably would not
physicians who heavily discouraged their have found my passion.
THE ZOOMER: children from going into medicine. Now that
Nichole Henkes, MS-II I’m in medical school, I see why. Advice for Those Interested in
When I tell people that my dad is a physi- Medicine:
cian, I’m always asked, “Did your dad want Passion • Pay attention to both positive and nega-
you to be a doctor?” This question haunts me You truly have to love medicine in order to tive aspects of your parent’s vocation.
no matter what stage of education I am in. It’s endure it. Many days I have struggled and lost • Start early, in high school, with a delib-
a pressure hanging over me: the need to prove motivation, but my passion kept me afloat. erate plan toward medicine.
that I am going into medicine for the right Preparing for my first board exam, I could see • Be honest with yourself and your parents
reasons, and not just to please my parents. Of how burnout is a very real threat. Many stu- about what your passion is.
course, my dad is happy to see me in medical dents, including myself, are accustomed to • Don’t assume you have an advantage get-
school. I believe he sees the same excited pas- high scores and impossibly high standards. ting admitted to med school — it often
sion about becoming a physician that he ex- We hoard ourselves in the library from sunup works against you.
perienced in medical school. to past sundown every day, with the hopeful
delusion that workloads will lessen in the Nichole Henkes is an MS-II at UT Health
Advantages near future. Nevertheless, I couldn’t imagine SA Long School of Medicine and co-chair of the
But there were many advantages of having doing anything else. BCMS Student Collaboration Committee.

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