Hello Everyone!
My name is Jewel Llamas and I am very excited to be a part of the Generalist Scholars Program and UVA SOM! I was born in New Hartford, New York but raised close to Charlottesville, in Lynchburg, Virginia.
From a young age, the medical field has intrigued me. Witnessing the various health problems my family faced, I wanted to learn more about their causes and treatments. I obtained my first shadowing experiences my junior year of high school, granting me the opportunity to work with nurse, physical therapists, nurse practitioners and doctors of multiple specialties. As an undergraduate at Duke University, I chose to major in Cultural Anthropology – a field that satiated my eclectic interests in and appreciation for the vast diversity in the world.
During my gap year between obtaining my BA from Duke University and beginning my medical school career, I worked as a scribe at Lynchburg General Hospital’s Emergency Department. My experience as a scribe confirmed how much I enjoy working with diverse patient populations facing diverse medical problems. However, I knew I wanted more continuity with my patients than Emergency Medicine provided.
Accordingly, I am currently considering entering the field of Family Medicine and am appreciative of the incomparable guidance and support the Generalist Scholars Program has provided me in this endeavor! I have enjoyed every component of the program and am truly thankful to the GSP family!