Hi, my name is Kimberli. I was born in Kingston, Jamaica and moved to New York City with my mom at the age of 15. I did my undergraduate studies in biochemistry with a minor in psychology at The City College of New York and completed a master’s degree in biochemistry at the same university. In college, I was very heavily involved in tutoring and mentorship and actively participated in community service initiatives. One of my most meaningful experiences was with the Women of Excellence Strength and Tenacity (WEST) in which I mentored young adolescent girls, empowering them to develop their strengths and leadership skills. I also had the opportunity to be part of some really interesting research involving the study of recombinant forms of alpha-galactosidase A and its potential use in enzyme replacement therapy for the treatment of Fabry’s disease. I was fascinated by the sheer power of the medical intervention I was studying and thought, what would it be like to be on the other side of this? Delivering this care to patients who need it? Though initially on a PhD track, I realized I felt profoundly drawn to the humanistic, interpersonal nature of clinical medicine. After exploratively stepping into this realm with a position as a medical scribe and compounding this with clinical volunteering, I was certain that this is where I was meant to be!
My passion for medicine is anchored in my desire to serve humanity as a whole. Primary care is at the intersection of individual and community health, so this profession will give me the platform to build healthier communities and provide care to populations who need it the most. I plan to use the tools I am given to coordinate quality care, instill measures of preventative care, and work diligently to alleviate health disparities and promote health equity while helping bridge the gap in healthcare access. I am so humbled to be receiving my medical education and training here at UVA and am truly honored to be a member of this warm and close knit GSP family. GSP truly cultivates a culture of collegiality and fellowship and is invested in maximizing the professional development of its students. There are boundless opportunities here for getting an immersive experience into the scope of generalist medicine and learning the true role of the primary care provider as a health advocate and community activist. I look forward to the continued mentorship, fellowship and scholarship that will help shape me into the best physician I can be.