McKenna Stidham

Being part of a Jamaican-Chinese family with extended family all over the world has fostered a passion for travel, languages, and connecting with people of different cultures. Speaking Spanish, Mandarin, and English have afforded me unique and rewarding experiences including many smooth transitions while working and traveling among people of different nationalities and socio-economic status. I developed an interest in the role of general medicine in global health while volunteering in an under-served community with Chinese and Spanish speaking populations. These experiences paved an organic path towards my major in Medical Geography in Global Health and a minor in Chinese language and literature at The University of Florida. In studying Medical Geography with a focus on healthcare access, I developed an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving, applying both the natural and social sciences to better understand social determinants of health and the spatial patterns of health and disease. Additionally, I am a member and proud supporter of the LGBTQ+ community. I am passionate about promoting health equity in all aspects; my guiding principles are to serve without judgment, always check my biases, think globally and act locally, and practice mindful compassion. I am so grateful to be part of the GSP family and to start my journey here towards primary care among others who are passionate about person-centered care in general medicine.