
Kayleigh Helgesen, OMS II
Class of 2023 - RVUCOM-UT
Hometown:
Oceanside, Ca
Undergraduate studies:
Bachelors of Science in Sports Biology and Psychology from Springfield College in Springfield, Ma
What clubs and activities are you currently involved with?
SOMA, AMWA, SAOAO and Sports Medicine, PsychSIGN and STIGMA, COSGP, Academic Medicine and Leadership Track
Why did you choose RVUCOM?
I chose RVUCOM because of the camaraderie of the students, something that I felt a part of from the day I interviewed. The feeling on campus is that we are in this together, and the school helps to make that possible through their dedication to providing opportunities for students to come together and bond over extracurricular activities.
What do you like most about RVUCOM?
My favorite part of RVUCOM so far is the amazing faculty that I have had the pleasure to meet and work with. They have assembled an amazing group of passionate and knowledgeable people, that encourage me every day to keep working hard so that I can one day inspire and inform people the way that they do me.
What are your medical interests?
I am interested in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with a focus in Sports Medicine. I have always loved being a part of the culture of athletics and enjoy the psychology of working with and being an athlete. I have spent the majority of my life in and around sports, and can not imagine a future without them in it!
What do you appreciate most about Utah and the local area?
The hiking and overwhelming beauty of Southern Utah have proven to be the perfect counterpart to all of the time spent indoors studying!
What advice do you have for first-year students?
Focus on you! It is so easy to compare yourself to your classmates and think that you are doing something wrong if you are doing things differently. Medical school is a challenge for everyone and each person handles it in their own way. Find what works best for you and stick to it!
Why did you opt for osteopathic medicine?
At Springfield College they center their curriculum on growth of spirit, mind, and body, so it was a natural transition to go into osteopathic medicine. Beyond believing in the importance of treating the person as a whole, the hands-on nature and close relationship it fosters between physician and patient attracted me to the field.
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