Jeremiah Taylor

Throughout my life, the basketball court and the classroom have been synonymous. The interwoven lessons attained from basketball and academia have played a foundational role in cultivating and sustaining my interest in medicine. My research with reactive oxygen species enhanced my understanding of the importance of implementing antioxidants into my daily diet. Healthier eating habits enabled optimal athletic performance, and for me, evolved basketball into a science. The possibility of applying scientific knowledge to improve performance in the daily lives of others is my driving force for pursuing a career in medicine. 

Parallel to every career that requires precision, mastering the basic skills such as dribbling and shooting is where a good basketball player begins. At an early age, I sought perfection and increased my daily practice regimen. I was transformed from an uncoordinated novice to a Division 1 athlete. Through this metamorphosis, I became curious about the biological reasoning behind particular workouts. As my knowledge of biology expanded, I began to correlate how these concepts related to the human body. Physiological aspects such as lactic acid production and aerobic respiration were reinforced in my mind. I was no longer satisfied with solely understanding the benefits from a sports standpoint. My interest in science was intensifying, and I became excited about where this would lead in terms of a career.

Research played a pivotal role in guiding my undergraduate experiences. During my junior year, I began volunteering in a lab that was developing a probe to quantify nanomolar amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in macrophage cells. Although I began with no experience or specialized knowledge, I learned how to critically evaluate our experiments and engage in discussions of research design and direction. As a result of this research, I am capable of cell culture, confocal microscopy, configuring the probe and many other wet-lab techniques. I am proud of my role in the project because I know our work will one day provide a simple assay to quantify the amount of ROS present in a patient’s body, which will allow for earlier detection and possible prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. I am ecstatic to know that the probe I helped design will one day assist healthcare teams nationwide and become a part of standard diagnostic and preventative treatment.

Innovations in science were a key factor in my determination to pursue medical school. At the same time, shadowing physicians helped me understand how the medical profession is more than science. I saw how in-depth practical interactions can solidify a patient-physician relationship as they work as a team. Seeing this interaction, I reflected on my time as a basketball camp counselor. As a camp counselor, taught girls and boys, aged 5-14, the skills and fundamentals of basketball. I saw the appreciation on their faces as I spent time with each of them to ensure they could successfully perform the drills. This personal time was tailored towards each camper. Sometimes I would break down a drill into a step-by-step process, so the camper would notice the finer details, while other moments called for words of confirmation for individuals to know they conquered the task. Just like the campers, patients will need individual attention to know that I am listening to their concerns as well as explaining things in a way that is easy for them to understand. As I lead them to healthier lives, I want to look in my patient’s eyes and know I have built a foundation of trust, compliance, and collaboration. 

The prospect of applying lessons learned through basketball and academia have made me more passionate about becoming a physician. During the fall quarter of 2018, I decided to relinquish my position on the university’s basketball team and pursue the sport for recreational purposes; this decision allowed me to tailor my schedule more towards my medical ambitions. I am certain my love for learning, helping others, and the skills I will gain from medical school will provide the tools needed to become the excellent physician that my patients deserve. I am eager to apply these learning opportunities and acquired skills to positively impact the lives of others.