Medical student shines light into volunteer patieent's eyes. — Snigdha Nandipati of the Class of 2026, practices performing a basic exam on a trained volunteer. Objective Structure Clinical Exam suites are designed to look like clinical exam rooms. Students interact with volunteers who are trained to present medical scenarios that will help students at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine learn or be tested on certain skills. Photo by Ryan Anderson for Virginia Tech.

Medical school moments

By

Catherine Doss

22 Jul 2024

Life in medical school is a journey of intense dedication, sometimes grueling hours, and profound transformation.

These photos provide an inside look at the Virginia Tech CarilionSchool of Medicine and the unique experiences of its students.

We hope to capture not just the academic rigor but also the personal growth and commitment that define the path to becoming a physician.

Keep reading: A decade plus at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

Seven people standing around a digital anatomy table. Woman wearing what doctor's coat is pointing to the table. — Anatomy is taught in several ways, including digitally. Nancy Wu of the Class of 2025 demonstrates the ins and outs of anatomy with a fingertip for high school visitors from the Achievable Dream program. Photo by Ryan Anderson for Virginia Tech.

Man wearing white lab coat working in a scientific lab. — Kenneth Young finishes up his doctoral research as part of Virginia Tech’s Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC. Medical students who enroll in the program are able to pursue their passions in both clinical medicine and translational research and graduate with both an M.D.and a Ph.D. Photo by Ryan Anderson for Virginia Tech.

Woman wearing hajib speaking from podium — During the 2023 White Coat Ceremony, Class of 2027 President Karima Abutaleb recites the guiding principles that her class developed. Photo by Natalee Waters for Virginia Tech

Man and woman, wearing dress-up pink clothing embrace after learning of their match day results. — The most anticipated day for fourth-year students — even more so than graduation — is Match Day, when they find out where they will be going for residency. (From left) Brandon Ganjineh and Devra Asah celebrate their matches. The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine matches students in some of the most competitive specialties and programs nationwide, and the school’s overall match rate is 99 percent. Photo by Natalee Waters for Virginia Tech.

Two women seated, speaking to one another — Rachel Ziegler (at left) and Sara Schroder get acquainted during orientation. With approximately 50 students per class, the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine offers a close-knit learning cohort and plenty of individualized instruction. Photo by Ryan Anderson for Virginia Tech

Young medical student holding a plastic anatomical model of the hand. — Mastering anatomy is essential in medical education. Jessica Urbanczyk of the Class of 2026 examines a circulatory model of the hand. Photo by Ryan Anderson for Virginia Tech.

Six individuals posing with the HokieBird for a celebratory photo. — Fourth-year student Benjamin Tintera celebrates his graduation in Hokie style. Photo by Natalee Waters for Virginia Tech

Two young medical students wearing white coats in hospital setting — Varun Mishra (at left) and Sydney Dinn on inpatient rounds at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Students start rotations through hospitals and clinics during their third year. This is an integral transition from theoretical learning to practical, hands-on medical practice. Photo by Ryan Anderson for Virginia Tech.

One medical student wearing white coat pins a pin on white coat lapel of another student. — One of the highest honors in medical school is to be inducted in the Arnold P. Gold Humanism Honor Society, which recognizes those who display a dedication to health-focused advocacy, community service, personal excellence, and an empathetic heart. Chloe Lessard of the Class of 2025 (at right) pins a fellow inductee. Photo by Ryan Anderson for Virginia Tech.

42 students in graduation robes pose a group — In May, the school celebrated 42 new doctors at its 11th annual commencement ceremony. Photo by Natalee Waters for Virginia Tech.

Man using a circular saw — Christian Ostrowski of the Class of 2026 assists with building a ramp for a Roanoke home. It has become a tradition for medical students to use their Martin Luther King Jr. holiday to give back. Photo by Ryan Anderson for Virginia Tech.

Frmale medical student wearing white coat works in scientific lab — For her research project, Kelly Ingram of the Class of 2024 studied the relationship between obesity during pregnancy and potentially harmful bacteria that may predict negative birth outcomes. Photo by Ryan Anderson for Virginia Tech.

Medical student holds scientifi sphere as part of his research project — Abhishek Bhutada of the Class of 2024 shows an optical magnetometry device that guides treatment options for people with drug-resistant epilepsy. The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine is one of only a few medical schools with a highly intensive research curriculum. All students must complete a four-year research project before graduating. A number of students have their research published in academic journals before graduation. Photo by Ryan Anderson for Virginia Tech.

Contact:

Josh Meyer