Name: Rodolfo Singleterry Hometown: Mission, TX Year in Medical School: 3rdYear (Class of 2023) Undergraduate School: UTRGV
Do you serve on any student interest groups/organizations/activities? If so, which one(s)?During my first year at the school of Medicine, I had the honor to serve as vice-president of the Student Government Association. Later, I took on the roles of president of the Emergency Medicine Interest Group and vice-president of the Internal Medicine Interest Group. Currently, I serve as the president of the Internal Medicine Interest Group.
What inspired you to become a doctor? When did you know you wanted to be a doctor? I remember that it was 5 a.m. again, and, as always, the television's drone plays in the background. I would look around at a near-empty waiting area containing only a few children and elderly people. We are all patiently waiting for the same thing: the moment our loved ones finish being dialyzed. I would see my father and the other patients lying hooked up to the life-extending dialysis machines. And, for as long as I can remember, I spent countless mornings there. This was my first exposure to the Medical Field and the start of why I chose to pursue a lifetime career as a physician.
The time with my father showed me life with chronic disease, coping with hardship, and the limitations of Medicine. (Though, I also witnessed how fascinating and powerful Medicine can be through treatment and innovation.) Soon, I decided I wanted to do more than sit in a waiting area. I wanted to have the knowledge and skills to treat, cure and extend life. Then, hopefully, one day, I would get the chance to tell that same 7-year-old kid that their loved one was going to be okay.
Why did you choose the UTRGV School of Medicine? The decision started from feelings of familiarity, being born and raised in the valley. It was important to be in a place I could truly resonate with. A place where I could attain a great education, stay near family and get the chance to care for the community I was a part of. Ultimately deciding I wanted to be a part of the positive impact the school of Medicine brings to the place I call home.
What specialties of medicine interest you the most? Why? The specialty that draws my attention is Gastroenterology. I like that at its foundation is the evidence-based clinical reasoning of internal Medicine while also allowing more active involvement with treatment modalities. Along with the "scope" of various organs involved in the GI system, there are many complex processes to detangle and treat.
What areas of research interest you the most? Why? Currently, I am a part of an ongoing project with several Gastroenterology fellows researching certain practices of GI pathology surveillance.
How has the UTRGV School of Medicine fostered your interest in pursuing a career in Medicine?The School of Medicine opened the doors for me to get involved in various organizations and initiatives. Along with providing me the skills and knowledge to be successful in the field of Medicine.
What are your plans for engaging in research this summer? I will be focusing on studying for the USMLE Step2 licensing exam while also maintaining my involvement with my current research projects.
What is one interesting fact others might not know about you that you are willing to share? I purchased my first car, an old Chrysler, from an uncle, with the money I earned playing competitive videogames.
