Originally from Pittsburg, PA, Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) graduate Erica Green, MD, remembers telling her mother at six years old that she wanted to spend her career as a doctor by day and a Steelers’ cheerleader by night. Part of that childhood story is now coming true as Green prepares to enter the obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) residency program at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA.
The choice to specialize in OBGYN was fueled by Green’s desire to break the taboo of sexual health – something she was aware of since high school when she became a survivor of sexual assault. Through this difficult experience, she started visiting an OBGYN physician, who became an exemplary role model. “My experience with my OBGYN was so great. She was so warm, so welcoming, and so nonjudgmental. It made me realize I was really interested in sexual health; I was really interested in adolescent gynecology and what that means and how it is interpreted,” Green said.
As a first-generation college student, Green saw this as an opportunity to share her knowledge and educate her peers about sexual health. In undergrad, she founded a program to increase sexual health awareness in historically Black fraternities and sororities. Now, as a first-generation physician, Green looks forward to her continued work in combating health disparities and claimed that as one of the top reasons she ranked Morehouse School of Medicine so highly in the National Resident Matching Program® (The MATCH ℠) process.
Planting her Roots
Having lived in Atlanta during her third and fourth-year clinical rotations, Green realized the impact she could make in one of its underserved communities. While there, she started a foundation to provide food and clothing for the homeless, raised funds for gifting toys to the Atlanta Children’s Hospital during Christmas time, and now she will be advocating for women’s health as an OBGYN resident in a highly underserved population with high-risk obstetrics.
Green noted that Atlanta truly feels like home and Morehouse School of Medicine is the perfect program to help her in her mission to raise sexual health awareness in minority communities, while continuing to grow as a physician. “Going into the program, I felt seen and I felt understood, especially in the climate that we’ve been in as of late with racial injustices. I felt that Morehouse will be a place that feels like family and feels like home, but when I’m having my own struggles, I know I will have the support I need.”
Green advises students to make their voices heard and to network as much as possible throughout the medical student journey, something she is grateful RUSM made easy for her. “You just never know who is going to connect you with the right people, or who is going to help you during your process. I’m most grateful for the amazing, huge network RUSM introduced me to.”
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