Dare to Dream

“Medicine was so far from reality for me until I began studying neuroscience as a student at The University of Texas at Dallas,” said Ava. “When I volunteered at an area hospital, I realized I was meant to be a doctor.”

When applying to medical schools, Ava was drawn to Dell Med’s promise to rethink health care. She thought, “this is what I want — to be part of a change for the better.”

Ava was accepted into Dell Med’s inaugural class of 50 students, an honor she says she will never forget. And she joyfully discovered that she had been awarded a scholarship created by Dr. Sue Cox, Dell Med’s executive vice dean of academics and chair of medical education, and her husband, Doug Morris.

“Their support gave me extra motivation to work hard,” shared Ava. “They were putting their trust in me, and that’s a precious thing. When times were tough, I always felt comforted knowing that they wanted me to succeed.”

“They were putting their trust in me, and that’s a precious thing. I always felt comforted knowing that they wanted me to succeed.”

“I now have a better understanding of what I signed up for as a doctor,” she said. “What I can tell you is, I’m definitely more ready now than I was before the pandemic.”

Ava is continuing her medical education as part of Dell Med’s internal medicine residency program. “I had such an amazing time here as a medical student, and the internal medicine residency program is excellent,” she said. “When I think about the culture of collaboration at Dell Med, I just couldn’t let go. It’s the place I’m meant to be.”