If skydiving was available in the early morning, Sarah Vaught would jump out of an airplane to clear her head before taking medical school exams. Instead, she settled for skydiving as a reward the weekend after a tough exam at the Indiana University School of Medicine—West Lafayette.
Although she’s a self-described adrenaline junkie, Vaught shared her nervous feelings at orientation last fall: “I’m a bit uncertain about what my life will look like day-to-day,” she said, “but I’ll figure it out as I go.”
Now starting her second semester, Vaught has indeed found her rhythm as a medical student.
“I was surprised that the transition into medical school was easier than the transition from high school to undergrad,” said Vaught, who is familiar with the West Lafayette campus as a 2024 Purdue University graduate. “I think this transition was aided by the small class size and block scheduling. I only have a couple of classes to keep track of at a time, and I'm with the same people in the same building every day — it's like an elementary school setting with a graduate school course load.”
With just 24 students in her class on the regional campus, making friends has been surprisingly easy, she said.
“I’ve gone from the person practically hiding in a corner during orientation to the person that hardly ever shuts up,” said Vaught. “I think we're all very comfortable around each other at this point.”
Highlights of her first semester as a medical student have revolved around social gatherings — official and unofficial. Her favorite was a local waterpark excursion with her class at the beginning of the school year. Vaught also enjoys baked goods left in the student lounge by some of her cooking-inclined classmates.
Since Lafayette is Vaught’s hometown, she is intentional about spending time with her family and friends outside of medical school, too.
“I’ve tried to do at least one fun, non-school-related activity each week,” she said.
Academically, Vaught enjoys studying histology, also known as microscopic anatomy. Phase 1 of the medical school curriculum focuses on developing foundational science knowledge and its integration with clinical skills.
“This semester, I think I’ll enjoy Host Defense,” she said. “I’ve always been fascinated with infectious diseases, so I look forward to learning more about them.”
Building upon her dual major at Purdue, which included science and Spanish, Vaught is augmenting her medical studies with the Care of Hispanic and Latino Patients Scholarly Concentration, offered only at IU School of Medicine—West Lafayette. The program prepares doctors who will be able to use Spanish in the clinical setting, provide culturally appropriate medical care and advocate for improved care of marginalized populations.
Heading into her second semester as an IU medical student, Vaught looks forward to building her knowledge and network as she continues the journey to MD.
Q&A with Sarah Vaught, first-year medical student
Question: What opportunities or groups have you connected with during your first semester as a medical student on the West Lafayette campus?
Answer: The Pathology Student Interest Group has had some fascinating online events that I've gone to, and I hope to keep attending those. I'm also on the board of the Community, Culture and Inclusion SIG on the West Lafayette campus, and our group has been able to plan some cool, in-person events like a Día de los Muertos celebration and a Women’s Health panel that will happen in the spring.
Q: Who has provided mentorship on your medical education journey?
A: All of the faculty and staff are great about helping us, both with academic questions and assistance and with practical advice. Our Professional Learning Community mentors are Dr. Sabeena Hubbard (pediatric hospitalist) and Dr. Timothy O'Donnell (family medicine); they're both great. The PLC events feel small enough to be more personal, and the atmosphere is very casual, which I appreciate.
Q: How have clinical experiences contributed to your learning thus far?
A: In our first semester, we had three clinic visits with our preceptors. My preceptor is Patricia Dymek, MD, who is a dermatologist at IU Health Arnett. I think it's great to be introduced to dermatology early and through practical experience, and I've learned a lot about the workings of the health care system. I've also picked up some shifts as an EMT during school breaks.
Q: What wellness practices have you implemented to help you manage stress?
A: I've been swimming since high school, and I'm pretty strict about going to the pool once or twice a week, mostly because it helps with my joint pain. It's also really nice to disconnect from the rest of the world for a bit. When I'm swimming, it's just me, the sensory heaven that is water, and the same two albums (the soundtracks of “Six” and “Hadestown”) playing in an interminable loop through my waterproof bone conduction earbuds. I also spend some time reading every night — probably more time than is wise — but it hasn't come back to bite me yet, knock on wood.
About this series:
Journey to MD will follow two Indiana University School of Medicine students throughout their four-year academic journeys, chronicling their experiences from orientation week through graduation. Read more about Vaught's background and the experiences that led her to medical school.
