One of the best kept secrets in Caribbean Medical Schools | Trinity School of Medicine | First Responder

Abdulai Bangura is a third year student at Trinity School of Medicine and the first Caribbean medical student to be selected as an Orthopedic Surgery Research Fellow at the University of Maryland where he is currently serving.

Abdulai stayed true to caring nature and his desire to serve others and followed his passion to become a doctor all the way down to the Caribbean. He was motivated to pursue medicine after he overcame a health complication that threatened life as he knew it during high school. The physician and experience “was so impactful that I was inspired to do the same for others.” Abdulai had the “why” part of pursuing medicine, but unfortunately, his grades during his undergraduate years prevented his acceptance into traditional US-based medical schools.   Determined to achieve his goal, he started investigating Caribbean schools and found Trinity. He saw Trinity was growing quickly and had the desired accreditation. The school peaked Abdulai’s interests, stating, “I gathered that the faculty was heavily invested in the growth of the school. I am glad to be a part of this growth. Trinity has continued to exceed their benchmarks… If I could go back in time, I’d choose Trinity again.”

How it all started:

"An email arrived inviting med students to join the State of Georgia’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). The MRC is an organization of doctors, nurses, PAs, EMTs, and med students who are the first medical boots on the ground for disasters in Georgia. They establish mobile hospitals and provide medical care. With extra time in isolation, I signed up and shortly received a notice for locations at food banks available to students. I requested an assignment, received my orders, and deployed the next day to serve for two weeks."

A (Trinity) Medical Student's Unique Education in a Pandemic

By Mason Bennett and originally posted here 

“We will cease all remaining clerkships. Please thank your preceptors, collect your things, return home, and practice social distancing.”

The email’s words were disappointing, but not surprising. Other medical schools had already pulled their students from hospitals. My school had opted to keep us in as long as possible so we could have the unique learning experience of providing health care during a pandemic. But now, safety and prudence exceeded our learning opportunities, and I was getting pulled during the last week of my surgery rotation. I worried about how this would affect my schoolwork and learning.

There’s no doubt that each medical student has their own story. For Heather Dill, growing up in an unorthodox setting helped mold her ideas and views as a young child. Overcoming obstacles and moving around hurdles, have built an amazing set of character strengths for this future medical doctor.

Heather’s story reflects how Trinity seeks the right fit of diverse and extraordinary medical students to become a part of it’s top accredited medical school.