Medical students Christina Grannie, Class of 2028, and Tyler Nofzinger, Class of 2027, at Carle Illinois College of Medicine are reflecting on First Generation Day. Their reflections are shared and written in their own words below.
What does First Generation Day mean to you in the context of healthcare?
Christina Grannie: First Generation Day means celebrating the strengths and accomplishments of first-generation students, especially those striving for higher education, like in healthcare. Having the opportunity to be a first-generation college student interested in going into healthcare was a proud accomplishment as well as a challenge. Many students in healthcare relied on their parents in the medical field to maintain shadowing opportunities and explore a built-in network of physicians. I didn’t have such a network, but I worked to circumvent that barrier and forge connections independently; it made me stronger and more resourceful than previously. I’m humbled to have the opportunity to not only be a part of the first generation in my family to attend college and graduate but also be the first to attend medical school. Creating a path for my family’s future generations and setting an example of what they can accomplish is a proud feeling.
Tyler Nofzinger: First Generation Day is a reminder of the diverse paths that lead to a career in healthcare. As the first in my family to pursue medicine, I took an unconventional route by joining the U.S. Coast Guard to fund my education. This path allowed me to carve out my own opportunity while instilling values of honor, respect, and devotion to duty—qualities I carry with me into healthcare. First Generation Day reminds me that, while my journey may be unique, it’s also part of a larger movement to promote diversity in all its forms within healthcare. It motivates me to leverage my background to connect with and inspire others in the field.
What inspired you to pursue a career related to medicine?
Christina Grannie: Having the training to save lives and provide care to those with medical needs is what drove me to become a physician. I was inspired by the lifelong journey of training and knowledge medicine provides while exercising compassion to make lasting impacts. My interest in medicine was further solidified through my experiences in healthcare throughout high school and undergrad, and I became passionate about health equity and health literacy. I want to help those who face significant barriers and stigmas to get help by promoting equitable care and playing a supportive role in their journey to improve their quality of life. Noticing the population's health literacy gaps, I was further inspired to pursue a career in medicine to focus on health education, minimizing misunderstandings that people may have about medicine and reducing their worries and concerns.
Tyler Nofzinger: My inspiration to pursue medicine began when a professor recommended When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, a memoir that explores life, meaning, and the physician’s duty to support patients through difficult transitions. The book’s message, as well as Dr. Kalanithi’s non-traditional path toward medicine, resonated deeply with me as a first-generation student from a similarly non-traditional path. Like him, I did not begin my career in healthcare; rather, I served in the US. Coast Guard, where I learned the true meaning of living in the service of others. Ultimately, these experiences drew me toward medicine. I’m excited to add my voice to healthcare and to represent the diversity of paths that lead to it.