Name

Sarah Smudde

Hometown

Cumming, GA

Year in Med School

M4

Where did you complete your undergraduate education?

University of North Georgia

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I was born in Milwaukee, but I’ve lived in Georgia for most of my life. After undergrad, I took a gap year to scribe in an emergency department which was where I realized I wanted to pursue Emergency Medicine. Outside of medical school I enjoy cooking with my friends, thrifting clothes, spending time with my family and their dogs, and watching bad reality television.

Why did you choose MCG and the Medical Partnership campus?

First, I knew I wanted to stay in Georgia and MCG was my first choice. I went to a fairly small undergraduate campus and was close with a lot of my classmates and professors. Given the rigor of medical school, I wanted that same type of support system. I was also interested in the small-group learning environment and felt it could help me become an independent life-long learner which is so necessary for this career.

What is your advice for someone who is interested in medical school?

Shadow a handful of physicians to get a feel for different paths you could take. Understand it is a long road of hard work, but if you decide you really want it, don’t have a backup plan.

What is a typical day for you?

Life as an M4 has been a little more laid-back. I’m coming out of an interview month packed full of Zoom calls with residency programs. I start a cardiothoracic surgery rotation soon which will mean an adjustment to early mornings rounding in the ICU and long days in the OR, but I’m excited to get back to seeing patients!

What motivated you to want to be a physician?

It is cliché, but it ultimately came down to helping people. I loved studying biology and physiology but also wanted to have a job where I worked with people. I decided this career would be the best fit for me to be able to sit back at the end of the day and feel like I was making a tangible difference in people’s lives while also having as much fun as possible.

Favorite place to eat in Athens

Hi-Lo Lounge! They have the best fries. It’s also a favorite spot to decompress with classmates.

If you could have dinner with one person, who would it be?

David Bowie