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By: UPIKE Public Relations | November 3, 2021
For KYCOM student Hannah Skaggs, her passion for patients began at an early age. In high school, Skaggs took a CNA course and, through that experience, in addition to her love for learning, guided her decision to become a doctor.
Skaggs, who attended UPIKE for her undergraduate education, was part of the Osteopathic Medicine Scholars Program (OMSP).
“I was very fortunate to be a four-year participant in the Osteopathic Medical Scholars Program at UPIKE,” said Skaggs. “I fell in love with the KYCOM atmosphere through the many experiences I gained with OMSP. I got to see early on how every member of the school wants the students to become great physicians, leaders and educators.
Even as an OMSP scholar, early experience with medicine and a full support system of family and friends there to push her every step of the way, Skaggs said having confidence in herself has always been a challenge.
“I am constantly working on the psychological aspect of believing in myself as much as those around me do. It took me far too long to realize that making mistakes and learning from them is what life is all about.”
Skaggs knows her end goal of helping patients in Appalachia focus more on preventative care makes her journey to medical school worth it.
“I want to show patients how passionate and concerned I am about their well-being,” said Skaggs. “I specifically want to encourage preventative healthcare in small, rural areas like my hometown of Salyersville, Ky. I want to work in this area and give back to the community that has given me so much.”
Skaggs says that she is currently interested in specializing in diagnostic radiology with a fellowship in breast imagining. After seeing her grandmother battle breast cancer twice and losing two family members to the disease, her passion for helping others fight and overcome the disease is personal.
“Breast imaging is very difficult to interpret, so I would love to get extra training in that area to help catch the disease in early stages and hopefully save lives,” concluded Skaggs.