Grateful Tiger Conversation: Stephanie Allred

Stephanie Allred
1988 Scholarship
Third-year student
Kansas City

Q: How has this scholarship assisted in your education?

A: This scholarship helps relieve so much of my stress about my debt load getting higher and higher and dictating my future career plans. After having spent time through the Rural Scholars Program working with physicians in private practice, I increasingly think that academic medicine is the right arena of practice for me. I appreciate the team-based approach and the opportunity for sharing ideas and knowledge that is built into academic medicine. While I know this might also mean a lower salary in the future, this scholarship helps me to feel comfortable thinking about that path, knowing a part of my education is funded by your generosity.

Q: What are your career goals and future plans?

A: I continue to be primarily interested in OB/GYN. I would love to be a part of a surgical specialty that still maintains continuity of care and provides for many people their only source of primary care. I think OB/GYN is a unique field in the opportunity for increased patient motivation for positive change during pregnancy, and I would love to help support and encourage women during changes that can be difficult but ultimately make huge improvements in the health of their pregnancy and themselves afterward.

Q: What are your extracurricular activities and hobbies?

A: I have been working hard recently to make more time for my hobbies and take care of my mental health outside of school. While sheltering in place, I started working on little embroidery projects and spent a lot of time taking care of and propagating my plants. I also have been trying to set aside daily time to read for pleasure and participate in an Anti-Racism Book Club sponsored by the Public Health and Medicine student group. Learning now how to balance medical school with the stress and uncertainty of a pandemic and a volatile political situation, I am trying to devote myself to staying aware of and active in current events. I loved spending a couple of hours helping to register students and hospital employees to vote before the primaries!

Q: What message would you like to send to your scholarship sponsor?

A: Class of 1988, thank you so much for your continued support of my education and journey through medical school! Now in my clinical rotations, I am learning every day how much collaboration and teamwork are vital to patient care. I am so grateful to be learning from physicians like yourselves who take the time to answer my questions and guide me through patient care. I know I will continue to lean on the wisdom of physicians and residents I work with during my training and beyond. The monetary support from your class is a huge part of the support I am grateful for every day on this journey. I hope to make you all proud!