W
by Sophia Pino
hile researching Caribbean medical schools, Benji Ho came across
“He had so much
a wealth of information generated by the schools about academics,
potential ahead of
facilities, and island life. However, he struggled to find high-quality, student
him, and yet his
generated information.
life was already at
Until he came across a handful of student blogs written by AUC and other Caribbean medical school students. “The blogs that I did find really inspired me to create my own blog,” said Ho, whose blog, Diary of a Caribbean Med Student went up in July 2009.
risk,” said Ho. “I soon realized that although the pedestrian-friendly cities I imagined
“I always kept a diary, but I was the only person who read it,” he said. “I
myself designing
felt that in this day and age, if your diary has good information that others
in the future may
can benefit from, then why keep it to yourself?”
make the environment more suitable for physical activity, no design of
On the blog, Ho chronicles his experiences leading up to and while completing medical school. He discusses a variety of aspects of the life of
mine could ever help him and his family as much as the direct care and guidance of a doctor,” he added.
a medical student, starting from the application process and continuing on
As graduation loomed upon him, he began to explore his career options.
to the present day. On the way, the reader meets his friends, classmates
At his father’s suggestion, he began shadowing physicians at a pediatric
and family, all the while staying informed of what’s going on at AUC and
clinic, and later in the radiation and oncology departments of a hospital.
in Ho’s life.
“Many patients would come in with problems that arose from their
His post topics range from dispelling myths about living in St. Maarten to
lifestyles. The doctor wouldn’t just treat the illness, but also would advise
quashing rumors about what classes students think they don’t need to
them on lifestyle changes that would help with the condition,” said Ho of
study for. He also posts responses to reader questions about all aspects of
working in the pediatric clinic.
being not just an AUC student, but a Caribbean medical student.
After graduation, when not shadowing physicians, taking pre-med courses,
“Blogging gives me time to pause and look back at everything. It’s part of
or working on scientific research, he was also a piano accompanist for
my medical education, helping me to evaluate my experience and find
the choir classes at the Institute of Religion in Athens, Ga.
meaning in what I’m doing without forgetting the experience,” said Ho, who was also an Anatomy Teaching assistant and class representative for the Student Government Association. Growing up, he never really considered becoming a physician. Although
“I did a lot of research and was impressed by the quality of AUC’s faculty and track record of graduating physicians. Of all the Caribbean schools I looked into, I really liked AUC best, especially because of the small class sizes and that graduates are able to practice in all 50 states,” he said.
his father is a pediatrician, the junior Ho found himself drawn to the arts. In college, he studied architecture and linguistics. Inspired by a professor
Now in his 5th semester, Ho and his blog are going strong.
who told him that architecture can save the world, Ho began creating
“The school has definitely exceeded my expectations,” he said. “It is a
designs with healthier lifestyles in mind, such as winding walkways instead of shortcuts, to encourage walking. He also created a proposal for a redesign of St. Louis’ Clayton Market, which earned him acclaim from both his professors and the university administration. In spite of his acclaim as an architecture student, Ho felt unfulfilled. While
small close-knit community. The professors want to be there and want to teach us. They are always accessible and finding ways to encourage interaction and a sense of community.” The blog, he maintains, is a part of his scholarly success.
helping out at his father’s pediatric practice one day, he watched as an
“Some people go out to relax, some people go to the beach. I blog. I feel
obese 8-year old stepped on to a scale.
having a leisurely activity like that helps me as a student.” q
Keep up with Benji at: www.caribbeanmedstudent.com
AUC CONNECTIONS 7