Student Spotlight

The students at UTHSC are the best reflection of our mission. They are not only learners, they are doers. In 2020, they showed they can pivot quickly from classrooms to Zoom, and continue to grow, learn, and serve in a time of uncertainty. They have shown bravery and grace under extreme pressure.

Amber Gordon, RN, is a registered nurse and a student in the UTHSC Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program in the College of Nursing. At the start of the pandemic, she spent 21 straight days of 12-hour shifts serving as a nurse in one of the hospitals that was hardest-hit by COVID-19 – Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, New York.

Sonali Demla is a student in the College of Dentistry, Student Government Association Executive Council president, and UTHSC Advisory Board student member.

“As third-year dentistry students, we have been given the green light to begin seeing our own patients. Getting to experience that has been amazing. There have been lots of changes in the clinic and changes in dentistry (during the pandemic), and if something like this were to happen again in the future, we are trained on ways that we could potentially tackle the issue.”

“I just knew that I wanted to help in any way that I could. I don’t think anybody really grasped the kind of experience they were going to get. This is what keeps you motivated and going. If you can change one life, that makes a big difference.”

David Watson is a first-year student in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program in the College of Health Professions.

“As far as who I am today, I’m still pursuing not just academic goals, but character goals. In my terms, it’s pursuing maturity and faith. Physical therapy brings my interests and my goals together into that.”

Austin O’Connor is a member of the Class of 2021 in the College of Medicine and was among the students who helped organize and staff the COVID-19 testing site at Tiger Lane early in the pandemic.

“On March 17 (2020), all medical students were pulled from our clinical rotations across the country to help decrease the spread of COVID. Many of us were looking for other ways to get involved and help our community during this time. When I was called about helping to organize UTHSC’s COVID testing site, I was eager to get involved. I viewed this opportunity as a great way to put my training to good use during this time and a great opportunity to give back to the Memphis community.”

Chidi Zachaeus is a fourth-year PhD student in the College of Graduate Health Sciences.

“I love solving problems. Scientific research provides me an opportunity to understand the intricacies of the human body and how cells communicate with each other. My favorite part of it comes from moments when I am challenged, or I challenge myself to become a better critical thinker.”

Darren “DJ” Barrow is a fourth-year student in the College of Pharmacy, and executive chairman and former president of the college’s Student National Pharmaceutical Association. He served as a volunteer in the COVID-19 vaccination distribution effort.

“Getting this experience and being able to volunteer helps me be a resource for others. I talk to the patients about it, I can talk to my family about it, and I can talk to others who may not understand what the vaccine is, what it does, and how it works.”