Jack Fagan
Jack was an EMT at the Davis Fire Department for about three years, providing medical education, emergency response, and mental health support for the community. Jack has just started medical school at Loyola Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
From Jack, you’ll learn how to create your own internship, how writing relates to the medical field, and tips for becoming a better editor!
Why did you decide to be a Professional Writing minor?
In the medical field, there is a big emphasis on science and math, but a huge part of our work also involves writing. You need to write coherent research papers, impactful literature reviews, and read important articles in the field. Also, you need to connect with people and be able to tell your personal story. Writing and communication skills apply to any job in medicine, but these parts of our work are often overlooked. For instance, being a better writer can help you communicate more clearly with your patients or help you contribute to research in your field. I chose this minor because I wanted to set myself up for success and be the best doctor I could be.
How was your Professional Writing minor internship experience, and did you make your own internships?
I had two great internships, one with the UC Davis Fire Department and the other with Dr. Whithaus. Since there is a four-unit internship requirement, I decided to split it up and complete one unit with the fire department and the other three with Dr. Whithaus. The writing program was very helpful, and I was able to use my pre-existing work with the fire department and apply it to the minor. They helped me create an internship where I incorporated my research into a writing project. At the fire department internship, I mainly focused on my work with Health 34. I wrote about the program’s successes and drawbacks. It was a great experience because I contributed to academic literature and focused on a topic that is meaningful to me. It was even published in the Journal of Collegiate Emergency Medical Services. My interest in learning more about how scientific literature is conveyed to the public led me to my other internship at Splash! The International Milk Genomics Consortium Journal. Learning about how science is clarified for the public was very rewarding too.
Was there a specific project or experience in the Professional Writing Minor that impacted you?
When I was applying to medical schools, I often used skills from the Professional Writing minor classes. I wrote 5,000-character personal statements, and I also had to do secondary rounds of writing where each school sent me more questions to answer. It was pages and pages of writing that involved a lot of reflection. Sometimes it was really hard to write about myself because I felt like I was thrown into a whole new genre of writing. Taking Dr. Andersen’s Professional Editing class (UWP 112A), was incredibly helpful because she gave tips on how to approach new writing styles, like reading many examples. I did that a lot and read about thirty strong examples. It showed me new writing strategies, what I could do to write stronger personal statements, and helped me with editing because I got to critique more samples and get myself into the mindset of an editor. The skills from the Professional Writing minor were really helpful when I hit roadblocks because I knew how to redirect myself.
That class also helped me be a better editor of my own writing and provide stronger feedback for my friends. We did multiple workshops, which showed me more effective ways to give feedback. For instance, good feedback comes down to the delivery and making sure your edits do not erase that person’s writing style. When I first started editing, I would add comments that changed the sentences into my own words. However, that is not helpful for the person I’m working with. Now when I edit someone’s work, I often ask myself, “Am I making this objectively better or just changing this into my own writing style?” Everyone has a unique point of view, and the editing class showed me that good edits highlight the writer’s unique voice.
How did you find your path to Loyola Chicago Stritch School of Medicine?
I like to be knowledgeable about broad areas and use what I learned to help people in my community. I was an undergrad, I took the EMT certification course with the Davis Fire Department. There, I cemented my passion for healthcare and later joined the fire department as an employee. I met a lot of mentors, including our medical director, Dr. Mills, who is an emergency medicine physician. The fire department’s unique programs like Health34, a mental health response team that operates 24/7. Also, I was able to find a good work-life balance while still helping others. I just find this kind of work very fulfilling, and it showed me that medical school was right for me. I’m starting my first year of medical school in August, and right now I’m interested in emergency medicine.
What advice do you have for current students?
The writing program is willing to work with you to tailor your interests and experiences into an internship. Whether you already have a job or are looking for a way to turn your passions into experience, there are people in the Professional Writing minor program who can help you. Also, writing is an important skill to develop because it lets you bring ideas together in a way that reflects your passions, interests, and personality. Work hard and focus your mindset on creating your own opportunities because you’ll be able to achieve your goals.