Emily Casteen, MD Class of 2026
As a Narrative Editor of Med Intima, I have the privilege of sharing the experiences and stories of members of the KUMC community. I’m so grateful for my classmates in Group 23 who sat down with me to reflect on their own journeys finding community during M1 year. Their vulnerability and courage are an inspiration to me! Above all, this piece seeks to remind us that we are not alone.
Helena Szymborski, M1, Class of 2026
Q: How has community changed from undergrad to medical school?
“In undergrad, my community was more that it was all people who wanted to be in the health sciences, but it wasn’t quite the same as it is now. We’re all really searching for the same goal. I think I rely on my community a lot more, because in undergrad, I felt like there wasn’t as much pressure to be on all the time, so you could kind of go your own way and be okay. But now in med school… the only way I feel like I can survive is when I lean on my community.”
Q: What are barriers to finding community in medical school?
“I think it’s really tempting to isolate yourself. It’s so easy to go home and study and never stop. So, I think you really have to make a point to go do things you’re interested in to find like-minded people so you have that community. Because otherwise, it’s so easy to get lost in studying.”
Q: How has medical school affected your relationships with friends outside of medical school?
“It’s a lot harder to see people who are non-medical school time-wise. And there’s such a different culture in medical school versus outside of medical school. Sometimes it feels like it’s harder to relate to people that aren’t going through what we’re going through right now.”
“[Medical School] is so intense. We’re always on, we’re always studying, or thinking about studying or going to volunteer or thinking about volunteering, and we’re doing research… it’s hard, because you can’t interact with the real world like that.”
“Sometimes I feel like, worn down here, and then I go out and I don’t have the same level of empathy I feel like as I used to.”
Q: What are you grateful for from your medical school community?
“I’m grateful for my community because I have people to rely on when things get really hard. If I don’t do very well on the formative or if the post CBCL assessment is really hard and I feel like I’m behind and like I’m not able to accomplish my goals, chances are the people that I’m surrounded with are in a similar boat, and [that I can] relate to them.”
“It feels like it’s not just me. It feels more manageable because if I look at my friend and know they can do it and they know that I can do it, then we can kind of accomplish that goal together and it seems a lot more feasible.”
Q: Based on what you know about communities going forward, what are you most looking forward to in communities later in medical school, residency, and beyond?
“I think a good community is one that supports each other and meets each other where they’re at. What I love most about our community here is that our differences, I feel like, make us stronger, and we can kind of use each other’s strengths.”
“Everybody I’ve meet here has just been so down to earth, and we all have real life experiences that make our community richer. I hope going into residency I continue to find that and get to know the real non-medical side of people and we continue to use our differences to make us a stronger community.”
“It feels like it’s not just me. It feels more manageable, because if I look at my friend and know they can do it and they know that I can do it, then we can… accomplish that goal together, and it seems a lot more feasible.”
Helena Szymborski, M1, Class of 2026
Minh Tran, M1, Class of 2026
Q: How has community changed from undergrad to medical school?
“In undergrad, community was more dispersed, just because you meet many people from different fields, and you learn different things because it’s not specialized yet. But there was still support from your friends and family.”
“When I went to medical school… now I’m specializing in what I want to do, the people around me are also doing the same thing. Where I’m at now, my group and the school, they’re very supportive. They understand what you’re going through, and there are a lot of resources to help, compared to undergrad.”
Q: What are barriers to finding community in medical school?
“Finding community in medical school can be difficult but not impossible. Some barriers are not having friends or family that are in medicine. This can make it tough initially since you are new to the setting, but it gets easier. Another thing is the timing aspect because we all have so much to do. There will always barriers, but I believe in just being yourself and you will find the right community. Luckily, everyone here is friendly and supportive, making the process effortless.”
Q: How has medical school affected your relationships with friends outside of medical school?
“If you want to make time for your friends outside of medical school, I think it’s doable. You just really have to stay on top of what you’re doing, and schedule it out, because at the end of the day, those are still your friends. You have to put in time when you can. The friends that are not in medical school do understand what you’re going through.”
Q: What are you grateful for from your medical school community?
“Everyone’s very supportive. We help each other through many difficulties, and we are here to provide support and resources to reach our goals.”
Q: Based on what you know about communities going forward, what are you most looking forward to in communities later in medical school, residency, and beyond?
“I would look for a community that supports me, puts in the time to build good relationships, and [where] we can have fun outside of medicine; life’s too short and there’s so much to enjoy!”
“Everyone’s very supportive. We help each other through many difficulties, and we are here to provide support and resources to reach our goals.”
MiNH TRAn, M1, Class of 2026
Carlos Silva, M1, Class of 2026
Q: How has community changed from undergrad to medical school?
“In undergrad, I think my friend groups were a lot more diverse in the sense of what people were pursuing as far as their education. That being said, I think they were also a little bit more loose…”
“In medical school, I think here we’re more tight knit so we can all kind of depend on each other a little bit more in that sense. And I think we know each other to a greater degree than I knew a lot of my friends in undergrad… Everybody’s got the same goals and same objectives, and we spend so much time and effort towards those objectives. You spend a lot more time with those people and get to know them a little deeper than you did in undergrad.”
Q: What are barriers to finding community in medical school?
“An obstacle I’ve had is making time to stay connected with friends outside of medical school. It’s not so much finding community [in medical school], because that community already exists. All of my friends [outside of medical school] know it’s legitimate, why I’m so busy and everything. So I think for me, it hasn’t been so much a barrier of finding community, because even within medical school there’s so many opportunities, like student interest groups, athletic teams, and stuff. I think if you’re really interested in finding something that interests you, I think there’s something for just about everybody.”
Q: How has medical school affected your relationships with friends outside of medical school?
“The biggest obstacle in terms of community has been keeping in touch as much as I used to with people from outside medical school. I wouldn’t say it’s had an effect to where I’ve lost friends or relationships at all, because I have a lot of friends at this age that are also extremely busy. I think we’re all in the same boat there.”
Q: What are you grateful for from your medical school community?
“I think you guys are extremely supportive. You guys are there. I know if I ever for whatever reason needed help, I know you guys would come through with that. So I have no doubt there.”
“I think just the fact that it seems like we’re pretty open as a group, so being comfortable, talking about whatever struggles any one of us is going through, I think is something that we allow. It’s a safe space for that kind of conversation.”
Q: Based on what you know about communities going forward, what are you most looking forward to in communities later in medical school, residency, and beyond?
“ I think I’d really look for an environment where I’m still able to express myself as a person, not just as a professional. And then again, [to find] a safe space where you’re able to really lean on people to help you out and to be comfortable conversing whatever comes up.”
“You guys are there. I know if I ever for whatever reason needed help, I know you guys would come through with that.”
CARLOS SILVA, M1, Class of 2026
Anh Nguyen, M1, Class of 2027
Q: How has community changed from undergrad to medical school?
“I think being at the college level, there was still some distance between my peers and colleagues, and that’s not something that I would really blame anyone for. I think it’s more [common] with different classes and different majors.”
“Once you’re in medical school, everyone is working toward the same goal. I feel like I’ve actually been able to connect a lot more with the people in our class. Because of that, I feel like the community’s a lot stronger at medical school. The personality of everyone is this class has merged so well, so I feel like we get along pretty well.”
Q: What are barriers to finding community in medical school?
“The number one [thing], coming back from the pandemic, it’s a little hard, it might sound kind of silly, [is] to socialize and figure out how you’re supposed to really connect with people.”
“On top of that, I feel like it’s always been interest [based]. Most of the time you make friends based on what you guys have in common. It’s not a guaranteed thing, in medical school, since we all come from such a diverse background.”
“The last barrier would probably be timing and scheduling. We have classes that are optional (lectures), and once you do get to your small group discussions, most people only stick around for a couple of minutes before or after to talk. Other than that, it’s very school oriented.”
Q: How has medical school affected your relationships with friends outside of medical school?
“This is a good one! Based on my personal experience, it’s been very challenging. Especially first semester, you’re trying to adapt to everything, and because of that it’s very time consuming. You find yourself spending a lot of free time that you do have for yourself, and that’s not a problem.”
“ It can [become a problem] though, if [it’s] something that you feel guilty about, because then you start to question whether or not you’re putting enough time [aside] for your loved ones, not just friends, but family as well. That was one of the things I found myself really struggling with. At some points, I would blame myself a lot for not reaching out to my friends or being able to catch up with them. But it’s something that I’ve been told that you do have to learn with time. People know that once you’re in medical school, you have to set boundaries, and so you have to learn how to respect your own time and other people’s time. It’s one of those things you learn as you go.”
Q: What are you grateful for from your medical school community?
“The friendships for me, because I was a part of this class, and I’m about to join the new class, it’s really hard to let go of the friendships or the bonds of the relationships that I made from this past class. And I know it’s not every going to go away, it’s not being able to see my small group anymore. What group 23 has is really special, and it’s not to say that won’t happen anywhere else. It’s just once you get really comfortable with the people and the personalities, it’s really hard to let go.”
“If anyone were to ever ask me what was the best part about last semester or just my school in general, it’s the people 100%, including the faculty as well. You’re surrounded by a lot of individuals who want to support you and just want to be there for you. It really is trauma bonding, and when you’re on this journey with other people, it brings you closer.”
Q: Based on what you know about communities going forward, what are you most looking forward to in communities later in medical school, residency, and beyond?
“I think it’s all about the connections… It’s a way for people to really reach out to one another if anyone ever needs anything. My sister still has friends in residency here at KU while she’s out in Oregon, and she’s been able to reach out to help me find people to shadow.”
“When you find a very strong community and a very supportive community, you can find yourself getting a bunch of these other opportunities. It’s also so nice to be able to connect with people who have the same passion as you.”
““If anyone were to ever ask me what was the best part about last semester or just my school in general, it’s the people 100%, including the faculty as well. You’re surrounded by a lot of individuals who want to support you and just want to be there for you.”
ANH NGUYEN, M1, Class of 2027
Stacey Krepel, M1 (MD PhD Student), Class of 2030
Q: How has community changed from undergrad to medical school?
“In undergrad, my friends were in a bunch of different fields. Most of my friends were younger than me, a year or two below me, but I was also really good friends with some PhD students. It was kind of just the people I ended up bonding with that were kind of spread out all over campus.”
“When I was working at the NIH, you were friends with the people that were there, because you didn’t have other options, and they were very fragile relationships.”
“Here, it’s very different. We’re all kind of on the same track; we have a lot of the same interests, even if we’re in different realms of medicine. But we’re all in the health field, so I feel like we really understand what we’re going through together, which is nice, because I’ve never really had that before. So there’s definitely a sense of support. I think because this program is so non-competitive which each other, there’s no pressure to perform better than somebody else. And I think people really use that to just support each other a lot.”
Q: What are barriers to finding community in medical school?
“Well, for me personally, because I’m older, it’s not necessarily a barrier, but I’ve just had different life experiences than some people have had. And it’s really hard in med school to get outside of med school. You don’t really meet people in other years. That’s really the only barrier I can think of.”
“I have gone outside into the community to find volleyball teams to play with. And so it’s been nice having people that are not completely medical.“
Q: How has medical school affected your relationships with friends outside of medical school?
“I think it’s a little different for me, because I’m absolutely not from here. I have no childhood friends. All my friends are people I met in med school first. So I definitely think it’s harder to maintain those relationships with friends from undergrad just because I don’t have time to talk with them on the phone. You have to put in a lot more effort to do that. Like I said, I do have some people, like my volleyball team that are non-med students; [it’s] just refreshing to not talk about medicine or anything medically relevant with them. ”
Q: What are you grateful for from your medical school community?
“So many things. I mean, obviously the other MD PhD students and my small group are super supportive. I think we are all on the same page with wanting to see each other succeed and trying to help our friends achieve that. I’m super grateful for the support and that we all understand what the other people are going through.”
“I also think in the program there are so many opportunities to meet with people that have the same interests as you, like the health advocacy group, and you really get the opportunity to make the changes that you want to make in the community. And I think the school is really good about supporting that.”
Q: Based on what you know about communities going forward, what are you most looking forward to in communities later in medical school, residency, and beyond?
“I haven’t put that much thought into it just because for me it’s so far away. But I think I really would like to replicate this environment. I really want to find a place that everyone’s there to support each other… because I think that happier residents and doctors are better for the patient population, honestly.”
“A positive, collaborative environment is always something I’m going to be looking for and finding people that are like-minded. Like, you’re totally happy to collaborate with the PI down the hall because ultimately your goal is to make your patients healthier and happier.”
“I also think in the program there are so many opportunities to meet with people that have the same interests as you, like the health advocacy group, and you really get the opportunity to make the changes that you want to make in the community. And I think the school is really good about supporting that.”
Stacey Krepel, M1, Class of 2030
Brett Shaffer, M1, Class of 2026
Q: How has community changed from undergrad to medical school?
“In undergrad, I was on a track team at Central Missouri, so it was kind of like a fraternity or sorority in that sense. Your friends were kind of built into the track them, so that was kind of automatic. Similar to medical school, you become really close, but then outside of that, you don’t really make friends.”
“I lived in KC for a year and worked at a medical practice in Overland Park, so I still have acquaintances and mentors from there. But then coming to med school, it’s a whole new ballgame as far as how tough school is. But I think KU does a great job of the small groups and having us meet at least two to three times a week. Whenever we started… I didn’t know how [I was going] to go about making friends. But then, similar to track, it was already built in thanks to somebody having the oversight to figure out a way to help connect people with each other.”
“I feel super close to everybody in group 23. And then outside of that, I think it’s based on study habits or interests.”
Q: What are barriers to finding community in medical school?
“I’m sort of introverted, so [I’m] usually not going to be the one to invite people. If I get invited somewhere, then I’ll go, but I’m not going to have people over to my apartment. So I would say personality is somewhat of a barrier.”
“Time is probably the biggest limiting factor, trying to maintain sanity. And then I have always been, at least [when] I review stuff, I really do better on my own. If you’re a really good group studier, you’re probably going to have an easy time finding community and people to study with. But if you’re kind of a person who likes to study by themselves, then that can be hard.”
“Besides time, I guess interests [play a role], but I think it’s like shared trauma or whatever. We can all bond no matter who it is in medical school. I feel like even if I’ve never said a word to them, we’ll pass each other on the week of a test and we kind of give each other that look like, man, this is a tough week, and there’s just like shared community in the sense of some daunting task ahead of us. Similar to track, I think we’re all trying to compete and be like the best athlete we can hear. We’re all trying to learn as much as we can with the information we’re given, and then we all are driven to help others. So I think they’re definitely things that bring us together, which makes it easier.”
Q: How has medical school affected your relationships with friends outside of medical school?
“I was already kind of bad getting back to [a] text in undergrad, and I feel like it’s just falling off a cliff as far [to] return texts. Someone will call you, and they’ll say ‘We should hang out in a couple of weekends.’ And then that comes and goes, and you’re like, ‘oh my gosh, I totally forgot about that.’”
“I guess pretty much everyone’s number one priority is passing tests and trying to maintain some sense of self. And I do think there’s something to be said for [when] you study all day, and sometimes you feel like you haven’t accomplished anything. And you’re like, ‘man I really need some time to myself.’ So you just put everything away and either watch or show or do something that brings you joy without interacting with anyone, really. And then all of a sudden you’re going to bed and you haven’t responded to any of those texts that you said you were going to get back to. So I think it’s very tough to maintain them, and I think it makes your circle grow tremendously small, I think.”
“I feel even with my family members, my relationship is just kind of different. It’s like I’ve kind of entered a time warp. Whenever I started medical school, I had an idea of where all [ my friends] their lives were, and now [I realize] they’ve completed part of life [like graduating]. People’s lives are moving as mine is moving, and I think that something medical students forget is people’s lives outside of medical school are advancing, but we are advancing as well.”
“I feel like we’ve come so far from what I knew at the beginning of the year versus… what I know now, but sometimes it can feel like… I haven’t grown that much, but I think we do grow and develop quite a bit.”
Q: What are you grateful for from your medical school community?
“I think you were there when I [came] across things in medicine that… relates on a very personal level to you. And mine happened to be in a small group activity. I’m grateful it happened then instead of third year, out on the wards [where] I tell my attending, I really need to go to the bathroom to have a moment. The more you experience moments like that, you kind of get to handle them better and not try to relate it on a personal level to a family anecdote or something. So I think being able to go through that with people that genuinely know you [and] care about you is definitely helpful, because eventually you’re going to run into something that is like triggering… Eventually you’re going to run into something tough, and it’s good for people to be there to support you.”
“Beyond that, we’re all going through the same tough stuff, so being able to lean on each other and [get] different perspectives [is] always helpful. Usually, the more people you surround yourself with, the better of you’ll be.”
“Another thing is the quote, and I feel like it get more and more true every day especially in med school, [that] ‘ you are the average of the five people that you spend the most time with.’ And so being around people that are similarly motivated to do well, we all have different ways of going about it. I think we all give each other more tools… of how to get through difficult things or studying or finding ways to take care of yourself.”
Q: Based on what you know about communities going forward, what are you most looking forward to in communities later in medical school, residency, and beyond?
“I think in residency I would hope to have similar friendships to what I have here. I think it’ll be different… because here it’s very broad and people don’t share the same interests as others, even within small groups…”
“I think in residency it’ll be like we’re all very focused in very similar paths of life. So hopefully [we will] find commonalities and then celebrate the differences that we do share.”
“I think that’s another thing with small groups- we have people that speak different languages or [are] from different countries or have [a] different heritage. Hopefully [in residency] I will find similar interests and motivations, but also continue to find diverse people that continue to expand how I think about the world and stuff, because it is.. a very beautiful thing and something I didn’t get to experience a whole lot at Central Missouri.”
We’re all trying to learn as much as we can with the information we’re given, and then we all are driven to help others. So I think they’re definitely things that bring us together, which makes it easier.”
BRETT SHAFFER, M1, Class of 2026
Adrian Blanco, M1, Class of 2026
Q: How has community changed from undergrad to medical school?
“I was an RA [resident assistant] in undergrad, so I got a sense of the community I had with my friends and people in my grade… I would say the community in undergrad is a lot more cliquey. I feel like a lot of friendships can be based on different schools within KU. For example, the vast majority of my friends were in pre-med or some sort of STEM.”
“In med school, maybe because… we’re all med students… it’s a bit easier to explain your background. People in med school are more open to that than they are in undergrad. I know people who were in business, people who did philosophy in undergrad, and I feel like that’s in conversation with people here; people show more of an interest for that diversity than they would in undergrad.”
Q: What are barriers to finding community in medical school?
“The big one is just the amount of time that it takes out of our schedule. As a med student, you spend so much time studying, so much time with all the simulations, CBCLs, and all the other activities that are required of us that it’s really easy to build a community within the school, like student population, faculty population, in and of itself.”
“Sometimes it’s really easy to keep it too narrow. One thing that I tried to do at the beginning of the year was… to the best of my ability keep the relationships I had during my gap year and even undergrad going. You can lose sense of the community outside of school real quick.”
Q: How has medical school affected your relationships with friends outside of medical school?
“It depends, to be completely honest… For example, I was on club soccer for KU and during college and then during my gap year, we were still forming a team… Some of those people, it’s just kind of like ‘Oh, he’s in med school, he doesn’t have that much time,’ so some of it is you lose touch because other people may assume with the stereotypes of how intense medical school is… the assumption is just kind of not being able to make time..”
“I don’t blame other people for being like ‘Oh, they’re busy, I’m not going to bother them; I’ll let them focus.’ There’s some respect I have for that. There’s also just sometimes I wish that wasn’t the case.”
Q: What are you grateful for from your medical school community?
“Words can’t really explain how lucky I am coming to the KU curriculum. They have the small groups that they have divided me into. I was a little hesitant going into it. I was really nervous. It’s a field that’s really easy to be uncomfortable in, but every single week… there’s comfort in knowing that you’re not the only one going through it. Everyone’s in the same boat, and I’m sure that’s kind of a common consensus, but I wouldn’t have it any other way to be honest. I love the group and community that I’ve made so far, whether it be through JayDoc, Phi Delta Epsilon, or my small group. I have a lot of gratitude for that.”
Q: Based on what you know about communities going forward, what are you most looking forward to in communities later in medical school, residency, and beyond?
“Residency wise, I’d like to apply to an institution like KU… where they really do want you to not just survive but to thrive and become the best healthcare professional you can be for your community.”
It’s a field that’s really easy to be uncomfortable in, but every single week… there’s comfort in knowing that you’re not the only one going through it. Everyone’s in the same boat, and I’m sure that’s kind of a common consensus, but I wouldn’t have it any other way…”
Adrian blanco, M1, Class of 2026
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