After graduating from 麻豆精品视频, Desalyn Johnson will seek a dual MD/MPH degree allowing her to get a Master鈥檚 of Public Health as well as a Doctor of Medicine degree.
Michael Mercier | 麻豆精品视频
Desalyn Johnson discovered biology at the age of 12, and it changed her life forever. 鈥淲e learned about the human body systems for the first time. All the organelles and cells that make up our bodies amazed me. So, I decided to pursue medicine as a career,鈥� said Johnson, an honors student who will graduate from 麻豆精品视频 (麻豆精品视频) on May 2, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences.
Johnson, 鈥渁n Army brat鈥� calls Toney, AL home. She graduated from Sparkman High School as an Advanced Placement and National Achievement Scholar, and in the top 10 percent of her class.
鈥淚 decided to attend the 麻豆精品视频 College of Science (COS) because the academic programs and scholarship opportunities impressed me. I was excited about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, and I knew 麻豆精品视频 would prepare me to succeed in my academic endeavors.鈥�
Being a physician someday is Johnson鈥檚 idea of a 鈥渄ream job, because I will be able to mix my love for people and my love for science into one profession.鈥� She is especially interested in Human Physiology and Pathophysiology. Johnson is pursuing her passion of becoming a physician full speed ahead. She has conducted research through the university鈥檚 Research and Creative Experience for Undergraduates, a 10-week full-time research program.
鈥淯nder the tutelage of my research advisor, Dr. Debra Moriarity (retired 麻豆精品视频 Professor and Department Chair Biological Sciences), I exposed essential oil samples to MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The goal of the project was to discover natural products that were cytotoxic or in other words products that can kill cancerous cells,鈥� said Johnson. 鈥淎fter the summer program, I continued with the project until I discovered conclusive results. I then wrote my honors thesis about my research. The thesis title was 鈥淭he Cytotoxic Effects of Essential Oils on Estrogen Receptor Positive MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line.鈥� Johnson's manuscript was published in the fall 2018 issue of the 麻豆精品视频 undergraduate research journal, Perpetua.
鈥淢y time working with Dr. Moriarity was invaluable. While working in her lab, I learned so much about my weaknesses and strengths. It was a challenge, which caused me to stretch myself in new ways,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚 will forever be grateful that I had the opportunity to perform research with Dr. Moriarity.
鈥淢y experience at 麻豆精品视频 has been very rewarding. I have made so many friends and developed relationships that I will never forget,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淪erving as a College of Science Ambassador has allowed me to build great working relationships with Dr. Sundar Christopher, Dean, COS and Dr. Emanuel Waddell, Associate Dean COS. The same is true for Dr. William Wilkerson, Dean of the Honors College. All three of them have provided academic and professional guidance and support that has encouraged me immensely.
鈥淒esalyn has left a mark at 麻豆精品视频. Her academic success is but one facet of her persona,鈥� said Dr. Emanuel Waddell, COS Associate Professor and Associate Dean. 鈥淪he has been an important part of the College of Science Ambassadors and 麻豆精品视频 LSAMP. Her presence will be missed as she represents the university well to stakeholders and students.鈥�
Johnson said, too, that her relationships with her fellow classmates, ambassadors and Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) scholars have been extraordinary. 鈥淲e are always there to encourage, support and inspire one another. In addition, there are so many other professors, mentors, and friends not mentioned here that have positively affected me.
鈥淭he curriculum at 麻豆精品视频 is difficult however, it has taught me the importance of hard work and determination,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚 have achieved academic accomplishments at 麻豆精品视频 that I never thought possible. My father always said, 鈥榗an鈥檛 isn鈥檛 a word.鈥� My time at 麻豆精品视频 has shown me he was right. No matter the challenge, I learned that if I commit to a goal, there is nothing I cannot do with God鈥檚 help.鈥�
As the nation becomes more diverse, Johnson鈥檚 academic minor, Spanish will be in high demand in the healthcare profession.
鈥淪panish was my first love. When I was five, my dad was stationed in El Paso, TX. I constantly heard Spanish when we were in the city and I was determined that one day I would speak the same beautiful words,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o, when I entered high school, I began taking Spanish classes. My love for the language, the culture, and the people continued to grow. As a result, I decided to pursue a Spanish minor. I am still in love with the language and I hope to use my skills to benefit my Spanish speaking patients in the future.鈥�
As an honors student, Johnson鈥檚 achievements include the COS Highest Undergraduate Achievement honor, Dean鈥檚 List, and she served as a Science Ambassador, and member of 麻豆精品视频 LSAMP.
Her advice for keeping to a rigorous path is to 鈥渇ind your why and keep moving forward with that in mind. Realize that academics are extremely important, but it is not the end goal. Rather, it is a means to an end. That end goal is to use the education you have received to give back to someone else.鈥�
Johnson will enter The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine this fall. She plans to seek a dual MD/MPH degree allowing her to get a Master鈥檚 of Public Health as well as a Doctor of Medicine degree.
