Hi everyone and thank you so much for stopping by! My name is Caleah S. Kitchens, a current 4th year medical school student at Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, DC and General Surgery residency applicant for the 2020-2021 cycle. I found that with each sentence I wrote in ERAS detailing my experiences during the past few years there would almost immediately be a picture, a video, or a memory that I wish I could share! That being said, I wanted to create a space where I could highlight some of the most impactful events and opportunities that I may not have gotten the chance to share with you on interview day. So please feel free to scroll through to find out a little bit more about me!

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Work Experience: To some people I will always be known as “RA Cay”, and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way ☺. Being a resident assistant for three years has been one of my favorite job titles I’ve had to date, and getting texts from former residents still puts a smile on my face. My time as an RA has offered me so many translational experiences that I’ll take with me into my medical career such as: learning how to defuse tense situations, forming individualized relationships with residents to make sure their opinions and needs are appreciated, and of course, collaborating with a team of strong leaders to maintain an environment where students can thrive and feel welcome. Also, I’m sure the phone calls we would get at 3am to handle campus incidents prepared me for the early mornings when the trauma pager would go off during my surgery clerkship!

Hanging out with some of my residents during Finals Week, we hid our sleep deprivation pretty well

Widener’s Accepted Students Day with my Residents Life crew

Leadership and Mentorship: While I’ve been blessed to be a part of a number of leadership opportunities throughout my medical training, my favorite experiences are the ones that cannot be captured in one line of a resume. Being a mentor to over 6+ junior medical students has been, by far, the best “hat” I’ve gotten to wear throughout the past four years. From zoom and facetime calls to give perspective on how to perform well during clerkships, the quick texts from students asking me to help them breakdown a UWorld question, and of course the late-night motivational memes/gifs I send the night before a big shelf exam—these are the moments that make my face light up. These are the moments I am reassured that the best type of leader is the one that is a mentor first.

Service: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” -Martin Luther King Jr.
From working with Habitat for Humanity, helping with the annual Teddy Bear clinic, and participating in the Health Professions Exposure and Recruitment Program (which we are now doing virtually!) it’s nearly impossible to pick a particular favorite. Instead, I think each experience has leant to my personal values of mentorship, service to the underserved, and paying homage to a background of similar financial hardships.

Alternative Spring Break in Beaumont, Texas. Yes, they trusted me with the nail gun. ☺

Alternative Spring break in Athens, Georgia

My second year being a part of the Annual Teddy Bear Clinic. Ft. my actual teddy bear named Luke

Art: I owe a lot of my creative side to my mother. You could always find her with a sketch book drawing portraits or just doodling. It was no surprise to me that I found a similar level of peace when I picked up a pen or pencil.

A sketch I started during quarantine. I haven’t decided the type of hair I’ll give him… maybe I’ll just go with a scrub cap.

A view of my desk at home. Pointillism (a fancy way of saying “a whole bunch of dots”) was one of the first techniques I learned when I was younger. It definitely teaches you patience. Finished project coming soon.

Drumming: When I brought home my first pair of drumsticks in 4th grade and told my mom I wanted to give band a try I’m sure she would have preferred something…. quieter. Little did she know she’d be signing up for 5 years of drumline, and endless dinners telling me to stop tapping on the table. But, through the years those pair of sticks led to more than music; it turned into one of my first experiences with leadership and one of my favorite ways to destress.

Eagles: I’m decent with names, I’m slightly better with faces, but it’s rare that I forget someone’s football affiliation. Growing up, my Sunday routine consisted of church, Philadelphia football, and family dinner at my grandparents’ house. One of my favorite memories in medical school was watching Foles (a backup QB) take down Brady and the New England Patriots to win our FIRST Superbowl. Maybe one day I’ll create my own suture technique and name it the Philly Special. Go Birds!

At the Linc with some of my favorite fellow Eagles fans

At FedEx Field. Don’t worry, we won that game too

Rugby:

I only had to worry about getting tackled… if they caught me

Me, as a Fly-Half, waiting to get possession after the scrum

Get In Touch

Thank you for stopping by to learn a little bit more about me! Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any additional questions!