Many individuals who decide to become a physician were inspired by a family member in the health care field or by their own or a loved one’s health care experience. For me, things were a bit different.  

As a former athlete, it is always paramount to focus on three main things: prepare, practice and perform. If I do my part as a teammate, the team’s collective performance will achieve its end goal – a win. I always believed I could succeed at anything I put my full effort into. I was not, however, always sure what my career choice would be.   

As I approached the end of my undergraduate education, I decided to see if medicine was a path I could see myself walking along. Once accepted to the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall, I was both ecstatic and terrified. It became extremely clear though, as soon as I jumped into lectures and exams, that I had chosen the right field. I was on a path to continuously push myself to be better while also having the opportunity to help people in need and collaborate with other caregivers daily.  

When I entered the clerkship phase of medical school and began to speak with patients, I could see how much trust they place in their physicians...an honor that I cannot put into words. I quickly realized the amount of knowledge I had learned, although important, paled in comparison to the importance of good bedside manners. If a stranger could place this much faith and trust in me, then I owe it to them to be as honest and compassionate as I can be during the short amount of time I get to spend with them. Patient experiences also made it much easier for me to go home and study, because I was inspired to do everything in my power to be prepared for whatever problem a patient would present with.  

As I look back now, I see that my time as an athlete translated more than I could imagine. I continue to prepare, practice and perform while working with a team to get a win. A win in medicine though, is much more satisfying. I go home every day knowing we made an impact on someone else’s life.  

Marshall’s School of Medicine not only taught me the science behind the human body and disease; It also showed me superior patient care. I witnessed physicians, residents and students treating patients as if they were their own family and always vouching for them whether it was regarding insurance or an imperfect treatment plan.  

Thank you to all the professors, faculty, physician residents and administrative staff for the sharing of their knowledge, time and support throughout these past four years. I have met people who have turned into family and found a specialty that excites me every time I wake up. I can move on to residency confident that I have been prepared as much as anyone could ask for, and I will always refer to this institution as the foundation of my future success and endeavors.  

Calyb King, M.D., is president of the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine Class of 2025. After graduation he will continue his training with a general surgery residency at the University of Maryland Medical Center. 

This article was first published in the 5/10/2025 edition of The Herald-Dispatch.

Date Posted: Saturday, May 10, 2025