“Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired Saint Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless Kobalt.
Welcome! My name’s Patrick, I’m a business minded non-traditional premed student with a passion for healthcare and chasing my dreams. I graduated with a B.S. in Sport Management and quickly followed that up with an MBA (Master’s in Business Administration) with a focus in finance & marketing. Upon completion of my MBA, I managed a popular restaurant in downtown Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood, Happy Camper.
After helping open another restaurant in the Chicagoland region, I decided this lifestyle wasn’t sustainable long-term and needed a change. I thoroughly enjoy fitness & helping people, which at first made me consider the DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) route. Whichever path I chose, I knew I had to complete STEM classes and have relevant clinical experience in order to be competitive.
I quickly started my post-baccalaureate at DePaul University and began volunteering at Rush University & University of Chicago. Rush focused more on the patient/visitor experience, whereas University of Chicago was in the Emergency Department. At the time, I felt so out of place in the ER, mainly concerned about restocking towers across the unit and being a fly on the wall, listening intensely to anything medical professionals cared to share with me.
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a few of my favorite things
Favorite movie
Remember the Titans
Coffee order
Black coffee
Couldn’t live without
My husky, Kobalt (RIP)
Favorite destination
Edinburgh, Scotland
My guilty pleasure
Mint Oreo ice cream
Favorite Color
Carolina Blue (Go Tar Heels!)
On repeat
Morgan Wallen & 24 hour LoFi streams
Currently Binging
Friday Night Lights – “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts..”
Volunteering in the ER allowed me to witness the first code on a patient. I vividly remember a ton of commotion, running, and yelling coming across the unit. I walk over to see 6-8 people at bedside working cohesively while this compression device (LUCAS) pumps away at their chest. Minutes felt like hours as they worked tirelessly on this patient. And when it seemed like there was no hope, a physician says, “I’ve got a pulse.”
My biggest takeaway after seeing such a traumatic experience for the first time was that every single person worked together to save that patient. From the physician, nurses, techs, and respiratory techs, everyone understood their role. This teamwork reminded me of a sports team, working towards one goal, which had me hooked on pursuing Emergency Medicine.
At this point I knew gaining experience as a volunteer just wasn’t going to cut it when applying to medical school. I had to get active and get real clinical experience, so I completed a fast-paced summer course to obtain my EMT license. I met some incredible people that summer, and after some stars aligning, I was offered a position at a major Level I trauma ER.
For the next 4 years I worked full-time while going to school part-time. While the schedule was extremely demanding, working alongside some of the top physicians & residents doing exactly what I wanted to do one day pushed me even harder to do well in school. As my bost-bacc program was coming to a close I would move to a different Level I trauma ER in downtown Chicago, where I would stay for almost 2 years. And after leaving there, I decided to work in an ER outside of Chicago, where I could focus more on my passions and prepping for the MCAT.
It’s now June 2025 and I’m applying to medical school for the very first time next year, and I’ve chosen to document every step of the way. I created this blog in the hopes of being able to help those similar to me, someone who may feel lost in their own journey, unsure of what the next steps are needed to feel like you have a “complete” application. I hope we can learn, succeed, and find balance together through this crazy journey called life.
“Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift… That’s why we call it the present.” – Brian Dyson
Meet our team
Patrick
Personal Blogger
A dynamic journey from business to emergency medicine. Sharing my adventure from suit to scrubs. Let’s succeed together!
Kobalt
Emotional Support Specialist
12 y/o husky providing pawsitive vibes, fluffy cuddles, and tail-wagging therapy to melt away your stress and fetch your smile.