By Whitney Baxter
“Find something you like to do in the medical field that you’ll look forward to talking about every day.”
That’s the advice Dr. Anna Wilcox offers to aspiring medical professionals.
In the middle of her residency program at Genesis Health System in Davenport, Iowa, Wilcox (’17 nutritional science, global resource systems) recently reflected on her pathway to becoming a family medicine general practitioner. As she shared her story, she realized that diabetes has been a common theme in many of her experiences.
While other pre-medical students may select biology or chemistry as their undergraduate major, Dr. Wilcox chose the nutritional science program at Iowa State University because it “was more interesting.” She remembers taking classes alongside dietetics students and learning to talk about medicine and medical conditions, including diabetes, in a way her future patients could understand.
Following graduation from Iowa State, Dr. Wilcox continued to work for Iowa Lions Eye Bank before applying to medical school. As a senior in college, Dr. Wilcox traveled to areas in western Iowa on behalf of the organization to collect corneas of deceased individuals who were organ donors. In her post-undergraduate role with the Lions, Dr. Wilcox worked alongside research scientists who were studying the impacts diabetes has on corneas.
After completing medical school at the University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, she was accepted into her residency program in the spring of 2023. She is focusing on diabetes management as one of her longitudinal electives during her residency. Dr. Wilcox was drawn to this area not only because of her goal of one day working in family medicine in central Iowa but because of the need she has seen for professionals who can help individuals living with diabetes.
“I wanted to feel more confident with the management of diabetes and learn how best to work with patients,” Wilcox said of her longitudinal elective focus.
Thinking back to those conversations during her undergraduate classes at Iowa State, Wilcox said she has been able to tie her nutritional science background to her focus on diabetes management and prevention.
Kevin Schalinske, Morrill Professor of food science and human nutrition at Iowa State, described Dr. Wilcox as a “really strong student” who knew the value and advantage a nutritional science degree would provide as she prepared for medical school. He also said she is very confident and humble – great traits to have as a medical professional.
“She can sit down and have a conversation with someone and explain things in a way that will make people feel comfortable being around her,” Schalinske said. “If you can make people feel comfortable, especially when talking about medical-related topics or conditions, they’re more apt to follow what you, as a medical professional, say.”
Reflecting on her medical school journey, Dr. Wilcox stresses to aspiring or current medical students the importance of time management and work-life balance.
“Enjoy the time when you’re doing it. It’s a lot of training, and you don’t want that to be your whole life,” Dr. Wilcox said. “Maintain your hobbies and your relationships with family and friends because life happens outside of medical school.”