Redirection is not rejection

WESTERN BUREAU:

When Dr Avia Williams dropped out of a Jamaican teachers’ college due to financial hardship, her future looked uncertain. But with perseverance and redirection, she later pursued medicine – ultimately securing a position in internal medicine at a US-based hospital.

Williams, a graduate of Knockalva High School in Hanover, began tertiary studies at a Manchester-based teachers’ college in 2012. After just one year, financial constraints forced her to return home.

“It seemed unrealistic to get a loan for so much money when the future of teaching seemed so unsure at the time,” she recalled.

Back home, Williams worked at a call centre while seeking other educational opportunities. Her turning point came when representatives from the Montego Bay Community College visited her workplace, promoting their preliminary medicine programme. Intrigued, she enrolled.

“I went back to school after saving all the money I was working for, and this time I decided to pursue a different path. Medicine sounded interesting. It wasn’t my initial plan or intention, but after being introduced to it, I thought it was worth a try,” said Williams.

Energized by her new direction, Williams applied to local medical schools, but she was also drawn to studying abroad. In 2015, she took a bold leap and moved to China to attend medical school.

“It seemed so unrealistic, but in the moment I was excited and scared at the same time. I didn’t speak any Mandarin before leaving, so I thought it was going to be very interesting,” said Williams. “I was excited for the opportunity, the fact that it was more affordable, and that people were coming along with me. My friend and I were doing this together.”

In China, Williams thrived. Elected as class representative, she immersed herself in the culture and earned multiple scholarships. But in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted her final year. Students were sent home and encouraged to complete their clinical training locally.

“The whole COVID pandemic was scary. We were told we couldn’t go to the hospital because of COVID. They gave us the option to go back to our home countries, find a hospital that’s willing to work with them and allow us to do our final year there, then they’ll allow us to graduate,” said Williams. “The government helped us to get a flight, and I went to the Black River Hospital.”

Despite financial struggles during that final year, Williams persevered. She ultimately completed her studies in 2021 and returned to Montego Bay, where she started an internship at the Cornwall Regional Hospital.

MAARIAGE AND MOVE

While studying in China, she met and fell in love with a Nigerian medical student. After their marriage, and upon completing the necessary US exams to practise medicine, she joined him in the United States in 2023.

“The plan was to do my Caribbean exams in Jamaica and work there, while preparing for the US exams,” she explained. “I worked [in the] first year as an intern, rotating with all the departments. [The] second year, I worked as a senior house officer in the emergency department, which is when I solidified most of the things; and after that, I didn’t re-sign my contract.

“I moved to the States and finished all my exams within one year. I applied for residency, and I pre-matched into internal medicine,” said a proud Williams. “I got my pre-match offer in December. The official match is in March, and I interviewed with them in November.”

Williams described a “pre-match” as the term used for when the administrators at a hospital offer you a position before the official National Residency Matching Program Match Day in the US.

Williams’ interest in internal medicine stems from her experiences at Black River and Cornwall Regional hospitals. She also credited two Jamaican doctors, who are based in the US, for their role in helping to navigate the application process.

“They mentored me [throughout] the entire process; so that part felt easier, because I had someone to help me for free. They were great. They did it out of just knowing that I’m a Jamaican and understanding how rough the process is. They reviewed my application so many times. Even now, reading my application again, I’m not sure I would have written that on my own,” she said.

Meanwhile, the recently graduated Williams, who is fully qualified to work in the United States, has expressed gratitude for the experience that led her to this point. She is even more thrilled to be sharing this path with another Jamaican, who has also matched into internal medicine.

“It’s a win for all of us because we are the first two of our batch, and our school, who matched into internal medicine in the US,” said Williams.

rochelle.clayton@gleanerjm.com