Jocelyne Dempsey, an Arlington Virginia native, has become the first-ever Old Dominion University student to participate in the Virginia Tech Carilion Early Identification Program (VTCSOM EIP). As a biochemistry major, she has plans to become an obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN). She welcomes the challenge of pursuing biochemistry at ODU because of her passion for both biological sciences and chemistry. Moreover, she is thankful for the support from her family and Monarch faculty along her journey thus far.
Once a year, the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine chooses three dedicated students for the Early Identification Program. Dempsey is the first Monarch to be accepted into the program for underrepresented minority students interested in medical school preparation. As part of the program, Dempsey and two other students focus on intensive research, clinical experiences, and MCAT preparation. Dempsey recognizes that being a part of this program is an honor that many students apply for but don't have the opportunity to participate in, and she is willing to put in the work to be able to set herself up for medical school.
During the summer of 2024, Dempsey spent ten “intensive yet rewarding” weeks participating in VTCSOM EIP which was an “immensely enriching and exciting experience,” said Dempsey. She conducted hypothesis-driven research at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute in Roanoke, Virginia.
Also, she did research in the Howell lab on the MIND LAB project. “My research heavily focused on the Impact of Nutrition and Experience on Infant Neurodevelopment, specifically examining the relationship between amygdala volume and fear response in three-month-old infants,” said Dempsey. While working in the Howell lab, Dempsey felt that she was “welcomed by her entire team.” She spent most of her time in the lab with two mentors, Claudia A. Carreno, M.S., and Megan Evans, Ph.D. candidate. “They both led me through this summer of engaging in human participant study data collection.” The summer included diverse activities such as data collection, networking, attending seminars, and presenting her findings at two symposiums. “I had a fantastic time conducting research this summer,” said Dempsey.
“I’m honored that I was able to go to the Virginia Tech Carilion Early Identification Program,” said Dempsey. “God has also always been there to give me guidance and understanding on what I need to do and how I should do it.” Her faith has been a guiding light for Dempsey, and she is even more motivated to work hard this upcoming school year.
As she turns her attention back to her studies on the ODU campus for the fall 2024 semester, Dempsey will be completing her junior year and will continue to work hard academically.
“Being in the Perry Honors College is amazing,” said Dempsey. She has had the opportunity to connect with David Metzger, former dean of Patricia and Douglas Perry Honors College. “When I told Dean Metzger that I wanted to be pre-med he was giving me all these ideas of different examples of ODU alumni from the Perry Honors College who have gone on to do different things to get into medical school.” She has made many connections at ODU’s Perry Honors College, which has helped her to take advantage of various opportunities. While honors courses do expect more attention, Dempsey states that, “Honors classes definitely do push you and then they’re also a smaller setting, so they allow me to connect more with my professor and fellow classmates.”
Also, Dempsey has had the opportunity to conduct research with Dr. LaConda Fanning from Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) in collaboration with the Perry Honors College. The course focused on cultural humility and medical education. Although her research course didn’t participate in a lab or the field, Dempsey would meet with Dr. Fanning and discuss her research topic. “I did research and found papers and journals and even textbooks that contained culturally unhumble phrases and methods of showing concepts and then also research schools’ methods of combating that,” said Dempsey.
While Dempsey is concentrating on following her path to becoming an OBGYN she is also breaking down barriers. Dempsey has spent countless hours doing research on which medical schools to apply to, but for now she is still undecided.
Although she has worked hard for all her opportunities, she recognizes that she has not been alone in her journey, “Thank you to God and my family and all the supporters in my life, my teachers from high school, my pastor, and my church family. I have been surrounded by love and support, and without it, I don’t where I would be. They have always encouraged me to be myself, and that I can do it, and that I have the ability to do it, and I never for a second doubted myself because of them.”