Brooke Jones ’25, now in her first year of medical school at VCOM-Auburn, knew from an early age that access to health care was not a guarantee for everyone. Observing her mother’s role as a chief nursing officer, she saw barriers to rural health care access. This reality shaped her purpose and determination in college.
Unwavering support from faculty and pre-health advisor
While Brooke juggled basketball, pre-med, biochemistry and campus jobs, faculty mentors invested in her development beyond the classroom.
“They encouraged me to stand out. Throughout my time at Berry, I tried to broaden my horizons beyond the sciences or medical-related activities,” says Brooke. “Writing my personal statement, I was nervous I didn’t have a dramatic ‘why medicine’ that pushed me to pursue being a physician, but Dr. Mingone, the pre-health advisor, showed me my passion was enough.”
She also received constructive feedback from Berry’s pre-med committee after a mock interview: “They encouraged me to keep working on answers to the typical questions I would be asked, read up on current medical literature and ethics, and be confident when talking about myself and my accomplishments.”
Significant experiences, from research and campus jobs to sports
Shadowing helped confirm Brooke’s desire to become a family or internal medicine physician. Similarly, her undergraduate research experiences showcased her ability to put scientific knowledge to work. For example, she helped a Berry professor work toward developing a safe and environmentally friendly way to produce urazole, a chemical compound used in scientific and industrial applications.
As a teaching assistant and an Academic Success Center leadership team member, Brooke grew skills in communication, relational management and event planning.
She also managed life as a student-athlete. Competing on Berry’s basketball team, Brooke says, “Athletics taught me balance, time management and the power of perseverance.”
Brooke’s hard work paid off. She was accepted to every medical program where she interviewed. At VCOM-Auburn, she will continue training to bring compassionate, accessible care to underserved areas.
