Early Graduation Allows Medical Student to Help Staff Coronavirus Hotline
“I've been anticipating my graduation from medical school for most of my life and expected it to be an emotional experience,” said Wheeler, who graduated a month early on April 13. “I never would have guessed that moment would occur during a pandemic and the breadth of emotions I would be feeling. Mostly though, I feel honored to even have this opportunity and am excited to do what I can to help my community.”
Wheeler will answer COVID-19 hotline calls until June, when she will move to Omaha, Neb., to begin her five-year residency training in otolaryngology (head and neck surgery) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
She said it has been difficult to watch the pandemic unfold from the sidelines, so when the opportunity to graduate early arose, she saw it as a chance to provide “much needed help to my future colleagues and the community that has supported me so much throughout my medical training.”
When Wheeler expressed a desire to join the front lines, her family was concerned that she might not have adequate protection.
Wheeler grew up in Tempe, graduated from Corona del Sol High School and Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University. She said her experience at the College of Medicine – Phoenix opened her eyes to the ways she could serve underrepresented populations, instilling in her a “strong desire to help the community.”
About the College
Founded in 2007, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix inspires and trains exemplary physicians, scientists and leaders to advance its core missions in education, research, clinical care and service to communities across Arizona. The college’s strength lies in our collaborations and partnerships with clinical affiliates, community organizations and industry sponsors. With our primary affiliate, Banner Health, we are recognized as the premier academic medical center in Phoenix. As an anchor institution of the Phoenix Bioscience Core, the college is home to signature research programs in neurosciences, cardiopulmonary diseases, immunology, informatics and metabolism. These focus areas uniquely position us to drive biomedical research and bolster economic development in the region.
As an urban institution with strong roots in rural and tribal health, the college has graduated more than 1,000 physicians and matriculates 130 students each year. Greater than 60% of matriculating students are from Arizona and many continue training at our GME sponsored residency programs, ultimately pursuing local academic and community-based opportunities. While our traditional four-year program continues to thrive, we will launch our recently approved accelerated three-year medical student curriculum with exclusive focus on primary care. This program is designed to further enhance workforce retention needs across Arizona.
The college has embarked on our strategic plan for 2025 to 2030. Learn more.