The science of medicine has always fascinated JD Dawson. So, when he came to the University of South Carolina, he initially majored in biological sciences, but on the recommendation of a faculty member, he pivoted to public health.
“Public health is a nice marriage of two parts of my brain,” says Dawson, an Arnold School of Public Health alumnus and third-year medical student at the School of Medicine Greenville. “It emerged as a blend of the sciences and the social factors of health care. Understanding how disease presents itself in the population and understanding the human side of health care allowed me to prepare for medical school and all the classes I needed to take, but it also offered the big picture perspective that sometimes, in the hard sciences, you don't always get.”
The chance to study abroad during undergrad added cultural context to that perspective and helped the Greenville native develop a global perspective on health care that he’s carried into his postgrad education.
He participated in a medical mission trip to Costa Rica through the Capstone Scholars program where he volunteered at a clinic in a rural, underserved areas and practiced medical Spanish. He did a Maymester in Japan with the Darla Moore School of Business and another in Spain through the Education Abroad Office.
“Traveling taught me how to embrace people different from me and acknowledging that different cultures approach problems differently,” he says. “Sometimes a patient might say they understand even if they don’t or underplay how bad their pain is because they have different concepts of what health means or there is a language barrier. Whenever I'm able to see patients, I don't just think about them in the context of Greenville, South Carolina, but understanding that they may come from a different country with different concepts of health. I think it's done a lot for my ability to build trust and communicate with patients.”
After finishing undergrad in 2021, Dawson received a Rotary Global Grant to pursue a master’s in public health at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.
“You have to decide ahead of time — as part of your narrative for the funding — where you want to go,” he says. Ultimately, he chose South Africa. “I wanted to find a place that encompassed all of my interests, personally and professionally. South Africa is really an incredible case study of public health because of its history.”
The USC network — as an academic community — has done wonders for me, both domestically and abroad. They welcomed me with open arms. Whether they are my official mentor or faculty members, they are always willing to take time to talk to me and introduce me to people that they know. I was able to get opportunities to study abroad through scholarships, and even currently my medical education is funded through a scholarship. I've had wonderful, wonderful opportunities because of how robust and interconnected the programs I’ve been involved in are. I'm really grateful for the University of South Carolina.”
Now at the School of Medicine Greenville, Dawson has been able to participate in several faculty-led research projects. He is working on a lifestyle medicine research project with Jennifer Trilk, professor of biomedical science, interviewing board certified doctors about patient care methods. He is also working on a project with Ann Blair Kennedy, an associate professor, that introduces medical students to concepts of high-value care — or how a hospital can maximize its resources and prioritize affordability for the best patient outcome — before they get into residency.
In addition to his research involvement, he is the director of the Ubuntu Healing Project, a group at the School of Medicine Greenville dedicated to reducing stress and burnout in a medical school environment.
After graduating from medical school, he hopes to pursue family medicine during his residency, and in the future, he’d like to practice holistic primary care with an emphasis lifestyle medicine. He says the experiences he’s had during his academic journey, at USC and abroad, have cultivated his passion for public health and propelled him on his path.
“The USC network — as an academic community — has done wonders for me, both domestically and abroad,” he says. “They welcomed me with open arms. Whether they are my official mentor or faculty members, they are always willing to take time to talk to me and introduce me to people that they know. I was able to get opportunities to study abroad through scholarships, and even currently my medical education is funded through a scholarship. I've had wonderful, wonderful opportunities because of how robust and interconnected the programs I’ve been involved in are. I'm really grateful for the University of South Carolina.”