Dr. Wyllie

I want to deliver babies for the rest of my life. I’m prepared sleepless nights, teenage patients, malpractice insurance, and being the first person to greet a new life on a daily basis. I want to hold each spirit as they come into this world and take their first breath before I hand them over to the person who will love and care for them for the rest of their life. I want to see women transform from misery and frustration to overwhelming joy with just a glance at their child. Then I want to walk into the next room and do it again.

I’ve wanted to be an OB/GYN since high school. I entered BYU as a pre-med student and quickly realized I wasn’t prepared to commit the time and energy it would take to get into medical school, especially competing against classmates 5-7 years older. I joined Peace Corps unsure of what I wanted. The longer I was there, the more I knew I wanted to practice medicine. Then I thought I found the perfect compromise: Physician Assistant - an intense 2 year program that gives you the basic rights of practicing medicine under a physician. I felt confident when people asked what I wanted to do after Peace Corps; I had found a respectable profession that would provide a comfortable life and humor my interest in medicine. But who wants to compromise on what they’ll be doing for the rest of their lives?

So many people (most of whom are physicians) always asked why I would settle with being a PA and not go for med school. I found all sorts of great excuses: “I don’t want to be in school so long” “PA’s have a better family life” “I can do the same things without being on call”, etc. They were all excuses. The real reason I didn’t want to apply to medical school was because I’m afraid to fail. I’m sincerely afraid that I’ll apply and not be accepted, that I’m not smart enough or talented enough to succeed. But to hell with fear. Aren’t the greatest risks the ones with the biggest pay offs? I was scared to death about joining the Peace Corps and being away from home for 2 years, and now I’m on year 3 in Malawi. It doesn’t hurt that I’m unbelievably stubborn. I will be a doctor, and I’ll be good at it. And still have a family. And be a normal, sociable person. Ok, maybe not so normal.