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Tiayrra Kirkwood - MEDPREP Class of 2021 Before enrolling in SIU’s post-baccalaureate preparatory program, Chicago Heights native Tiayrra Kirkwood was a caseworker for the State of Illinois. What did you want to be when you were young? Even as a child, I knew I wanted to be a physician. I had a Fisher-Price medical kit filled with Band-Aids, a thermometer, a blood pressure cuff, and even a stethoscope! I loved going around playing “doctor” with my friends and family. Tell us about your life prior to entering MEDPREP. I was a caseworker for the Illinois Department of Human Services, working 8

Fourth-year medical student Aileen Portugal is a passionate advocate for the LGBTQ community. In 2016, she helped found the first LGBTQ Support Group at SIU School of Medicine. ASPECTS: Tell us about your childhood. Aileen Portugal: I grew up in beautiful, sunny San Diego. One of the most awesome characteristics of growing up in San Diego – besides the weather, the beach and the food – is that we are only 20 minutes away from the USA-Mexico border. So for me, visiting my grandma was probably like it was for most people – a short car drive away. It wasn’t until I was 8 or so, that I looked up

Learn more about Child & Adolescent Psychiatry resident Dr. Sudhakar Shenoy, Class of 2019.

Jennifer Becker, MD , MPH , is a member of the historic Class of 2020. She completed her medical doctorate and a master’s degree in public health and ‘virtually’ graduated in May. She also received a 2020 Excellence in Public Health Award from the U.S. Public Health Service Physician Professional Advisory Committee for projects she initiated in southern Illinois. She is now an emergency medicine resident at SIU Medicine. --- What did you enjoy about the School of Medicine and Springfield? I don’t think I could’ve had a better group of students to go through school with, and I had a lot of