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Kelly with kangaroos

Match profile: Dr Kelly Kossen

Student stories
Published 25 Mar, 2024  ·  3 minutes

Where did you Match and in what specialty?

I matched Psychiatry at Eastern Maine Medical Center/Northern Light Acadia Hospital.

Kelly on Match Day

 

Tell us a little bit about you and your journey before entering medical school.

I grew up in Colorado. I studied Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University in undergrad. I volunteered and worked for a variety of places during this time. I volunteered for Camp Wapiyapi-a camp for pediatric cancer patients and their siblings. I also worked in a research lab, volunteered at local hospitals, and worked as a teaching assistant. One of the most helpful pieces of advice I received during this time was that your activities don’t have to be medical to be helpful for medical school. My work as a backpacking instructor and experiences in the mountains were some of the most helpful things I did in preparation for medical school. In undergrad I studied abroad in Reading, England and absolutely loved education abroad. I wondered if I could study abroad for medicine and still practice in the US. I was traveling in Australia after graduation and happened across UQ-Ochsner very serendipitously. It was the program of my dreams and has been ever since.

What was your experience of medical school?

My experience in medical school was a huge asset and taught me so much. As a class, we ended up in Australia during Covid. We had to really lean on each other and be adaptable to such a unique situation. I really bonded as a family with my fellow classmates and we would spend birthdays, holidays, and lots of studying together. I absolutely loved living in Brisbane. Brisbane has wonderful outdoor spaces, markets, and food. I felt the work-life balance with med school at UQ was fantastic. We worked hard but also had time to explore Australia and spend time with friends. After Australia I was given an excellent opportunity to complete my clinical years in New Orleans, LA in the US. New Orleans was also a wonderful place to live with all of the festivals and restaurants to try. Both of these experiences combined made me flexible and confident. New Orleans and Brisbane will always hold a special place in my heart and I was so lucky to do my training in both places. I feel very prepared for residency due to this variety of training. 

Kelly as a medical student

What inspired you to become a doctor and when did you become interested in this specialty?

I have wanted to be a doctor as long as I can remember. However, in undergrad I was trying to make sure it was the right path for me. I did an internship shadowing in Mexico. I got to watch the doctors there sit with patients in their toughest moments. This really solidified my love of medicine. I felt it would be an immense honor to hold these spaces with people. I found my way to psychiatry because I have always been drawn to the stories of others and holding space for tough emotions and experiences. I also loved the medical science behind psychiatry in my first two years of medical school. Over the past year, I have volunteered for a crisis line and that has given me confidence that I am in the right spot. 

What are you looking forward to the most in the next chapter?

I am so excited for so many things in this next chapter. I am so excited to meet my co-residents and all of the faculty at Northern Light Acadia Hospital. I am overjoyed to continue to learn what it means to be a fantastic psychiatrist. I am looking forward to caring for patients as a doctor. I am also excited to explore a new part of the country: fall colors in Vermont, Halloween in Salem, beautiful scenery in Acadia, and so much more. 

Kelly hugging a friend in front of tram at graduation

 

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