Interview with Mr. Omar Escobedo, M.D. Candidate at the University of California-Davis School of Medicine
The “Alumni Connections” series highlights NIAID fellows who have taken the next step on their academic path. This interview focuses on a former NIAID postbac who transitioned to medical school in 2019. Mr. Omar Escobedo was a postbac in the Molecular Defenses Section in the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology and is currently an M.D. candidate at the University of California-Davis School of Medicine. Read this interview with Omar to learn about his journey from NIAID to medical school.
Interviewed by Evelien van Gelderen, postbac in the Translational Autoinflammatory Disease Studies Section of the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology
What research were you engaged in at NIAID?
I spent my postbac in the Molecular Defenses Section in the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology under the supervision of Thomas Leto, Ph.D. My research at NIAID focused on studying genetic defects in components of the NADPH Oxidase (NOX) family of enzymes and their role in mediating innate inflammatory and antimicrobial processes. In collaboration with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), my main project focused on NOX involvement in very early-onset inflammatory bowel disease (VEO-IBD), using reconstituted cell models to recapitulate various mutations seen in pediatric patients. In addition, I also assisted with functional assays aimed at characterizing a mutation in the GTPase RAC2 in patients suffering from recurrent respiratory infections. This work was published in Hsu, Amy P et al. Blood 2019. Overall, I loved my time at NIAID and felt like it was an inclusive and fostering environment where I was allowed to take ownership of my project and was included in various talks and presentations. My mentor was very supportive of me ultimately deciding to pursue an M.D..
What was the transition like from being a postbac to a medical student?
The transition from being a postbac to being a medical student was difficult. By the time I had matriculated, I had been out of undergrad for two years, and I wasn’t really used to being in a structured classroom setting with lectures, studying, and exams. Establishing a footing and creating a study plan took time, but I ultimately found a routine that worked for me and leaned on my peers for support. The advice I would give to others making this transition is to lean on your peers, and do not be afraid to go to your school’s academic support for advice. Don’t be afraid to explore different study routines and use the resources available to you.
How did your work at NIH prepare you for medical school?
From a basic science perspective, my work at NIH provided me with an in-depth opportunity to explore the field of immunology and redox biology, study molecular signaling pathways, and learn more about experimental design, specific biochemical techniques, and data analysis. Frequent laboratory meetings, journal clubs, and presentations taught me the importance of collaboration in science and medicine, highlighted the multidisciplinary nature of medicine, and showed me what it means to conduct bench to bedside research. Additionally, I had the opportunity to enroll in the NIH Academy, a program that educates fellows on health disparities and engages them to understand the various determinants of health and health inequities that exist in marginalized populations. For me, all of these lessons from basic science to journal clubs to health disparities research are all important topics and skills that are very relevant in the practice of medicine and continue to shape my education.
How did you decide to go from research to medical school? Did you consider going the Ph.D. route?
By the time I decided to pursue an M.D., I had already spent two years in undergrad and two years at NIH conducting research. I really enjoyed those experiences, but I ultimately found interactions with patients to be the most rewarding. I decided to pursue my M.D. with the hopes of still being engaged in research by taking a research year while in medical school or through fellowships in the future. That said, there is a lot to learn from basic science researchers and physician-scientists, as we work to bridge the gap from bench to bedside.
What are the most challenging and most rewarding aspects of medical school?
The most challenging aspect would definitely be the sheer depth and breadth of knowledge and the speed at which you are expected to learn and relearn the material. That said, the most rewarding aspect has been the ability to use that knowledge to lessen the suffering of patients and help them achieve the highest quality of life.
I saw that you have an interest in health justice and equity. How have you engaged in health equity and social justice efforts as a medical student? How have these interests shaped your career goals, if at all?
Oddly enough, the COVID-19 pandemic allowed me the greatest opportunity to engage in health equity and social justice efforts. For some context, for more than 40 years the student-run clinics (SRCs) affiliated with UC Davis have been operating in inner-city communities in Sacramento, providing free services to uninsured, low-income, and other underserved populations. These clinics, operating on weekends, serve several distinct patient populations, providing culturally sensitive healthcare in a respectful and comfortable environment. These clinics offer thousands of people access to healthcare, which is often their only option. During the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns for students’ safety, shortages in PPE, and not-yet-defined safety protocols resulted in the closure of most of these SRCs. That decision ultimately exacerbated the lack of healthcare access for these patients. Recognizing the vital role the clinics play in the community, students and faculty transitioned to a telehealth model of care, and while this was hugely successful in allowing some patients to continue receiving care, patients without access to internet, phones, or private/secure home environments were put at a huge disadvantage. In addition, some of the services that the SRCs provided could only be carried out in-person. In response to these barriers and our desire to expand health access to all, a couple of classmates and I successfully developed and implemented a protocol to safely reopen a single, central clinic to receive patients from all the SRCs, taking into consideration exposure to COVID-19, distancing guidelines, access to interpreters, culturally sensitive care, and the global PPE shortage. In recognition for our work, our team was awarded the 2020 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Team Inclusion, which really highlights our effort and desire to expand healthcare access to marginalized communities.
Do you have any advice for current trainees at NIAID, particularly those with an interest in pursuing an M.D.?
You are at one of the world’s premiere biomedical research institutes and have access to talks from leaders in the field—take advantage of that! Explore the different kinds of research going on at NIAID and other Institutes, take Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES) courses, learn about health disparities, and engage in community volunteer efforts. Figure out what brings you the most joy and what you find the most rewarding. Whether you decide to pursue a Ph.D., M.D., M.P.H., or anything else, life will get stressful, so be sure to take time for yourself to unwind and relax.
Is it okay if current NIAID fellows contact you with questions?
Yes, absolutely, my email address is oescobedo@ucdavis.edu. Please do not hesitate to reach out.