Branycia Mitchell

Branycia Mitchell

Ms. Mitchell participated in SHPEP in 2019 at the University of Iowa. She graduated from the University of Iowa in 2022 with a degree in Interdepartmental Studies: Multidisciplinary Sciences, Health Science Track with a minor in Spanish. This fall (2023), Ms. Mitchell will be attending the Master of Public Health in Policy program at the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health.

What path did you take when you first started college?
When I began college, I was a human physiology major and Spanish minor, declared on the pre-medicine track. Although my major changed, working in healthcare is still the ultimate goal.

What led to your interest in a health profession?
Many environmental and experiential factors influenced my interest in healthcare. Growing up in Texas, I saw how health disparities affected my community and other minority communities. The language barriers faced, especially in healthcare, led to my interest in learning Spanish. My own experiences on the receiving end of healthcare have greatly influenced my interest in healthcare as well.

Who or what inspired you?
My biggest inspirations are women and healthcare professionals of color because they represent our belonging and importance to healthcare. I was introduced to many physicians through a first-year seminar, Prepping for Pre-Med. Dr. Ana Cary was one who stuck out to me. Her path to medicine was not linear, but one of perseverance and tenacity. She showed me that our backgrounds, resources we might have lacked, and the ability to be the perfect student were not determining factors in the ability to pursue medicine. Through SHPEP, I learned many physicians who look like me had nonlinear paths to medicine as well and how significant their presence in healthcare is regarding caring and advocating for patients of color. My experiences with women physicians in my care are great motivators too. These women and physicians of color are foundational to my journey of pursuing medicine; they have shown up in these spaces and proven I can too.

What obstacles did you overcome in your education or career journey?
The COVID-19 pandemic was the biggest obstacle I faced in my educational journey. Many things were uprooted at the beginning of the pandemic. Before the pandemic, I felt that I had finally gotten the hang of college life from an academic and personal standpoint. After the pandemic, many experiences were never the same again. I experienced what it was like to fail and withdraw from a class for the first time. I had to learn to make quite the adjustment and adapt to what seemed like our new normal.

What are some of your recent milestones?
I graduated from the University of Iowa in December of 2022. I was an executive board member of student organizations. For the last two years of undergrad, I was a peer leader for the Iowa Edge program, an orientation program for minority and underrepresented students. I am an active volunteer at the free medical clinic, working as a receptionist to check-in English and Spanish-speaking patients. I also am a certified instructor for WERQ, a cardio-based dance fitness class. I have accepted admission to the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health for the Master of Public Health in Policy program.

What makes your story unique?
I have gone through many obstacles since I was a very young girl. I experienced things that could have broken me, giving me multiple opportunities to give up. My childhood and adolescence were built on survival. In the past, I would often describe myself as resilient. That was until I came upon a post on social media that quotes, ” Children don’t learn resiliency through trauma, neglect, or mistreatment.” In awe and with the help of therapy, I later came to learn that in fact, you learn to survive when faced with these situations.

Despite everything I went through, I always remained optimistic and hopeful for the future. The future was my escape, my opportunity to create the life I wanted for myself. The life I deserve. Fortunately, and despite the obstacles, there has always been something inside of me that steered me in the right direction to get me where I wanted to go. My experiences have made me who I am. I am incredibly driven, empathetic, and caring. I am always striving to be the best version of myself. I am learning what it means to take care of and pour into yourself. I know that working in healthcare is my passion. It is where the best parts of me will flourish, and where the weaker parts will strengthen.

I became a certified nursing assistant after graduating high school to begin my journey in healthcare and have been working as a CNA throughout college. My job has given me the clarity I need to continue pursuing a career in healthcare. It has shown me that I desire to do much more in this field. It motivates me to keep going. Although life has thrown many obstacles at me, I have learned that life is truly what you make it, and I will make it a great one.

How did SHPEP influence you?
One of the most important things I learned in SHPEP is impostor syndrome. As a young, black woman at a predominantly white institution, there have been many moments of doubt and feelings of not belonging. Before SHPEP, I did not know impostor syndrome was what I had been experiencing. Now, I can acknowledge when these moments happen, challenge them, and reframe them in a more positive light with the aid of my accomplishments, obstacles overcome, and other experiences. I can say that no matter what, I have what it takes to become a healthcare professional. Additionally, I learned that I could combine my interests in medicine and public health.

Did you have experiences or mentors that prepared you for a career as a health professional?
Dr. Aaron Schneider was my anatomy professor during SHPEP and my physiology professor during undergrad. He has been one of the most impactful professors of my college career. He has always been there with unwavering support since the SHPEP program, which means a lot to me. He is part of the reason I can keep going on this pursuit. This journey does take a village and I am so grateful to have him.

What is the best career advice you have received?
Find your passions. If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life.

What advice do you have for students pursuing a health professional career?
The healthcare system needs a YOU. With hard work, determination, dedication, and discipline, you can do it! A strong support system is foundational. Take care of yourself (mentally, physically, emotionally, etc.) so that you can be there for others.