Raileigh Duschen

Hometown: Port Orange, FL

High School: Spruce Creek High School

FSU Major: Family and Child Science

FSU Minor: Biology

What do you like about HMSS?

In HMSS, you are surrounded by compassionate and highly motivated mentors, advisers, and peers that support, encourage, and provide you with all the opportunities necessary to guide you towards the path to a rewarding medical career. It is in hope that one day we may demonstrate our passion for serving and healing those around us, as we as a program are so committed to now in our community, and beyond.

Why do you want to go into medicine?

I am fascinated with the idea that, instead of sitting idly by watching someone you love, or even a complete stranger, suffer as you watch helplessly, you can use your field of expertise to heal and do something about another’s pain. Growing up, I lived with my cousin who had Friedreich’s Ataxia and over the years his body slowly deteriorated as the disease attacked his nervous system. I helped him through every basic necessity of life, and was at his side as often as I could be until his passing at the young age of 19. Although during those years I did everything I could do then, now, I am doing everything I can to ensure that I am on the path to become a physician, so that in later years I can do everything I can to heal others. For a physician, I believe that yearn for learning and development, that overwhelming passion to pursue the path of becoming a better doctor, a better person, never ends throughout their career. In essence, a career as a physician in its entirety is passion: from yourself, for others, and I hope to one day experience it.