Laura Irastorza

Hometown: Miami, FL

High School: Our Lady of Lourdes Academy

FSU Major: Exercise Science

FSU Minor: Child Sciences 

Laura entered the Honors Medical Scholars Program in 2007 and earned her medical degree from the FSU College of Medicine in 2015. She is now in the Pediatric Residency Training Program at Palmetto Health Richland in Columbia, South Carolina.

To learn more about Laura and her accomplishments, please visit her FSU College of Medicine Profile. Laura Irastorza

 

What do you like about HMSS?

HMSS really gave me a solid foundation entering college. It was a great way to meet peers, network with the medical school, do community service, and get guidance by those who knew the best. I liked everything HMSS had to offer. I love that the people I met freshmen year in undergrad are still with me in my medical school class. It provided me with a lot of support and experience I would have not gotten anywhere else.

 

Why do you want to go into medicine?

I have always had a passion to help and serve others. Growing up, I realized I could best help others by going into medicine and providing people with quality healthcare. Living in Florida, I have seen the need for primary care physicians and I want to help fill that void. I think it is important to serve the community that once served you. Therefore, I would really like to stay and practice in Florida, particularly South Florida, where I can work with fellow minority and underserved communities. The FSU College of Medicine has a great mission to be patient-centered and help these overlooked populations. This falls in line with my passion, and I feel I will leave medical school with full capability to serve others.

 

What is medical school like?

Medical school is very challenging, but worth every minute of it. It opens your eyes to the wonders of the human body and what we are capable of. The first two years are a lot of your basic sciences, but third and fourth year we do rotations. I am looking forward to working out in the community and getting more hands on experience in the upcoming years.

 

What do you like about FSU College of Medicine?

I think the faculty we have at the FSU College of Medicine are by far the best. They really care about the students and make sure you are doing well. I have met some great physicians here that have really inspired me. I also think the mission here at FSU is great. They focus on being patient-centered and serving those that really need it. I am very happy that I chose to attend the FSU College of Medicine.