Amelia Khoo, a former engineer from California, is poised to be among the first graduates of Texas A&M University’s EnMed program. Despite facing various challenges and uncertainties along the way, her unwavering passion for both medicine and engineering has been a guide toward her calling.
Khoo’s path to becoming a physicianeer started when she discovered her affinity for the clinical setting while working as an engineer. The EnMed program stood out to her because it provided support for blending engineering and medicine in her career. It was during her clerkship when she realized that internal medicine was the perfect specialty for her.
She came to the realization that medicine wasn’t just a career for financial gain, but rather a calling that she was meant to pursue. Finding genuine joy in her work has been a driving force for her, and she takes great pride in it. Additionally, the unwavering support from her classmates has been crucial in keeping her motivated.
“I was apprehensive about relocating to Texas by myself and enrolling in a new program,” said Khoo. “However, I can confidently state that I made the correct decision. Being a part of the EnMed program allowed me to grow in ways that I would not have been able to if I had opted for a conventional medical school. The experience has been life changing since I was provided with an environment that nurtured my growth in medicine while combining my engineering expertise. I can’t see myself doing anything else.”
Outside of medicine, Khoo enjoys writing poetry and volunteering in music therapy. She values the importance of maintaining her interests and not having to choose between her identities.
Reflecting on her weeks before Match Day, Khoo felt an unanchored sense of uncertainty, but also appreciated the freedom that comes with being present in the moment. This “precious time of uncertainty” reminded her that life is more than just medicine, but also finding balance and enjoying all the parts of life, both big and small.
“Often we get caught up in the idea that every choice we make in our journey toward medicine is a monumental one,” said Khoo, “We forget that the big moments are the small ones – the conversations with patients, the lessons we learn, the time spent with loved ones. Although becoming a doctor is remarkable, the journey is equally important. Every moment counts.”
Khoo is eagerly looking forward to the next phase of her medical career as she begins her residency in internal medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut in June 2023.
