Gabby Grillo

Hometown: Seven Hills, OH

Undergraduate Institution: Kent State University

Why did you pursue podiatric medicine?
I had a podiatrist come in to talk to about the field in one of my undergrad classes, and that is what peaked my interest. It wasn’t until I shadowed at the Cleveland Foot and Ankle Clinic that I knew this would be the field of medicine for me!

Why did you choose KSUCPM?
I went to Kent State for undergrad and loved being a Golden Flash! Also, it was very close to home so I can save money and be able to spend a lot of time on campus!

What is your favorite aspect of Kent State now that you are a student here?
Knowing that once you graduate, all your hard work will pay off! These four years will be challenging, but it will all be worth it in the end!

What advice do you have for anyone considering podiatric medical school?
Make sure you know that podiatric medicine is what you want to do! Shadow as many Podiatrists as you can - because just like any specialty -  you might be surprised with what they do on a daily basis.

How do you strike a balance between class work, studying, and social activities?
I push myself very hard during the day (I of course take multiple breaks to relax and eat,) so at nighttime I can just review for a couple minutes and have the rest of the night for myself!

Do you have any suggestions for prospective students on building/ maintaining a balance?
Trial and error! You will know better once first exam cycle is over to see what worked and what didn’t, and based on that you can make a schedule for yourself to follow and include some me time!

What one word describes you best?
Loud! Too loud sometimes.

As a first-year student, what are some of the challenges you faced (if any) while transitioning into medical school?
How to balance a long distant relationship and learning what study techniques worked best for me. Remember, it’s all about trial and error!!

What one word describes KSUCPM?
Fun!

What advice would you offer to any prospective students wishing to attend KSUCPM who are in the current application process?
If your grades are not the best or what you wanted them to be, get some shadowing hours under your belt and try to do some extracurricular activities to make your application different from everyone else’s!

Most challenging course and why? 
Anatomy - by far! They say Gross Anatomy is like trying to drink from a fire hose and they were NOT wrong! It is a lot of just straight memorizing and you will have to put a lot of time and effort into the class to succeed. But make sure to not slack off with any of your other classes, like Cells and Tissues and Staying Alive!

Favorites
Movie: Any MARVEL movie. I can’t just pick one!
Song:  Viva La Vida by Coldplay
Starbucks Drink: Strawberry acai with lemonade instead of water
Book: Looking for Alaska by John Green
Season: Winter!!! If you are not from Ohio then get ready for some crazy weather!
Cleveland Activity: Shopping at Crocker Park or Legacy Village
KSUCPM Class: Genetics
TV Show: Real Housewives of New Jersey (My guilty pleasure!)
Restaurant: Mamma Santas in Little Italy