‘You deserve to be here’: School of Medicine alum reflects and reassures new medical students

Terry Everett, M.D., doesn’t remember exactly what the alumni speaker said during his first week of medical school orientation — but he remembers how the presentation made him feel. 

“It put my mind a little bit more at ease and helped me realize that these physicians that I think so highly of are also just people,” Everett said. “It reassured me that I would figure it out.” 

Five years later, Everett, a Class of 2025 graduate and a second-year resident in the Department of Anesthesiology, passed that sentiment along to the newest class of medical students as an alumni speaker to the Class of 2030. Looking out into the crowd of anxious and excited M1s, Everett shared his own experiences and tips for finding balance and being successful in medical school. 

“It’s easy for our undergrad, and even high school years, to be so devoted to this craft that we’re willing to sacrifice anything for it,” Everett said. “It's important to have someone to come along and remind you that having things outside of medicine makes you a better person and a more holistic doctor.” 

Everett spoke on the fourth day of Transition to Medical School (TTMS), an orientation program for first-year medical students. Over the course of two weeks, the incoming students are introduced to the medical school curriculum, meet their classmates and explore the city they will call home for the next four years. 

Chris Woleben, M.D., associate dean of admissions and a fellow alumni speaker, said meeting practicing physicians can help the M1s visualize their futures, an important opportunity for new students who often feel overwhelmed and anxious at the start of medical school. 

“Hearing from VCU School of Medicine alumni, young and old, allows them to see how the exceptional training our medical students receive can help launch their professional careers in medicine,” Woleben said.  

For Everett, being successful in his medical education and residency training means being intentional about his time — both in and outside of medicine. In his talk, he shared anecdotes from his M1 year, like trialing study techniques, setting a schedule for himself and working to overcome imposter syndrome. Life outside of medical school, he said, was also a process of trial and error. 

“I remember, during my first year, feeling like I was watching life pass me by. I wasn’t able to make the friend group trips or visit my family as often,” Everette said. “After that, I made an effort going forward to be intentional with my time and feed that side of myself as well.” 

Everett also emphasized that there is no “one-size-fits-all” way to succeed in medical school. He said that understanding what works for each individual student is going to be more productive than trying to follow someone else’s track. 

“There is so much information out there telling you the best way to do something, or you might overhear your classmates talking about what they’re doing,” Everett said. “Take time to understand yourself and know that you don’t need to have it all figured out right now. You deserve to be here.” 

Dany Rizkalla, an M1 from Oakton, Va., said it was “awesome” to hear from "someone who was in our shoes” speak about his own challenges in medical school and the importance of finding balance. 

“I appreciated how honest and real he was about recognizing that medical school is a major priority, but it still being important not to lose yourself along the way,” Rizkalla said. “Continuing to make time for the people and activities that keep me grounded will help me become the best physician I can be.” 

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