Copley Connects - Fall 2015

Copley Student Assistant Alum Off to Med School by Hugh Burkhart

For Jevaughn Davis, acceptance to medical school was part of a career trajectory that began from the time he entered USD. The twenty-three-year-old Poughkeepsie native is studying this fall at New York Medical College (NYMC) in a combined MD/PhD program. He is quick to thank Dr. Joseph Provost of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry for influencing his decision.

knew for sure. Then I got into research, particularly with Dr. Provost, and I’d always enjoyed my lab courses, and I just really liked research and I liked that part of medicine.” Elaborating on his decision to engage in both medical research and practice, which he anticipates taking seven to eight years at NYMC, he says, “I think we do need doctors who just see patients, but I think we also need doctors who understand medicine and who can

do a proper clinical trial and apply what they do in the lab to patients.” Davis graduated this past spring as a Biochemistry and Sociology double major. He credits the sociological side of his studies with having a major impact on his perspective on medical research. “Dr. Camacho helped me gear it toward power, inequality, and social justice issues, which are what I really like to look at. I think in health care right now there are just so many disparities that stem from inequality and wealth and issues like that, so that’s how I used it.” Alongside the challenges of completing the double major, Davis was also active in campus life. He was the president of USD’s chapter of the Phi Delta Epsilon medical fraternity, served as a Resident Assistant in the Mission apartments, and worked in the Access Services department of Copley Library. “I’ve met some awesome people here,” he says of his library experience. “I actually used it on my [medical school] application as one of my most valuable experiences just because you get to interact with so many different people.” “It’s quieter and people tend to be more focused versus upstairs in the back. I like the feeling of being isolated because if not I will talk to any and everyone who walks by!” While he may be a naturally drawn to people, Davis currently plans on spending most of his time in the lab, with the hopes of discovering more about infectious diseases and vaccinations. As for his memories of USD, he returns to the faculty who mentored him. “All of my professors have been really great, where I’ve actually gotten to talk to them outside of the class. That connection I’ll miss.” Gregarious and voluble in person, Davis prefers the Copley stacks when it comes to studying.

“I know a lot of people think they’re coming in pre-med,” he says, “but I

Former Student Assistant Jevaughn Davis studies in Copley Library in preparation for medical school.

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