From a pretend doctor to a real one
McGregor loved to pretend to be a doctor. When she was 8, her grandmother gave her a medical book and at Christmas a plastic stethoscope. McGregor put the stethoscope into her "medical bag" of bandages and tape and took it to school.
"Whenever someone would fall or cut themselves, I would run and take care of them," she said. "Every little girl wants to be a little princess, but I wanted to be a doctor. I just couldn't wait to grow up."
But first, she had to overcome some hurdles. Her father, a surgeon, and her mother had separated when she was very young. She was raised by her grandmother and then moved to New York at age 14 to be with her mother when her grandmother became ill.
High school in Queens, New York, was exceedingly difficult, she said, because she was learning the English language at the same time. But she never lost sight of her goal of becoming a doctor, but she didn't know in what specialty.
It was her father's death from an opioid overdose when she was 16 that helped her decide on psychiatry.
She chose Central's medical school because I "felt a great sense of family" during her interview and identified with the mission of ministering to the underserved. She also liked the team-learning philosophy.
Her goal is to continue to practice in mid-Michigan "and be an inspiration to people from underserved and minority backgrounds. I want to make a difference."
According to her classmates, she already is making a difference in the community. They backed up their support by submitting a winning nomination of her to the Gold Humanism Honor Society, which is "dedicated to keeping health care human."
After Match Day, she said she is excited to be able to stay and work with the underserved population in the region.
"My grandmother is very proud of me, not just that I am going to be a physician, but that I will be helping people in need like we were in need in the Dominican Republic."
Dr. Mildred Willy, associate dean for student affairs, looked over the students at Match Day and mulled that it was the culmination of four hard years for the students.
"It is a very stressful yet gratifying time for them, but now they are taking the next step in developing as physicians. We are very proud of all of them."