Hailing from Laurel, Mississippi, Haley James transferred to Millsaps from a two-year college. Even before becoming a student, she knew this was the right place for her. “I wanted to declare as a pre-medical student and Millsaps boasts a really strong record of graduating students into medical school,” she said. “There’s no question, transferring to Millsaps has been one of the most impactful decisions I’ve made.”
Earlier this year, James was accepted into the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program, an initiative established by the state to place more doctors in rural areas. The program helps prepare pre-med undergraduates for medical school and provides scholarships upon admittance, breaking down barriers for students who want to practice medicine in rural and underserved areas. As a transfer student, James was able to make immediate connections that have put her on the path to success.
Her experience here is proof that professors at Millsaps don’t just know their students’ names, they know their stories! Dr. Lee Maggio, the director of pre-health studies, knew James would be a great applicant because they both grew up in Jones County, a rural part of the state. She urged James to apply and walked through the process with her, step by step.
After hours of preparing her application, with transcripts, future coursework, volunteer hours, shadowing hours and recommendations from faculty, James’ advanced to two rounds of interviews before finally being accepted. “The application process alone has helped me, because it mimics the medical school application process,” she said. “Dr. Maggio held multiple mock interviews for me. That gave me a level of confidence I wouldn’t have otherwise had.”
James isn’t just a pre-medical student; she’s also a student athlete. As the captain of the women’s soccer team, she juggles a busy schedule, but that has been one of the most rewarding parts of attending Millsaps. “I feel like I can do it all here. People like Dr. Maggio have encouraged me to take advantage of every opportunity I can,” she said. “That encouragement is what led me to this program.”
James’ hard work has not gone unnoticed. “Haley has worked extremely hard since transferring to Millsaps in the middle of her sophomore year,” Dr. Maggio said. “We are very proud of her diligence in her studies, her leadership on the women’s soccer team and her desire to practice as a physician in an underserved population. I can’t wait to see what she does!”
“I’ve been able to grow into a strong leader by stepping into meaningful roles on the soccer team and my sorority and I love how easy Millsaps makes it to get involved on campus,” she said. “I’m grateful that Millsaps has provided me and environment where I can thrive inside and outside the classroom.”
As a participant in the program, James will get rural clinical experience, mentorship from rural physicians and networking opportunities with other pre-med students. Much like her rigorous coursework at Millsaps, these opportunities will equip her for the challenges of medical school.
Upon admittance, she will be considered for a $35,000 scholarship for each year of medical school. If return, James agrees to serve as a physician in a rural area of Mississippi for each year she is granted scholarship money, up to four years total.
“There’s no question that medical school will be demanding, but I think Millsaps has prepared me for it better than any other school could have,” she said. “The classes here are challenging and I’ve been pushed to expand my knowledge and skills in ways I couldn’t have imagined. But my professors and advisors have been there every step of the way.”
“I’ve grown so much as a leader, a learner, an athlete, a friend – I’m just an all-around better person because of Millsaps,” she said.