Shamone Gore Panter wanted to go to medical school in 2007, but the fact that she had to take the Medical College Admission Test, or MCAT, terrified her. So she pursued a doctorate before becoming a research scholar at Cleveland Clinic, where she researched cardiovascular genetics.
But, after recently discussing COVID-19 vaccination misconceptions with her pregnant niece, Gore Panter realized that her fellow Blacks may have certain health worries that need to be answered and may be more receptive to voicing their concerns with health staff who look like them.
So years after shunning medical school, she felt it was time to pursue it. “I thought, ‘This is what I need to be doing every day. I want to go to medical school. I didn’t know where I wanted to go. I just knew I wanted to do it,” the 43-year-old mom of four from Cleveland told Today.
“I might not be able to solve all the problems, (but) sometimes seeing someone who looks like you gives you at least a foot in the door to maybe try to talk to people and give them information to potentially take better care of their health,” she said.
Gore Panter studied for the MCAT and improved her score, allowing her to take the actual MCAT and get admitted into a program run by Ohio University and the Cleveland Clinic, according to Today.
Those interested in family practice can complete medical school in three years, according to the curriculum. Gore Panter plans to graduate in 2025 and work as a family doctor.
Balancing family life with medical school has been difficult, she says, but her husband has been quite helpful. Furthermore, her desire to make a difference in people’s lives as a family physician keeps her going. She encourages everyone to pursue their aspirations and to never assume it’s too late.
“It doesn’t matter how old you are. If you’re still alive, you can go try and do it. That could be a major regret if you don’t even try,” she said.