Courtney Austin

Medical Student Spotlight

Name: Courtney Austin
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Year in Medical School and Graduation Class Year: MS2 (Class of 2025) 
Undergraduate School: The University of Texas at Austin

Do you serve on any student interest groups/organizations/activities? If so, which one(s)?

I am currently the student engagement chair in the Dermatology Interest Group and the social chair of the Association for Women in Surgery, Medical Students for Choice, and Walk with a Future Doc organization. I am also an AHEC scholar, the Head of Galen House, and a member of the Careers in Medicine Advisory Board. And lastly, I am UTRGV SOM Student Ambassador.

What inspired you to become a doctor? When did you know you wanted to be a doctor?

Jokingly enough, Grey's Anatomy influenced my path toward becoming a physician. However, I was also inspired by spending my childhood in the doctor's office. As a deaf child, it was easy to think something was wrong with me. I was not like the other kids and did not act like the other kids. I spent a lot of time with physicians who made me feel like I could do and be anything. Plus, I thought everything they did was incredible. There was a brief period when I thought medicine was not a good fit for me. I tried to find the same passion and joy in other things, but nothing was as fulfilling as medicine. The turning point was when my dad and I were in a car wreck a few years ago. It took him nearly a year to fully recover from his injuries. In that year, I experienced the highs and lows of patient care and advocacy and the moans and groans of our healthcare system. It inspired me to take the initiative in my goals and use that experience to make a difference, whether large or small.

Why did you choose UTRGV School of Medicine?

I choose this school because of its mission. I was looking for a school that fostered a positive, supportive environment. When I first came here, everyone I met was friendly and outgoing. I felt at home here. It was easy during undergrad to get lost in the shuffle of a large institution, and I wanted to be a part of something smaller and more intimate. Even our instructors know our names. At UTRGV SOM, I feel that everyone is rooting for our success and is always willing to offer a helping hand. Also, I love the fact the school is engrained in the community. Everyone knows everyone. There are always opportunities to serve the Rio Grande Valley and to immerse yourself in the Valley's culture.

One thing that did lead me to UTRGV SOM was a friend of mine who is a Rio Grande Valley native. When I was applying to medical school, she and I had many discussions about the health disparities in her hometown and how people are unaware of the health issues in the Valley. It frustrated her that the national media can often turn a blind eye to the problems faced by underserved minority communities, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. It piqued my interest in the Valley and encouraged me to see the similarities in the health disparities faced by my hometown and the Rio Grande Valley.

What specialties of medicine interest you the most? Why?

Ob/Gyn and Otolaryngology. Women's health has always been a passion of mine. Since college, I have shared my interest and conflicts with how women's healthcare is managed here in the United States. It goes back to a former professor of mine exposing me to inequalities of maternal mortality rates in women of color, particularly black women. That is something; regardless of my chosen specialty, I will work to inform and correct.

As for otolaryngology, my interest comes from my experience as a deaf patient. The last two years (notably the COVID-19 pandemic) have shown how little is known regarding hearing loss and perception. Especially among the general population and ENTs [ear, nose, throat physicians], and how little technology is moving toward creating equal access to people of all abilities.

The ear is a fun little mystery, and I enjoy learning the differences between my hearing (or lack thereof) and others. Also, ear wax impactions can be just as relaxing as watching Dr. Pimple Popper. However, I feel that having a deaf perspective in otolaryngology could help improve patient experience and encourage a greater understanding of D/deafness and how it impacts individuals.

What areas of research interest you the most? Why?

I want to learn more about health care access in D/deaf populations. I often feel that disabled people are ignored in research and generally ignored in medicine, making it harder to advocate for oneself. In my experience, disabled populations are often delegated to stereotypes that can interfere with patient care and harmfully impact one's mental and physical health. I would love to learn more about patient access to health resources in the Valley, particularly that of the D/deaf population. Honestly, anything involving population or community health and patient advocacy interests me.

Currently, I am finishing a vastly different research project involving speech perception in subjects who rely on simultaneous usage of both a hearing aid and a cochlear implant. I hope this will lead to a greater understanding of spectral and perceptional cues and how hearing devices can be better programmed to assist rather than cure hearing loss. From my research, it would be great to eventually develop a protocol that could better improve patient outcomes with bimodal stimulation, but we will have to see.

How has the UTRGV School of Medicine fostered your interest in pursuing a career in medicine?

UTRGV SOM is a great institution that provides patient exposure from day one. Having a ton of information thrown at you at once is daunting, but you are using that knowledge from the start. For example, for me, Problem Based Learning (PBL) cases are a way for me to learn from my peers and play doctor. Making mistakes or asking questions about something you don't understand is okay. It's like being an episode of House (without the abrupt rudeness or the faint whisper of malpractice at every turn). I love the Valley's community, and having the chance to serve it makes the long days and nights worth it. I am blessed to attend a school where I can hone my skills and work at being the best physician possible. Plus, there are many opportunities to learn from different specialties, which has given me a greater appreciation of medicine. Lastly, I am surrounded by an incredible group of peers with whom I feel honored to work alongside and learn. I don't tell them enough, but they are fantastic and are destined to do incredible things in the future.

What are your plans for engaging in research this year?

Currently, I am finishing up a project examining the benefit of bimodal stimulation on speech perception in hearing-impaired populations. It's a challenging project because I have little background in physics, engineering, and acoustics. However, I am lucky to be surrounded by brilliant and supportive lab members and mentors who facilitate my interests and have no issue providing feedback when needed. I can go to them whenever I have problems or am utterly confused. I have learned so much from them and cannot wait to see what I will learn in the future. I will start another speech perception project later in the year that looks at pitch shifts in cochlear implant subjects and how they may relate to the perception of vowels. Finally, I hope to start a community health project this year that looks at the resources available to the deaf population here in the Valley.

What is one interesting fact others might not know about you that you are willing to share?

I have an extensive collection of Barbie dolls my mother began collecting before I was born to manifest a daughter. I probably have more than an adult woman should have.

*d/Deaf refers to an individual who identifies as being deaf, with a lowercase “d” indicating that they have a significant hearing impairment.