The Mahogany Tower April 2020 Spotlight: Dolphurs Hayes
In the midst of this public health pandemic, it certainly makes us all appreciative of the tireless commitment of our healthcare professionals. A year or two before I graduated from high school, my school revamped its science program, and I think it ultimately ended up spurring a lot of graduates, particularly students of color (since my high school was mostly black), to attend college, graduate with STEM degrees, and ultimately attend medical school.
Coming from a reasonably low income community, I’ve enjoyed seeing these students matriculate throughout their journey: attending college, excelling in college, gaining acceptance into medical school, graduating from medical school, and pursuing additional training in the form of residency and fellowships. Dolphurs, in particular, caught my attention (even though we’ve NEVER met in person!) as a rising star in the field of medicine. We grew up in the same town and attended the same high school… and it’s not every day I get to see people from my community entering one of the most esteemed, respected, and rigorous career tracks society has to offer (much less as a black man). Don’t let his track and field accolades fool you… he’s a brilliant young man, earning degree number 3, and an aspiring cardiologist.
You can read our interview below.
ACADEMIC BIO
Doctor of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine
Master of Health Sciences, Meharry Medical College
Bachelor’s in Biology, Savannah State University
Q: You grew up in Albany, GA and you left for school. How did you end up at Savannah State?
I ended up at SSU after getting a scholarship to pole vault for the track and field team. I chose SSU because it was an NCAA Division I program at the time and they offered me a full scholarship. This was one of the best decisions I have made thus far in my life. My time at SSU was amazing and allowed me to experience a lot of personal growth.
Q: You mentioned that you went to Savannah State wanting to pursue a career in healthcare. What led up to you deciding to pursue medicine?
My initial motivation was my mother. My mother worked as a dialysis nurse for 25 years. While growing up, she always brought me and my sister up to her job. I admired how much her patients loved her and the care she provided for them. This ultimately made me want to do the same with my career. I paired this with my love for science, and that’s when I decided I wanted to pursue a career in medicine.
Q: You told me that one of the distinguishing features of your time at Savannah State was the mentorship you received. Can you talk about how important that was for you, particularly coming from a community like Albany?
Mentoring was very important to me because it allowed me to receive guidance from individuals that had been successful in advancing their careers and reaching milestones that I was still working towards. My mentors were not only able to give me advice to help me reach my goals, but my mentors were people I could relate to. I feel like finding a person that you can relate to enables you to be that much more confident and receptive to the advice they give. Coming from a place like Albany, having a positive mentor is vital. There were a lot of distractions and pitfalls for me along the way, so I value positive mentorship a lot.
Q: It sounds like you had some great professional development opportunities while you were in undergrad that really gave you perspective on what you wanted to do with your career. Can you talk about some of those summer research experiences?
During my freshman year of college, I was able to join a research program called “RISE”. This was a paid program that was specifically for underrepresented minorities which gave us the opportunity to do research in various areas of science.
During the summer after freshman year, I was given the opportunity to go to Univ of North Texas Health Science in Fort Worth, TX. This was a paid opportunity where I did cancer reach with minorities from across the US. It was an amazing experience where I met lifelong friends and made valuable connections. The summer of my sophomore year, I was invited to participate at a program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine where I did another paid research experience: clinical studies on tendon regeneration. Again, this was an amazing experience where I met great friends and learned a lot about the medical school process. I was also able to shadow a physician for the first time, a practicing urologist. These experiences, collectively, helped me gain valuable research and shadowing experience that looked great on my medical school application.
Q: You were really interested in going to medical school, but you had to overcome a lot to make that dream come true. Can you share about your first time applying and what helped you keep your confidence in the midst of those disappointments?
My first time applying was for sure a wake up call for me. While I was disappointed by the final admissions decisions, it made me do some self-reflection and consider the effort I was putting forth. After the rejections, I hung my denial letters on my wall in my room so whenever I felt unmotivated, I would look at them for fuel to keep pushing.
Q: You did a master’s program in Tennessee to help you better position yourself for medical school. How did you make the most of a very short gap year?
I made the most of the opportunity by adopting new study habits and networking with professionals in the field. This allowed me to not only improve my test scores but gain valuable connections that could help me in the future.
Q: The first year of most programs is usually extremely difficult. How was the 1st year at Morehouse Medicine? Did you have any insecurities, fears, imposter syndrome, etc.?
My first year was different than most. While most students see it as difficult and daunting, I can truly say I enjoyed every second of my first year. I was so thankful to FINALLY be in medical school that it made the transition to the intensity much more enjoyable. I also had a great group of classmates around me that made the experience even better. Whenever things would get rough, I would always remind myself of how hard I worked to be here and the thousands of other applicants that would love to be in this position.
Q: You grew up in a modest community in Albany, GA, and now you’re a young, black professional about to earn his doctor of medicine (MD) from a school in Atlanta, GA. How is it being a black professional in Atlanta? How has that shaped you as a black man in his mid 20’s?
Being a young black professional in Atlanta is truly amazing. You would be amazed by the number of black professionals there are in the city. There are many opportunities for networking and its always a blessing to see successful individuals that look like me. Seeing this on a daily basis keeps me motivated to pushing to achieve my goals.
Q: You’re still deciding on what area of medicine you’re interested in practicing, but it sounds like you’re leaning towards cardiology. What got you interested in that specialty?
I became interested in cardiology during my first year of medical school after studying the physiology of the heart. It’s just so intriguing to me how such a small organ can have such huge impacts on the whole body. I became more interested in the field after learning that the number 1 killer in the US is heart disease. The part that makes that statistic even more significant is that most heart issues are preventative. This makes me passionate about being part of the next generation of cardiologist that help improve health outcomes and spread awareness, within the community, concerning how to eradicate these conditions.
Q: Since starting medical school, what’s been your favorite moment?
My favorite moment of medical school was hearing one of my patients tell me how great of job I was doing and how proud of me they were. Having moments like this reminds me of the “why” I chose this occupation.
Q: If you could go back in time, what would you tell yourself the week before starting medical school?
I would tell myself to enjoy each moment cause the time will fly by! It seems like yesterday I was starting medical school and now I’m halfway done with my 3rd year.
Q: I imagine school is busy, but what do you do to unwind when you’re available?
I pride myself on having a work/life balance. I believe it is crucial to maintain your mental health in this field. On my off time, I like to go out and explore different activities in the city with my friends. This could include going out to parties, taking trips, playing basketball or even hiking. As my classmates would say, “you’re always doing something.”
Q: Any advice for underrepresented students that are aspiring medical students?
My main advice is to seek mentorship. You are not in this journey alone and there are many resources to help you. I mentor a lot of underrepresented students and I enjoy every minute of it. I will never forget being in their position, so it makes giving back so much more worthwhile. If you are having trouble finding mentorship, feel free to reach out to me.
IG: dhayes_ent
Email: dolphurs229@gmail.com
Nnamdi