Hemphill, Texas (July 25, 2019) – Marrying her interest in helping others with her love of science, Desire’ Guillory has set her heart on being a pediatrician in an underserved area. Now a medical student at the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine (UTMB), Galveston, she is well on her way to achieving her goal.

“Medicine allows me to take care of, work with, and talk to different people daily,” explained Guillory. “There’s never a day that I don’t learn something new about medicine and patient care from working in a clinic or hospital, and from the patients themselves.”

Guillory is currently adding to her knowledge of medicine and patient care by “shadowing” Greg Backofen, M.D., gaining hands-on experience in a busy family practice setting that includes clinic, hospital and emergency department coverage.

Sabine County Hospital is one of three hospitals affiliated with Preferred that serve as training sites for UTMB medical students. Critical to selection of a site is the willingness of a board certified family medicine physician, like Dr. Backofen, to serve as the medical student’s supervisor.

“I really enjoy working with medical students,” said Dr. Backofen. “They challenge me to be a better physician, and I challenge them to better understand the role and needs of family practice physicians in small communities,” he continued.

Guillory is also committed to volunteering, and chooses to work with organizations that complement her chosen profession and personal interests, such as Allies in Medicine, the Pediatric Student Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is also an active member of several professional organizations.

She graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science degree from Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans. Upon completion of medical school, she hopes to complete a pediatric residency.

“In my free time,” she laughs, “I would also like to enhance my language skills, improving my ability to speak Spanish and learning sign language.”