Student Spotlight: Freddie Morgan

As someone who’s lived in 15 cities over the course of their life, Frederick “Freddie” Morgan (’22) is taking to Cleveland well. “I feel that Cleveland is under-rated. There are so many hidden gems here,” he says. While he enjoys the city’s restaurants, breweries and up-and-coming neighborhoods, what he values most are the professional connections and growth opportunities made possible through CCLCM.

“The curriculum’s emphasis on scientific writing in addition to small class sizes helped me to improve on some of my weaknesses. I became a more efficient writer, and my case-based classes taught me to become more comfortable speaking up, particularly when my opinion differs from others,” he says.

Freddie also solidified his interest in dermatology during his time in medical school. Prior to matriculating, he worked in a dermatologic surgery clinic at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. That, combined with his research at CCLCM, fueled his decision to apply to dermatology residencies.

“I’ve found that in dermatology, each day is filled with variety. Even the most common conditions can have atypical patient presentations, so you have to be ready for anything,” he says.

Freddie completed his undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in nutrition sciences. After graduating, he joined Teach for America and worked as a middle school science teacher in an under-served school district in San Antonio, Texas. During medical school, he’s remained involved in the community, serving as a leader for the Community Health Initiative, a student-run screening clinic for homeless men.

“I was always interested in teaching,” says Freddie. “I enjoy sharing knowledge and seeing how knowledge imbues confidence, which is a main reason why I was attracted to medicine.”

Freddie once considered pursuing a PhD but found that CCLCM’s program gave him the opportunity to intertwine his interests in patient care, education and research.

This summer, Freddie successfully defended his thesis — a culmination of work that investigated skin manifestations of PTEN disorders. “I worked with a team of geneticists and pediatric dermatologists, and we were looking to see if there were any genetic mutations that could potentially explain the disorders’ dermatologic heterogeneity,” he explains.

Freddie sees himself one day working in an academic setting where he will be able to educate trainees and also lead his own research team.

Outside of his studies, Freddie recently got engaged, and he and his fiancé have been busy taking care of their Corgi puppy, who he says is very mischievous. The couple also loves to explore new restaurants around Cleveland. When he isn’t studying, Freddie can be found on the golf course, working, he says, on fixing his slice!