Student Spotlight: Emily Wesley

Tell us briefly about yourself.

I spent most of my childhood near Tulsa, Okla., and moved to Elkhart, Kans., in high school, where my family owns a farm. I went to college at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where I had an incredible experience majoring in biology with an emphasis in biomedical sciences. I took one gap year where I worked as a research assistant at the Children’s Mercy Research Institute. I’m looking forward to applying into anesthesiology residency this fall.

Why did you choose CCLCM?

I chose CCLCM for the opportunity to be mentored by world leaders in medicine and research. I believe that medical research can improve the care of not only patients at Cleveland Clinic but also patients around the world. CCLCM provides an incredible environment to build crucial research skills that I plan to utilize in my future career in academic medicine.

I also love being a part of the CCLCM family. I feel honored to be surrounded by such intelligent and kind peers and faculty members.

What is one of your favorite experiences at CCLCM thus far?

It’s difficult to pick just one! One of my favorite experiences was joining the liver transplant team on a flight for organ procurement from a donor who had recently passed. What an incredible gift that was given by the donor, and I felt so lucky to see the medicine and teamwork behind it all.

What have you discovered about Cleveland that you especially enjoy?

It’s not exactly in Cleveland, but I’ve loved being a short drive away from one of the best amusement parks in the world. My fiancé, Jordan, and I are roller coaster enthusiasts, so we’ve loved being season ticket holders.

We also love the Metroparks. When looking for an apartment, I made sure to find one that is a short walk away from a beautiful Metroparks trail, which we use almost daily.

Tell us about your research year project.

My research year project is with the Center for Value-Based Care Research here at Cleveland Clinic, where I am mentored by Kathryn Martinez, PhD, MPH; Michael Rothberg, MD, MPH; and Elizabeth Pfoh, PhD, MPH. My project involves coronary artery calcium scoring, which is an imaging test that helps predict the risk of future heart attack or stroke. My project looks at how clinicians currently use this test in their day-to-day practice. We also plan to look at the impact it has on prescriptions and expensive downstream procedures.

How do you manage stress?

I believe exercise is the best medicine for stress. I really enjoy weightlifting with my fiancé whenever we can fit it into our schedule. We have a weekly routine of going to our local gym and then to a nearby restaurant for half-price apps every Friday night! We also enjoy hiking through the Metroparks and national parks. Last year, we hiked the Grand Canyon from the canyon rim to the Colorado River and back, from sunrise to sunset, in one day!

What are some words of wisdom you live by?

One of my favorite quotes comes from Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, “You have to temper the iron. Every hardship is an opportunity that you are given, an opportunity to grow. To grow is the sole purpose of existence on this planet Earth. You will not grow if you sit in a beautiful flower garden, but you will grow if you are sick, if you are in pain, if you experience losses, and if you do not put your head in the sand, but take the pain as a gift to you with a very, very specific purpose.”

My passion for medicine comes from the impact physicians had on my life when, as a child, I lost my mom to glioblastoma and my dad to a hemorrhagic stroke. My life’s work is to make my parents proud and to make a difference in the lives of my future patients and their families.

What’s something you've been learning about lately simply out of curiosity?

During my research year, I’ve been learning how to make balloon animals. There’s nothing more special than to see a child’s face light up when you make them a balloon animal. I can make several animals now, like a tiger and a teddy bear. I also enjoy making simple balloon animals out of hospital gloves, which I think would be fun during my future pediatric rotations.

What advice would you give to new CCLCM students?

I would give advice that I consistently give myself that comes from Marcus Aurelius:

“In your actions, don't procrastinate.
In your conversations, don't confuse.
In your thoughts, don't wander.
In your soul, don't be passive or aggressive.
In your life, don't be all about business.”

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

I recently got engaged at the top of Angels Landing in Zion National Park. Thankfully, neither of us is afraid of heights!