Dr. Dawn Roach: An Antiguan DaughterTakes Flight
Class of 2017
Fellow: Infectious Diseases,
Mayo Clinic,
Florida
Dr. Dawn Roach’s medical journey began with a full scholarship from an AUA-Antiguan government initiative.
As an Antiguan and Barbuda native, this opportunity was a financial relief and a chance to study close to home.
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One of the most memorable experiences during her time at AUA was the white coat ceremony. “That’s when it hits you like, oh wow, I’m actually doing this.” Her professors also left a lasting impact, including the late Dr. Glasser, whom she still remembers his lessons on neural pathways. She also fondly remembers Dr. Deborah Russ, who was in charge of the very first Graduate Teaching Fellows group, which she was a part of, “She actually calls us her Antiguan daughters,” she shared.
From early on, Dr. Roach knew she wanted to be a doctor. Initially, she thought about pediatrics since she loves kids. She remembered watching the St. Jude’s Hospital commercials and wishing there was something she could do to help. When she had an opportunity to volunteer at a pediatric hospital, she felt heartbroken after seeing a baby
in a cast.
Therefore, she contemplated Sports Medicine since she had always enjoyed playing and watching sports growing up. However, she ultimately decided on Internal Medicine, which led her to her current specialty, Infectious Diseases. “Infectious Diseases is one of those specialties where you see the patient as a whole, not just different parts. So I’m not just looking at the heart; I’m not just looking at the kidneys. And it’s one of the specialties where I can actually cure you if we have a cure. So that’s something that I really love,” she shared.
Dr. Roach has accomplished so much, including matching into Mayo Clinic Florida for Infectious Diseases. She is now the chief fellow for infectious diseases at Mayo Clinic Florida.
Reflecting on her achievements, Dr. Roach humbly acknowledged the role of her family and friends in her journey. “It was teamwork that got me here. I can’t say that I was the only reason that I’m as successful as I am,” she stated, underscoring her friends’ and family’s efforts in her journey.
Speaking of family, Dr. Roach’s little sister aims to follow in her footsteps by attending AUA and becoming a doctor. “She actually wants to be cooler than me. She wants to be a pediatric surgeon,” she shared. “I really want AUA to keep growing and keep building so that the legacy can continue.”
✅ Request information on AUA's MD program TODAY!
YOUR PATH TO SUCCESS BEGINS HERE
✅ Request information on AUA's MD program TODAY!
