Hello everyone! My name is Courtney Kodweis and I am a first year medical student at VCOM - Carolinas. I am originally from Rochester, NY, about 7 hours northwest of NYC. In 2014, I graduated with an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University at Buffalo, after which I moved back home for a year to pursue a MS degree in medical device design at the University of Rochester. I then spent a year in Plymouth, MI where I worked for a company designing 3-D printed surgical guides for upper extremity cases before moving to SC for medical school this past summer. I enjoy cooking, spending time outside (hiking, camping, kayaking - you name it!), traveling, reading, watching TV and spending time with family. I also have a thing for chocolate and puppies.
In undergrad, we had several courses focused on developing engineering solutions to complex global health issues like clean water and access to medications. Then, between my junior and senior year, I spent 6 weeks in India for a summer research program - it opened my eyes to the systemic health issues and the importance of cultural context in developing solutions. Altogether, the experience sparked my interest in and passion for global health. Both of these experiences have fueled my excitement for joining this course. I look forward to learning from the case studies and each of you!