Christ School Father Shares Medical Expertise
Medical Interest Club will host more guest speakers throughout the year
Dr. Todd Cross P'22 leveled with about a dozen Christ School students on Tuesday.
Cross told the boys that some medical professionals do not secure their first full-time job until their early-30s. And that it's completely worth the wait.
"There's not a single job I'd rather do," Cross said. "I've done computer work, made money in real estate and other ways. I'd be a doctor every day of the week, hands down. It was a calling for me. There is no better job than health care. There is no better job than taking care of someone."
Dr. Cross is the father of eighth-grader Jack Cross, and was the first guest speaker of the year for the Medical Interest Club, founded by Miles Gardner '20 and Max Field '20. The club's faculty advisor is Mallary Clay.
"It was really cool. I liked it a lot," Jack said of his father's hour-long talk. "I don't think I would do anything requiring surgery, but I want to go into medicine some day, too."
Dr. Cross is an Allergist who has studied at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, University of Arizona, University of Georgia, and University of North Carolina, where he did a residency in Internal Medicine. He outlined the differences between procedural and non-procedural work on Tuesday, as well as personally reflected on the lifestyle choices that doctors have to make.
"If you want to go to medical school, the most important thing is to get exposure," Dr. Cross said. "Shadow a family member if they're in medicine. If that is reasonable, try to figure out what they do on a daily basis. If there is ever a chance to take anatomy, do it. That is a huge part of medical school the first six months. Expand your scope, read more about health care."
Clay said that the Medical Interest Club will continue to host a number of different medical professionals, to give the boys an idea of their options. Clay and several club members visited the Sherman College of Chiropractic cadaver lab in Spartanburg, S.C, for an Enrichment Day activity on October 25.
