Jasmine Beasley (MS/Biomed '18)
At a young age, Jasmine Beasley said she realized that she had a genuine compassion for people. A short time later, her volunteer and internship experiences fueled her passion for medicine.
While in high school, Beasley was a member of the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) program which was affiliated with the Mid-Carolina Area Health Education Consortium. Before completing high school, she was exposed to a variety of medical disciplines and gained insight into becoming a healthcare professional.
“I was able to shadow physicians and volunteer in the areas of dermatology, pediatric intensive care, postpartum recovery and orthopedics,” she said.
While a student majoring in biology at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, Beasley volunteered and worked as a unit representative at Palmetto Health Baptist Hospital. Beasley explained that these experiences were extremely influential in her decision to become a physician.
“I was able to witness medical teams communicating and working together to care for patients often in very stressful situations, yet still maintain their humanity and compassion,” Beasley stated. “I always felt a sense of belonging and purpose when in any type of healthcare setting.”
A non-traditional student, Beasley entered the workforce after graduating from college with the intention of decreasing student debt prior to pursuing her calling to medicine. She became a certified nursing assistant, worked in child and youth services and spent six years in administrative roles at BlueCross Blue Shield in Columbia, South Carolina. She calls her time at Georgia Campus – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (GA-PCOM) one of her most rewarding academic experiences.
“GA-PCOM has given me the confidence and reassurance that I am truly pursuing a profession that was meant for me,” Beasley explained.
While attending GA-PCOM, Beasley has served as a Graduate Council officer, peer mentor and work study student. She was also inducted into the Alpha Epsilon Lambda (AEL) Honors Society. In addition, Beasley notes she has learned the values and benefits of self-care. She now engages in more activities, such as kickboxing, that reduce stress and promote emotional and physical well-being.
Beasley is in the process of preparing for the upcoming medical school application cycle and plans to enter the Army Health Professions Scholarship Program.
“I’m eager to serve my country and I’m excited about the opportunity to travel the world and experience avenues of medicine that I may not be exposed to outside of the military,” she said.
Beasley draws her inspiration from her mother.
“The countless sacrifices she made to ensure my brothers and I were able to succeed in life have given me my sense of purpose, “ she said. “My mother rose above her circumstances because she wanted more for us than what she had been offered in life. Her values helped shape the woman I have become.”
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