Miracles In Motion: Joey

“People say your intended career path always changes when you go into med school. Right now I want to work in pediatric oncology, but I am going into it with an open mind. Dance Marathon at the University of Florida has prepared me and even trained me in a way. It’s a very people-focused organization. The mission is to serve and help the kids at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital and assist with funding for our local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.

There is more humanism to being a physician than just writing a prescription or providing a treatment or giving a shot. It means caring for the child and their needs, for which there are so many different developmental levels. You also have to treat the family because when the child is staying in the hospital, they are all being affected. Dance Marathon has shown me that side of medicine. These kids, when they aren’t in the hospital, can be just like every other kid– often with a lot more altruism and empathy.

I didn’t even realize I was good with kids until DM. Over my time as a Captain and in being on the Overall Team I have realized that more. You get to be a kid again and communicate with their families. Med school is going to be a huge responsibility but a great opportunity. Dance Marathon makes me want to be better and keep going when it gets tough.”  – Joey, Membership Manager for Dance Marathon at the University of Florida and first-year student in the UF College of Medicine

Want to be like Joey and support your local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital? Click here to learn more.

Miracles in Motion tells the inspiring stories of our pediatric patient families, clinicians and staff members in their everyday lives. These moments are what make UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital​ such a special place to the more than 150,000 patient families treated here each year. Follow along to learn more about these stories and how Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals​ makes even the most ordinary moments extraordinary.