Alumni couple pursues medical school side by side

Since meeting as first-year students, Sajae Willis ’22 and Jolie Garcia ’22 have been inseparable. Together, they navigated the rigors of Eastern’s biology program and now continue their journey side by side in medical school.

Now four years into their marriage and starting their first year at Burrell School of Osteopathic Medicine in Melbourne, FL, a school with a 2% acceptance rate, the couple's story is marked by mutual support and a passion to serve underprivileged communities.

Growing up in Jamaica, Willis became inspired to serve underprivileged communities through a career in medicine. He shared that he grew up "seeing people get injured and not go to the hospital due to inaccessible healthcare," he said. "The nearest hospital was four hours away and most times no one had money to pay for service.”

Garcia, a low-income student from Woodbridge, CT, shared that her motivation for a career in medicine was watching her mother’s resilience when studying to become an occupational therapy assistant. “My mom was working full time, going to school, and taking care of my sister and me,” Garcia said.

She also witnessed the profound impact of supportive healthcare professionals while her father struggled with his health: “My dad’s cardiovascular health issues also allowed me to see his journey and the support of physicians and healthcare providers. ... I felt like I wanted to be that support for other families.”

As biology majors at Eastern, Willis and Garcia often shared the same core classes, making it easier to study and grow together academically. “We were huge supportive figures for each other since we started dating in December of our first year,” said Garcia.

The couple recalls the experiences at Eastern that made their bond tighter and their resumes stronger. “We did everything together — volunteering, teaching assistantships, late-night study sessions, and tutoring,” Willis said.

While at Eastern, the couple placed a strong emphasis on community involvement, volunteering with the Collegiate Health Service Corps (CHSC), a state-wide training program and service-learning experience for undergraduate students.

“We went and taught health literacy to underrepresented communities,” Willis explained.

CHSC led them to the Central Area Health Education Center, another organization that trains and educates underserved high school, college, and health professionals on health literacy through service learning, specifically in central Connecticut.

Willis helped organize migrant farmworker clinics, delivering healthcare via mobile units to those in need. “It was great that I got to serve a population of patients that would usually not get any type of healthcare,” he said.

These experiences are just some of the ways the couple got involved in serving disadvantaged populations, a sentiment that would aid them in their medical school applications.

“Schools want physicians who are culturally competent,” Willis said. “Burrell’s mission aligns with educating a diverse healthcare workforce and providing culturally respectful education, so our experiences really resonated with them.”

After graduating, the couple tirelessly studied for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), a standardized exam required for admission to medical schools. Willis continued working as an emergency medical technician (EMT) while Garcia worked as a medical assistant.

They also started their own business, CT First Aid CPR, a training program for individuals who are interested in being certified in CPR and other first aid procedures. Though the couple doesn’t teach classes anymore, the couple reports business is up and running with a team of dedicated nurses, paramedics, and firefighters committed to educating community members on life-saving skills.

Willis and Garcia continue to support one another with the same teamwork and dedication that carried them through undergrad and their gap years. “It’s cool to have a built-in study group at home with your wife,” said Willis. “It doesn’t get easier ... but all of our experiences make us stronger.”