From Passion to Purpose: A Commitment to Giving Back Inspires a Career in Medicine
We’re highlighting our Class of 2025 students in advance of Match Day on March 21. Stay connected with the Miller School of Medicine on social media for more student profiles and to follow along for live Match Day coverage.
Acts of service are part of Emily Eachus’ family DNA. Eachus grew up in Plantation, Fla., and spent countless hours working at nonprofits with her father and volunteering with her mother at an animal shelter. The experiences fueled her desire to give back through her own career.
Eachus, now a member of the the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Class of 2025, shares more about how she integrated her passion for service with her future in medicine.
What made you want to go into medicine?
I knew I wanted to go into a profession that helped others. In addition, I have always enjoyed the STEM field and pursued it as a major in biochemistry and nutrition at the University of Miami for my undergraduate studies. I then completed three minors in psychology, chemistry and Spanish.
It was during my first year of undergrad when I shadowed a breast oncologist and realized how profoundly I could help people as a physician.
Talk a bit about your gap year before entering medical school.
I took a gap year between undergrad and medical school and saw an opportunity to return to teaching, a passion of mine since high school, when I spent my summers working at a preschool. Initially, I planned to be a substitute teacher in STEM. However, when the calculus instructor at the school where I was subbing left unexpectedly, I stepped into the role as a full-time teacher.
What makes a good physician and clinician is someone who is passionate about their patients and understands their ‘why’ in medicine.
—Emily Eachus
Although initially difficult, I thrived in these moments and learned so much about myself.
Why did you choose the Miller School for your medical education?
I ultimately chose the Miller School because of its ideal location and reputation of excellence. Not only were my parents close by and I was already familiar with Miami, but I knew I enjoyed the city’s diverse community.
Additionally, the Miller School has one of the best community service outreach programs in the country, the Mitchell Wolfson Sr. Department of Community Service (DOCS).
Tell us about your time here in medical school.
I made sure to get the most out of my medical school experience by becoming involved in everything that sparked my interest. I started my first year of medical school involved with Wolfson DOCS, serving as the assistant logistics coordinator for the Fort Lauderdale health fair. I remained with the organization all four years, growing in my involvement from the station manager and head of all health fairs to now serving as executive director.
I took on research with the Miami Street Medicine organization and was selected to be a part of the admissions committee for the Class of 2029. Another proud accomplishment was being inducted into last year’s cohort of the Gold Humanism Honor Society.
What is the No One Dies Alone (NODA) program?
One of my passions is ensuring that individuals without loved ones receive compassionate end-of-life care. To address this, I founded the NODA initiative at UM, connecting medical students and UHealth staff with patients in their final 24 to 48 hours.
Our volunteers are trained to provide meaningful companionship, whether by reading a poem, listening to music or simply holding a hand. We also collaborate with spiritual services to honor the importance of this aspect of end-of-life care. Launching this initiative required significant effort and coordination, but through teamwork and dedication, we successfully brought it to life.
What specialty are you aspiring to match into and why?
It all comes back to me having lots of interests and passions. I gravitated toward anesthesiology since it allows you to partake in health care with different medical specialties and populations.
Ultimately, I loved the aspect of how critical the specialty is. Anesthesia involves a high responsibility towards patient safety, which made me feel part of a pure and authentic form of medicine.
How are you feeling about Match Day?
It’s an extremely exciting time. No matter the results, this is a moment to be proud of yourself for getting your first job after these tough four years. I’m viewing Match Day as an accomplishment, no matter where I go.
Looking ahead, what kind of physician do you want to be?
I see myself in academic medicine, where I will continue my love for teaching, but this time with residents, fellows and medical students. I also envision myself conducting research to lead advocacy for my patients’ safety and their health care issues.
What makes a good physician and clinician is someone who is passionate about their patients and understands their “why” in medicine, as this mindset will sustain them throughout their career.
Tags: DOCS, Match Day, Match Day 2025, medical students, Miller School of Medicine, Mitchell Wolfson Sr. Department of Community Service, student leadership