Leigh Eck

I knew I wanted to go a science, pre-health career route, but I was looking for something different than Biology. Nutritional Science was the perfect option for me.

• Student Foundation
• Mortar Board
• Chimes
• Spurs
• Student Alumni Board

In medicine, you complete residency training prior to starting your career. I completed a residency in Internal Medicine and then additional fellowship training in Endocrinology.

I took a job at KU Medical following my completion of fellowship. I was hired by my former Internal Medicine Program Director as he was Chair of the Department of Medicine by the time I completed all of my training.

My days vary; I spend ½ of my time caring for patients with endocrine issues in clinic and in the hospital setting. I spend the other ½ of my time in the education of medical students and Internal Medicine residents.

I love the variety and working with medical students, residents and fellows as well as seeing patients in clinic and the hospital.

There is continuously too much to do and not enough time to do it all.

Challenge yourself academically in undergraduate school, develop good study habits, and develop healthy lifestyle habits in order to sustain yourself through a grueling but rewarding career in medicine.

While at K-State, I shadowed a family physician, worked in a physical therapy clinic, and spent a summer traveling to Kansas City in order to work as an EKG technician at KU Medical. Each of these exposures helped me to understand medicine better.

I made decisions to stay in Kansas City for residency and fellowship training based in part on my husband’s career.

Once I left K-State and started medical school, I had to figure out how to study more effectively and efficiently in order to handle the amount of material that is covered in medical school. I have always been very good about incorporating healthy eating and exercise into my daily life; this is necessary for me to handle stress.

I think when I was successful in organic chemistry 1 and 2; I realized that I could handle the academic rigor of medical school. This academic success helped to develop my confidence in myself.