Ask A Kaplan MCAT Instructor with Me: Roy Lee
Question:
What has been your favorite pre-med class so far? (Was there a particular experience or course that sparked your passion for medicine and made you feel like, “This is the path for me”?)
Answer:
My favorite pre-med course was basic physiology, which laid the groundwork for many essential concepts I use every day in medical school. Physiology teaches you the fundamental processes of the human body, and one powerful example is applying the concept of negative feedback to diagnose conditions like hypothyroidism.
On a recent rotation, I saw a patient who was bradycardic, overweight, and experiencing fatigue—classic signs of hypothyroidism. Normally, the body regulates thyroid hormones through a negative feedback loop: the pituitary gland releases TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), which signals the thyroid to produce T4. When T4 levels rise, they inhibit TSH production, maintaining balance. However, in hypothyroidism, T4 is low, and there's no negative feedback to shut off TSH, leading to elevated TSH levels. By understanding these basic physiological principles, I knew to order TSH and T4 tests to confirm the diagnosis. These foundational concepts from my pre-med physiology course continue to be invaluable in clinical decision-making.
Have you had a course or experience that has influenced your pre-med path? If so, I would love to hear about it! Please share your favorite pre-med course or experience in the comments below.