The Ambassadors share the goal in attracting the best possible students to Wake Forest University School of Medicine. They assist with on and off campus recruitment activities and act as liaisons among visiting students and the student body.
Dean's Ambassadors
Dean's Ambassadors are an elected group of students who are a part of the Admissions Office team.
Ankita Prakash - Class of 2028
I remember when I first came to visit the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, excited and nervous knowing that I may call this place home for the next four years. I was enamored by the rich culture, architecture, and community that Winston-Salem has to offer. I walked down Bailey Park and entered the Bowman Gray Center for Medical Education, finding gorgeous glass paned study halls surrounding the building, lush greenery lining the walkways, and most importantly, a smiling face at every corner. I learned about the rich history of the building and the surrounding Innovation Quarter area, and met the many wonderful people who bring character to this city. I immediately knew that I wanted to call this place home.
Beyond stellar academics and a curriculum guaranteed to develop students into fantastic, skilled physicians, the school of medicine houses a deep sense of community that welcomes students of all backgrounds with open arms. Within my first few months at school here, I have made friendships that will last me a lifetime. I feel genuine support in every aspect of my life here from my friends, faculty, and mentors. Rather than competition, I find collaboration, a pillar of medicine that no physician can be successful without.
Within every faculty and staff member, I have been pleased to find warmth, kindness, and a genuine desire to develop me into an excellent, well rounded physician. Even more so, I feel as though I am valued and cared for as a student beyond just my academics. I feel supported in every endeavor I wish to take on. I feel confident that my experiences at Wake Forest will guide me in every aspect of my career in medicine and beyond.
Whether it be run club at Fiddlin’ Fish on Mondays, Salsa at East of Texas on Tuesdays, or Jiu Jitsu on Wednesdays, Winston Salem continuously offers a strong sense of community that deeply resonates with me. This environment has allowed me to grow academically and personally, which has been vital to my ability to thrive in medical school. I am confident that Wake Forest University School of Medicine offers a unique and exceptional program like no other. There is no place I would rather be.
If you have any questions about my experience at Wake Forest, living in Winston-Salem, or being a student navigating medicine, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I can’t wait to talk to you and meet you at school soon!
Stuart Lewis, Class of 2027
Wake Forest University School of Medicine had always been on my radar ever since I began my undergraduate education at Wake Forest University. However, other than the fact that I wouldn’t have to move from Winston-Salem and that I could still be studying under the institution, I didn’t fully understand why this medical school would truly be the best place to become a future physician. It wasn’t until I met some of the current medical students for the first time that I truly understood and desired to become a part of this awesome place. The students I met were kind, compassionate, and absolutely brilliant. It became so clear to me that the Wake Forest School of Medicine was building up some of the most loving and competent students and future physicians ever seen – the type of students and physicians I desperately aspired to be.
While the admissions process could at many times be discouraging, making me feel like I’m always playing the comparison game with all the other applicants, I never felt that way with Wake Forest. This institution always strived to show warmth and intentionality to know me personally, even with the thousands upon thousands of applications it receives. The admissions team at Wake has always been so receptive and responsive, ready to come alongside others that are passionate about medicine and caring for others.
It was an even greater pleasure to realize that the warmth and intentionality is not localized to just the admissions team. Everyone in this place, from all of the faculty to all of the students, are committed to bring out the best in each other. Ultimately, the people are what make Wake Forest into the medical school that it is. There is not a single person who isn’t cheering you on – Wake Forest is not a place of dehumanizing competition but of passionate collaboration. I have never witnessed such an environment where the professors are always willing to come alongside you and help you become the best physician you can be. Furthermore, you will not find a more welcoming and helpful group of medical students than here at Wake. Everyone is constantly helping each other and inspiring one another to strive deeper into love, community, and excellence. I promise you, there is no place quite like Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
If you have any questions at all and want to connect with me and other students, please do not hesitate to email me, I would love nothing more than to gush more about Wake Forest, its people, and its mission – and, of course, to warmly and intentionally get to know any aspiring physicians and future medical students.
While the admissions process could at many times be discouraging, making me feel like I’m always playing the comparison game with all the other applicants, I never felt that way with Wake Forest. This institution always strived to show warmth and intentionality to know me personally, even with the thousands upon thousands of applications it receives. The admissions team at Wake has always been so receptive and responsive, ready to come alongside others that are passionate about medicine and caring for others.
It was an even greater pleasure to realize that the warmth and intentionality is not localized to just the admissions team. Everyone in this place, from all of the faculty to all of the students, are committed to bring out the best in each other. Ultimately, the people are what make Wake Forest into the medical school that it is. There is not a single person who isn’t cheering you on – Wake Forest is not a place of dehumanizing competition but of passionate collaboration. I have never witnessed such an environment where the professors are always willing to come alongside you and help you become the best physician you can be. Furthermore, you will not find a more welcoming and helpful group of medical students than here at Wake. Everyone is constantly helping each other and inspiring one another to strive deeper into love, community, and excellence. I promise you, there is no place quite like Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
If you have any questions at all and want to connect with me and other students, please do not hesitate to email me, I would love nothing more than to gush more about Wake Forest, its people, and its mission – and, of course, to warmly and intentionally get to know any aspiring physicians and future medical students.
Yahnick Barclay, Class of 2025
My journey to Wake Forest University School of Medicine began the spring of 2016, when I attended an SNMA conference here as a junior in college. Hosted by the underrepresented students at the School of Medicine, I was intrigued by the welcoming atmosphere, and inspired by the pride and satisfaction that these students had to call the School of Medicine their home. As a graduate of a small historically black college, seeing people who looked like me so fulfilled while pursuing their dreams compelled me to follow in their footsteps.
I returned to Wake Forest University in 2019, when selected to partake in a Master of Biomedical Sciences, pre-health program that is subtly acquainted with the school of medicine. I got a glimpse of the quality of education provided, as we had professors who doubled as medical school faculty. I fell in love with the challenging yet supportive nature of the learning experience, having access to professors with extensive office hours and open-door policies. I was impressed by the cutting-edge research opportunities, with nearly endless possibilities to meet student interest. With this, I knew that the School of Medicine would give me the most up-to-date and relevant education to prepare me for a successful career in medicine.
As an MS1 nearing the end of Anatomy, my expectations have been exceeded academically, with amazing faculty that are dedicated to our success. However, the collaborative culture amongst students here at the School of Medicine is a gift I never knew that I needed. I remember hearing so much about it at interview day and second-look events, but there are few words to convey the genuine support system that exists within the student body here. It is simply an experience that makes the journey to MD even more worthwhile.
If you want to hear more about my experience, have questions about Wake Forest University School of Medicine, or want to know it’s like to be an URM, I’d love to hear from you. If I don’t have an answer, I surely know a classmate who does!
Miles Hollimon, Class of 2026
I believe the reason Wake Forest School of Medicine is so special is that the culture and community at Wake makes learning fun and collaborative. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, I couldn’t have an in person visit at Wake, and therefore I had to rely on the current students and admissions’ events to understand what it was like to attend Wake Forest School of Medicine. I remember talking to the medical students about work-life balance and about how they navigated difficult topics in medical school. Each student I spoke to provided me with a similar answer. They all accredited their success in and outside of medical school to the wonderful community of faculty and students at Wake who are always ready to help and support each other.
Now as a first-year student I can attest to the positive learning environment here at the School of Medicine which is focused on allowing students to be the best they can be and providing them with the necessary resources if they are struggling. Whether it be course directors, academic coaches, upper-level medical students, or physicians in the hospital, every person at Wake wants students to succeed and feel motivated to take on the challenges of medical school. I am still impressed by the many different resources that students are provided as well as the variety of different extracurricular clubs and activities we can participate in. (I recommend DEAC, its awesome!).
If you value a supportive community and a plethora of resources to assist you throughout your journey in medical school, then Wake Forest School of Medicine is the perfect place for you. Like I said earlier, I would have never fully experienced how amazing of a school Wake is without the insight of current students. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to me! I would love to show you how unique Wake Forest is!