Britt Gratreak

MD-PhD student & new blogger

Brittany D.K. Gratreak MD-PhD Student University of Arizona COM-T

Brittany D.K. Gratreak
MD-PhD Student
University of Arizona COM-T

Welcome to my small gallery of procrastination.

I go by Britt (she/her) and I am a medical student training to become a physician-scientist at the University of Arizona. This website shows what I do instead of studying 24/7 and serves as both a creative outlet and source of information for others. When I begin my PhD, it will also include updates about my research in neuroscience.

Wrapping up my first year of medical school, there were a lot of things I wish I knew as a first-generation and low-income (FGLI) student constantly tripping over the hidden curriculum. My path to medicine was not an easy one and I hope that sharing what I learned along the way can save someone some grief and let others know that they aren’t alone. I am happy to chat with aspiring scientists and pre-medical students about how to reach their goals. Feel free to contact me or connect via social media links below.

 

UPDATES

Blog
Navigating Trauma in Your Personal Statement for Medical School
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Navigating Trauma in Your Personal Statement for Medical School
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My personal statement detailed one of the worst days of my life and began in the emergency room. (In-Training)

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Women’s professional groups must include all women and forgo the family planning pitfall
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Women’s professional groups must include all women and forgo the family planning pitfall
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Equity cannot be achieved until we support the inclusion of all women and gender minorities.

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Student guest column: Ways to help during the pandemic if you can’t be on the front lines
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Student guest column: Ways to help during the pandemic if you can’t be on the front lines
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Not everyone can volunteer on the health care front lines, but there are other ways to help the community cope during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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How medical students at high-risk can help during the COVID-19 pandemic
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How medical students at high-risk can help during the COVID-19 pandemic
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Medical students feel an urgent drive to help, along with a pang of powerlessness, especially for those with high-risk health conditions.

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Women Share Visions of Equality: UA Medical Students Empower Their Community on International Women’s Day
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Women Share Visions of Equality: UA Medical Students Empower Their Community on International Women’s Day
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UA College of Medicine - Tucson student leaders created an interactive display to reflect on gender bias & inform allies who want to help, but may not know how to.

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Congratulations to MD/PhD student Britt Gratreak for receiving American Medical Women's Association Awards
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Congratulations to MD/PhD student Britt Gratreak for receiving American Medical Women's Association Awards
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I got a nice shout-out from my MD-PhD program website for being awarded the Medical Education Scholarship and the Jim Heller Annual Meeting Travel Grant.

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My first first-author paper was published!
my research
My first first-author paper was published!
my research

These results indicate that tacrolimus affects calcium and magnesium transport along the distal convoluted tubule and strongly suggests that inhibition of the phosphatase, calcineurin, is directly involved.

my research
Following brain injuries, Britt Gratreak’s road to recovery continues at medical school
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Following brain injuries, Britt Gratreak’s road to recovery continues at medical school
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The injury caused neuro fatigue, brain fog, and intolerance of sunlight and sound. It forced Gratreak to pause on applying to medical school as she spent months in rehabilitation.

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WHAT AM I FOCUSED ON?

  • Women’s health, gender equity, & reproductive rights

  • Wrestling disparities within medicine

  • Including LGBTQIA+ health in medical school curriculum

  • Brain injury research

  • Cats, cats, cats, cats, cats

  • Writing about having disabilities as a med student and hoping my experiences can be used to help others

  • Mentoring premeds and making sure no one freaks out over stuff that they don’t need to be freaking out over

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