Seeking out the plethora of opportunities available to students at Clemson University pays dividends, says senior biological sciences major Malia Garcia.
Garcia said her decision to pursue a shadowing opportunity with Dr. Craig Brackett, a breast surgeon and medical director at the Tidelands Breast Health Program in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, area, gave her new insight about possible careers in the medical field.
Garcia, who transferred to Clemson from Piedmont Technical College, came from a family of nurses, and she knew growing up that she wanted to be involved in the medical field.
She participated in Tigers on Call, an annual event for Clemson students interested in pursuing a career in health care. During the event, students engage in mentoring, mock interviews, hands-on activities like suture clinics and networking to prepare for their future careers. It is hosted by Health Professions Advising (HPA) in collaboration with the College of Science.
One of Garcia’s favorite parts of Tigers on Call was the roundtable discussions, where Clemson alumni and friends sit down for lunch with undergraduate students. This is where Garcia made connections, networked and sought opportunities in health care fields.
“I’ve had a thousand no’s, but all it took was one yes, and my entire mindset shifted.”
Malia Garcia
Two years ago, she met Brackett, a Clemson alumnus and one of the founders of Tigers on Call. She shadowed him for a week in July 2025.
Highs and lows
During office hours, Garcia sat in when Brackett gave patients their diagnoses and prognoses. “I was able to see the highs and lows of his specialty, and what it takes to care for people with such an aggressive disease as cancer,” she said.
At the hospital, Garcia watched debriefing sessions where medical personnel from multiple departments in the hospital discussed procedures for specific patients who had aggressive and unique cases of cancer.
“I was one of the first students in undergrad to be allowed to witness this, and I took delicate notes to understand the critical thinking and reasoning behind some of their actions,” she said.
She witnessed several different surgeries, including plastic surgery, liposuction, mastectomies, cancerous lymph node removal and breast reconstruction.
Pros and cons
During the week, Garcia spoke to other doctors, including an anesthesiologist.
“We spoke at length about his path and its pros and cons. I learned that an anesthesiologist really does do delicate work, and while the patient may not remember them, they are the last and first thing their patient sees. Something about that and making the patient comfortable really warmed my heart,” she said.
After the shadowing opportunity, Garcia realized she enjoyed the operating room and began considering specializing in cardiothoracic anesthesiology.
Garcia said she knows how hard it can be for younger students to approach older mentors and professionals. But she said she overcame her concerns by remembering they are human beings who had been exactly where she was and want to help Clemson students.
One of Garcia’s best pieces of advice is to follow through.
Garcia said another doctor she shadowed told her he traded contact information with 50 students and she was the only one who followed through and reached out.
Opportunities
Tigers on Call is not the only opportunity Garcia has pursued at Clemson.
She works as an undergraduate teaching assistant in the chemistry department, where she helps develop and teach organic chemistry laboratory classes. She also works as a College of Science ambassador, part of a group of students who represent the College of Science at recruitment events.
Garcia started as a mentee in the award-winning College of Science Mentoring and Inclusion Collaborative (COSMIC), led by Sharetta Wynn, director of recruitment and retention for the College of Science. Garcia is now a mentor to younger students across multiple programs and was named Mentor of the Year in the fall.
Garcia also mentors through CONNECTIONS, a program designed to support first-year students through peer mentoring and a unique living-learning community. Garcia also served as the 10th president of the Clemson chapter of the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students, a nationally recognized network for pre-medical students.
During her junior year, Garcia joined the Council of Diversity Affairs (CODA), a branch of the Undergraduate Student Government focused on promoting inclusion at Clemson, where she advocated for more support for students in general chemistry classes.
Pursuing a medical career
After graduating, Garcia plans to take the MCAT and apply for medical school to pursue a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. While waiting to hear back from medical schools, Garcia intends to work towards becoming a medical assistant.
Garcia said her time at Clemson has been especially meaningful because of her professors, whose love for the University helped her develop a strong sense of belonging and pride as a Clemson Tiger.
“My time at Clemson was just enough for me to feel connected to the people around me and prepared to take my next steps,” she said.
