Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Andrew Baird

Dr. Andrew Baird grew up in the small town of Shelby, Ohio, where he developed a strong sense of community. He attended Denison University, where he played football while pursuing his interest in science and health. Inspired by a family friend who was a family practitioner, Dr. Baird decided to follow a path in medicine, driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact in people’s lives. Currently, he is Chief Resident in Family Medicine at HCA Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach, SC, with plans to pursue a career as a Hospitalist after residency.

What’s your academic background?

I grew up in a small farm town in Ohio called Shelby. It has a population of roughly ten thousand. Living in a small town like that, everyone knows everyone and you grow up as “big fish in a small pond”. After high school graduation,  I went to Denison University, a D3 liberal arts school just one hour away in Granville, Ohio. There, I was a member of the football team for all 4 years - earning all-conference + all-region honors while also breaking some program records along the way. Being a student-athlete at Denison was truly remarkable.

What brought you into medicine?

My best friend's dad was a family practitioner in our hometown. He was a big role model and was like a second dad to me. In the community, he was more than the local primary care physician - he was involved in the church, school district, and practically everything in the community. That was someone I hoped to model my career and lifestyle after. That was my first interest in medicine. 

Going through classes, you also figure out what piques your interest. Any class dealing with science and health always felt more enjoyable to me. Growing up a 3-sport athlete made it easy to see the benefits of an active lifestyle on a person’s overall health. These childhood/life experiences led me to invest my time and efforts into becoming a doctor. I did think about pursuing athletic training or physical therapy, but I felt like ultimately I shouldn’t settle for a career for any reason. I took a leap of faith and invested in myself, and decided that medical school was what was best for me. Thankfully, it all worked out -  I couldn’t be happier with how things turned out.

Where did you match? 

I matched in Family Medicine at the HCA Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach, SC. I am currently Chief Resident in my program. It’s been an amazing experience. I feel like my training has been great, and I feel super confident moving into attending life in a few months. 

What is a typical day like as a Family Medicine resident? 

I like to think Primary care is the Swiss Army knife of medicine. I feel like you can do a lot of things depending on what your training was like and what you prefer/want to do.  It leaves a lot of doors open for you. It allows for a user friendly schedule, where you can prioritize life outside of medicine.

In our outpatient clinic, you can get everything from pre-natal + OB to geriatrics + psychiatry. You get to put your hands in a lot of different things, and it forces you to know [a little] about a lot. Knowing your boundaries is important as well - relying on our lively specialist is never wrong! However, getting people to a specialist is a barrier itself, as a patient may not have the money, transportation, or time. As a primary care doctor, you’re an important aspect of a person’s medical journey. I think there is a lot of weight on primary care’s shoulders.

My typical day-to-day depends. In our residency, we have four-week rotations, so depending on the rotation that you’re on determines what you’ll be doing. In your last year of FM training, they’re prepping you as an outpatient doctor. As a result,  most of your final year is spent in the outpatient clinic - making sure you’re ready to go into the real world and you see the number and volume of patients that you’re expected as an attending. Additionally, you have time for electives. Since I want to become a hospitalist, I spend more of my time in the hospital, getting more and more exposure on top of what the program has in store for us each year of training.                

Why did you choose Trinity, and what ultimately helped you make the decision? 

I applied to a few MD and DO schools and got waitlisted for a few. I also applied to Caribbean schools at the same time to keep my options open. I did a lot of my own research and connected with some Trinity people. I got to talk to some of the doctors who had gone through the process, and that was reassuring to me. I felt like I was ready to take the leap of faith and chose Trinity.  

A big advantage I felt Trinity offered was the small class sizes and the student-to-teacher ratio. I was able to be connected to resources and alumni, which showed me that Trinity was a viable path to becoming a doctor. Making sure there was a plan set for each step of the way and having the groundwork in place was crucial for me.

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‍What was the transition like from where you moved, compared to living on the island and studying abroad? 

For most people, it’s a wake-up call. You’re going to a completely different country that doesn’t have the same resources as most people in the U.S. grow up with. It’s always hard being away from family, but you make the most of everything -  there are a lot of really cool adventures and experiences waiting for you on the island. Looking back on it, I think I was pretty fortunate to live in a different country for as long as I did. The experiences and interaction with people in St. Vincent helped shape me into the doctor I am today.

The little breaks that you get after midterms are a blast. I have very fond memories of catamaran trips into Kingstown on Hvans and the amazing local food options. I’d wake up every single day at Canash Beach, and every single morning, I would walk out onto my balcony on the second floor with a perfect view of the beach and sunrise. I don’t think I’ll ever have that again, I’m itching to get back.

I remember when I got to the island, everyone was on a different term, and the upperclassmen were super helpful. They went through this process and were willing to pass down helpful tips and tricks for success. All of the professors at the time had an open-door policy, so if you were struggling in class or had questions about life, they were willing to lend an ear. They were always so open. You had meetings with your advisors once every quarter to check in on you. Trinity had resources set in place for you to ensure that you felt supported.                 

What are the clerkships (rotations) like at Trinity?    

I did all my clerkships in Baltimore, which is where I met my wife. We actually just got married there last year! The clerkship years played a big role in my life. I really liked the area and had a good experience with clerkships. One of my first family medicine rotations was with Dr. Pallan. I connect with him ever so often.

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Do you have any stand-out memories, stories, or experiences regarding your time at Trinity?       

I think the midterm breaks - going to Bequia, the catamaran trips, and seeing the turtles at Tobago Cays will always stand out. One of my favorite things was when a group of us Trinity students joined a local basketball tournament at Arnos Vale Sports Complex. Every Wednesday, for a couple of weeks in a row, the Trinity bus would take us to the stadium/courts, and we’d play basketball with a bunch of locals. We were well under-manned, but it was a lot of fun integrating into the community a little bit more. We even had a couple of security guards playing in the Trinity team, so it was a cool experience.               

What are you doing for fun these days?  

I like exploring new restaurants and breweries with my wife, Alyssa, and my dog, Waylen. I like watching and rooting for Ohio sports, the Browns, Cavs, Guardians, and Buckeyes. I also love traveling abroad when time permits.

What’s the best advice you’d share with a prospective Trinity student? 

Trust the process. With Caribbean medical schools like Trinity, the pathway is there, it’s whether you take it upon yourself to study hard and get to the end goal that matters. They lay out the crumbs, and you just need to follow them and believe in yourself. The journey of becoming a doctor is unbelievable!

What are your future plans after residency? 

I’ll be joining a Hospitalist group that is just outside of  Baltimore, Maryland. I’ll be working at the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center. I’ll be a Hospitalist, and I’ll be doing inpatient medicine. 

If you’re interested in learning how Trinity can support your dream of becoming a doctor, we invite you to reach out to our admissions team today! Contact us here.