Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Haley Pollock
Haley Pollock, soon-to-be graduate of Trinity School of Medicine, has had a remarkable journey leading her to her dream residency in Emergency Medicine at Eisenhower Medical Center in California. Looking back on her journey, Haley affirms that choosing Trinity was the best decision she could have made, as the school provided the support, opportunities, and environment that allowed her to thrive.
Born in California and raised in New Hampshire, Haley’s path to medicine began at a young age, inspired by a childhood love for the wildly popular TV show Grey's Anatomy. While in New Hampshire, she attended a private high school for ice hockey athletes before making the decision to go to college in California. After earning a degree in Health Science with a minor in Chemistry from California State University Fullerton, she took a two-year gap to earn funds and travel before pursuing her medical education. Despite the challenges of adjusting to med school after a break, she never regretted the experiences those gap years provided.
Confident that medicine was her true calling, Haley applied to multiple medical schools, including those in the Caribbean, to keep her options open. When her acceptance from Trinity arrived swiftly—before any other school had even responded—Haley felt it was fate. With the pandemic still affecting international travel, she started her studies online and later made the move to St. Vincent to complete her basic sciences on campus.
When transitioning from California to the island, Haley mentioned she felt a strong sense of support from the moment she set foot on the island. Even as the first cohort to arrive during the challenges of COVID-19, Haley and her peers were met at the airport by the Trinity Welcoming Committee, who made sure everyone got settled into their dorms and had the resources they needed to navigate campus life.
While on the island, Haley served as Secretary of the Student Government Association and was an active member of the Volleyball Club. She fondly recalls spending countless hours on the volleyball court and enjoying trips to the beach between classes. One of her favorite memories was taking catamaran trips to neighboring islands like Bequia after midterms. Haley shares that she couldn’t have made it through medical school without those experiences and the supportive community that surrounded her throughout her time on the island.
After relocating to Georgia, Haley took on the role of Director of Communications for the Student Government Association and launched the Trinity Times newsletter, serving as its Creator and Editor-in-Chief. The newsletter was distributed weekly to keep the student body informed and engaged. She also served as President of the Reproductive Health Interest Group, through which she volunteered her time, gave a diabetes awareness talk, and conducted general wellness checks at Genesis Joy House—a nonprofit supporting homeless female veterans. In addition, Haley paid it forward by mentoring fellow students through Trinity’s student mentorship program.
Haley shares that one of the most meaningful parts of her medical journey has been forming lasting friendships with fellow students. She also found invaluable guidance in her professors—some of whom became mentors—and felt consistently supported by the deans, Dr. Geisler and Dr. Manahan, who joined Trinity at the start of her third year.
During that third year, Haley completed all of her core rotations in Warner Robins, Georgia. While she had many excellent preceptors, two stood out: Dr. Kabbani, a nephrologist in Macon, GA, and Dr. Drew Johnson, an emergency medicine physician in Dublin, GA. Haley frequently recommends Dr. Johnson to students, regardless of their specialty, because of the critical lessons he imparts. She believes everyone should experience emergency medicine to appreciate the breadth of knowledge required and to build essential, real-time decision-making skills.
Haley was naturally drawn to the fast-paced, often chaotic environment of the emergency room. She discovered she could remain calm under pressure and thrived in the variety it offered—each day presenting new challenges, endless learning opportunities, and exposure to nearly every facet of medicine.
During her third year, Haley found herself torn between emergency medicine and OB/GYN—but that uncertainty didn’t last long. Within the first hour of her emergency medicine rotation, she knew she had found the right fit. Her decision was further affirmed by her best friend, Dr. Steven Stanton, a Trinity graduate, who reassured her that her personality was perfectly suited for the ER. Not only did he help her recognize her calling, but he also supported her through the residency application process, including refining her personal statement.
With a goal of matching into a residency near her hometown, Haley focused her fourth-year electives primarily in California, completing five there and two in Georgia. “Having the drive and determination to make it happen—Trinity helped foster that,” she says. She pursued her vision with focus and determination, securing competitive electives across California. During a sub-internship at Riverside University Health System’s Level I Trauma Center in Riverside, she witnessed remarkable cases, including a bedside craniotomy.
Beyond clinical work, Haley co-authored two publications: one on a case of Cryptococcus gattii meningitis and another on a post-epidural collapse that led to an emergency cesarean section. She later presented the latter at the Georgia Association of Physicians of Indian Heritage (GAPI) conference alongside her classmates.
From Trinity’s quick response and seamless interview process to the incredible experiences she gained throughout her medical education, culminating in a match at her top-choice residency, Haley affirms that Trinity was the right decision. “I’m about to start my dream career at my number one program in my favorite place in the world—California. It was 100% the best decision I made.” She’s thrilled to return home and begin this next chapter surrounded by the support of her family and friends.
For prospective medical students, Haley offers this advice: “Give it a shot if you feel any kind of pushback from U.S. MD schools. Just because it’s a U.S. MD school doesn’t mean you’re going to get a better education. Going to a Caribbean medical school was the best thing that I could’ve done for myself. Having to compete with U.S. MD and DO schools, I think that we push ourselves even harder just because we do have to stand on our own and show that coming from a Caribbean school doesn’t make us less than. I don’t think I could’ve gotten here without it, so give Trinity that shot. You won’t be sorry. I know I’m not.”
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.
