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Young Alum of the Month: Cody West

Cody WestName: Cody West

Hometown:  Altoona, Iowa 

Major and graduation date: Biology, Spring 2018

Job Title & Company: I am currently in my first year of medical school at the University of Iowa.  Before classes started in August I was serving as a research assistant at the University of Iowa as a member of the Molecular Otolaryngology and Renal Research Laboratories.

Major Job/Position Responsibilities: In my current role as a student I am completing my pre-clinical coursework.  My coursework includes Clinical and Professional Skills, Anatomy, Mechanisms of Health and Disease, as well as Medicine and Society.  In my previous research position, I was responsible for conducting various experiments concerned with identifying novel gene therapies to address genetic hearing loss.

What you like most about your job/position? As a professional student I enjoy learning about concepts and situations each day that are directly relevant to my future position and the patients I will serve.  The opportunity to be a lifelong learner is something I always valued in my future career, and medicine gives me the opportunity to do just that.  With my research, I enjoyed being able to see the direct real-world application that our therapies will have on patients in the future.

Cody digging holesWhat advice would you give to current students pursuing a career in Agriculture and Life Sciences?  As cliché as it sounds, I would encourage you to not waste a single moment.  The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences provides countless opportunities that you will not have access to after your time at Iowa State University.  Your time in Ames will fly by and the last thing you want is to always regret that you didn't take that leap of faith and pursue that opportunity you always wanted to.  Take advantage of those opportunities, step out of your comfort zone, and challenge yourself.  By doing this you will not only set yourself up for future career success, but you will develop friendships and memories that you will cherish forever.

October 2019