Paul Cho
Name: Paul Cho
Graduating Class: Class of 2023
Undergraduate school attended and major: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; Human Physiology B.A
Languages you speak? English, Korean
Favorite activities to do in the Twin Cities?
Running, Hiking, Cafe hopping, Bouldering, Photography
Why did you choose the University of Minnesota Medical School and what do you like about it?
I chose the University of Minnesota Medical School because of the great variety of research, clinical rotation sites, price, and the ability to stay close to friends. I love the fact that you can almost tailor your medical school experience to what you want here. With the fact that the UMN Medical School is one of only two medical schools in the state, there are so many resources the school has access to. I think it allows us to focus on specific interests in depth here and really start building a professional career in medicine right.
What would you change (areas of development) about the University of Minnesota Medical School?
Diversity has been, and continues to be, a big issue at the University of Minnesota Medical School. I am glad to see change towards a positive direction here, but I would like to see the school be more proactive in reaching out to communities in Minnesota that are disenfranchised by the field of medicine.
What is the relationship between the students and the surrounding community?
I believe medical students have a lot to learn from the surrounding community and should strive to constantly engage with members of different backgrounds.
Have you participated in any student organizations? If so, why did you select those organizations and what has been your experience?
I am President of Peers Supporting Peers and I joined because of the support it provided me as a MS1. I loved the 1-on-1 coffee sessions and learned a lot of useful resources to stay grounded and happy while I got used to life as a medical student. I hope as president to provide this sort of support of incoming medical students and pass on the support I received.
I am also a board member of APAMSA. I joined to celebrate Asian heritage with my fellow classmates and draw awareness of health issues facing the Asian community in the Twin-Cities. We are working currently to foster a sense of community among Asian heritage medical students and establish connections with Asian physicians in the Twin-Cities area.
I am also part of the Cardiology Interest Group. This reflects my long-term fascination with the heart. As an undergrad I worked at the Visible Heart