Class of 2026 graduate profile: Lucille Gideon

Match Day brought about a full circle moment for Class of 2026 Lucille Gideon. She learned she would be heading back to Dayton, Ohio, where was raised. After high school, she attended the University of Alabama earning a bachelor's degree in psychology and minor in biology. Now, she's returning to her home town after matching at Kettering Health Dayton, formerly Grandview Medical Center, in anesthesiology, the specialty she'd been working toward since before attending medical school.

If you could go back in time and give yourself advice, what would it be?

I think I would try to remind myself that no matter what, everything will work out. It is easy as a medical student and even as a pre-med to always feel like you are just constantly working towards the next goal without really celebrating all the goals you've already reached. I would tell myself to remember that a younger version of myself could have only dreamed of the things I have accomplished. I still remember my first time being a preceptor at my patient care tech (PCT) job, when only a year prior I was terrified my first day walking into the hospital. And now here I am graduating med school! It just goes to show that you have to take a breath and know that what is meant for you will be, and you will accomplish the things you set your mind to. 

What led you to a career in medicine?

I have always had an interest in science and medicine and absolutely loved my anatomy class in high school. I explored many fields in medicine besides becoming a physician (NP, PA, CRNA, etc.) and ultimately decided that I wanted to understand medicine to its fullest extent while also being able to become a leader and a role model. I was lucky enough to be able to shadow anesthesia before I started medical school so I knew I was interested in the field. I shadowed even more throughout medical school and also explored other fields of medicine until finally confirming that anesthesia was the field for me. I love pharmacology and being able to directly affect physiology in real time can be really gratifying. But most of all, coming from a background in nursing really attracted me to anesthesia. I think more than any other field, there are so many nursing skills in anesthesia that feel very familiar to me. I also appreciate being able to talk people through their nerves especially when they are in a vulnerable place about to go through a procedure. 

How would you describe your time at HCOM?

During my time at HCOM, I felt like I had a lot of opportunities to really get out of my comfort zone and do things I had never done in the past. I really enjoyed being a part of the student government association (SGA), where I felt like I got to make a difference in improving things for those who may come to HCOM after me. I also got to start a new program with my husband, the Hocking Valley Community Residential Center (HVCRC) Program, where we got to have students from HCOM come to the center to teach children about health and science topics that they were otherwise not being taught. Getting to pass down this program to the class below me (shoutout to Libby H. & Christian J.) was really awesome cause I felt like I was leaving an impact on both the HCOM students and the HVCRC kids. 

Looking back on medical school, what were your most important experiences?

I would say my time as a patient care tech on the trauma unit at Miami Valley Hospital (MVH) where I worked full time in my gap year and PRN during undergrad in medical school was definitely up there! Being able to work on the nursing side of things really gives me a unique perspective into understanding how the team works behind the scenes and has allowed me to recognize the utmost respect that nurses and other hospital staff deserve. Additionally, as I discussed above, my time in both SGA and starting the HVCRC program were some of my favorite experiences in med school that allowed me to become a better leader and pushed me out of my comfort zone. 

Tell us about your inspirations in life.

My inspirations are all the physicians who have helped me to get me where I am today! I have spent so much of my time shadowing and getting to work with amazing anesthesiologists (both residents and attendings). I also got to shadow in many other specialties, which allowed me to really reflect on what I wanted in a specialty and get to explore fields I didn't have exposure to otherwise. Everyone who has been there through every step of my journey has inspired me in one way or another and for that I am grateful. 

Were you involved in research? If so, could you share more about what you worked on?

In undergraduate, I was involved in a child development research lab. I worked on one project that inhibitory control in children and how that related to language development. Additionally, in medical school I worked with some of my fellow med students (Sam B., Halie L., D'Nair N.)  on a project with Dr. Beverly about the impact of provider availability and disease burden across Ohio.

Who has helped you along the way? Is there anyone you want to recognize?

I want to recognize my family, my husband, and all my amazing friends for supporting me along the way. I love you all!!!!

What hobbies do you have?

I really love staying active whether that is with Pilates, going on walks with my husband and dog, or going to the gym to lift! I love watching any sort of reality TV. This past summer after I took boards, I also started trying to get back into crafting which is something I used to really enjoy doing when I was younger. I started making polymer clay magnets and even got my husband to make some too. It was a great way to keep my hands and mind busy during the stressful season of interviews and audition rotations.