Hailey Lewis is preparing to be a physician leader

Hailey Lewis is preparing to be a medical leader ready to face complex situations and critical decisions of patient care.

“I want to become a physician because I’m drawn to the responsibility and impact that comes with leading a patient’s care,” Lewis said. “I believe

medicine is one of the most powerful ways to serve others. As a physician, I will have the opportunity to combine scientific knowledge with empathy to care for patients holistically.”

Lewis, from Wilmington, may not be following the same path as her parents, attorneys Erica and Scott Lewis, but the influence of law, with its focus

on details and order, is evident in her excitement for the complexities and critical thinking necessary for a future physician in medical school.

“I look forward to the breadth and depth of knowledge I will acquire (in medical school) in order to make the final call in complex situations and guide a team through critical decisions,” Lewis said.

Hailey Lewis has just completed her M1 year as a Brody Scholar at the Brody School of Medicine. (ECU Photo by Steven Mantilla)

Lewis is one of three Brody Scholars in the 2028 medical school class. The prestigious scholarship, valued at approximately $118,000, provides each scholar four years of medical school tuition, living expenses and the opportunity to design a summer enrichment program that can include travel abroad. The award will also support community service projects the students may undertake while in medical school.

For Lewis, being selected as a Brody Scholar provides opportunities and responsibilities like stepping into leadership and mentorship roles, participating in service and using the opportunity to — eventually — give back to the school, the community and to those around her.

“Being a Brody Scholar is both an honor and a responsibility,” Lewis said. “The scholarship is not just financial support; it’s a call to become the kind of physician who uplifts others and embodies the values Brody represents.”

Lewis said the mentorship provided through the Brody Scholars program has been invaluable.  Forming close friendships with her classmates has been the best part outside of academics.

“I’ve learned so much from the older Brody Scholars, who have generously shared advice, encouragement, and opportunities,” she said. “The program has given me a built-in support system that has made all the difference in navigating this first year.”

Before entering the Brody School of Medicine, Lewis earned a Bachelor of Science in biology with a minor in chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She worked in the Hicks Lab at UNC and graduated as a Carolina Research Scholar.

“I wanted to expand my research knowledge and skills beyond bench work, so after graduating, I worked in clinical research as a senior research associate with the trauma and acute care surgery team at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte,” Lewis said. “I spent nights in the ER, ICUs and ORs, where I gained clinical exposure and developed an interest in academic medicine.”

Lewis said she chose Brody because she wanted to train in eastern North Carolina, learn from and serve the communities where she was raised. Her first year of medical school is nearing completion, and Lewis remains most interested in pursuing a career in surgery. She also has a strong interest in medical education, stemming from her experience as a teaching assistant in undergraduate science courses.

Commitment to Service

“Brody’s deep commitment to service, community and health care (for everyone) really resonated with me,” she said. “I wanted to train where I could engage with patients who face real barriers to care and learn how to meet them where they are. Brody will provide me with the opportunity to advocate meaningfully, with both compassion and understanding.”

Outreach and service to others with health care needs is a longtime focus for Lewis. At Carolina, she led global health initiatives through UNC’s Global Brigades, serving in Honduras and Guatemala throughout her four undergraduate years.

True to her interest in the intricate details of medicine, Lewis’ favorite course as an M1 student is anatomy. “I loved the complexity and hands-on learning in the lab,” she said.

Lewis said she has been surprised by how much she feels she has grown, academically and professionally and personally in her first year. Her advice for others preparing to enter medical school is to ‘remember your why.’

“This will carry you through the tough moments. The lessons from medical school extend well beyond the classroom, even in M1 year,” she said. “Trust that you’re capable and believe in yourself.”