黑料传送门

Former Elementary Teacher Trades the Classroom for Medical School

August 12, 2025

For more than a decade, Christen York served as an elementary school educator.

鈥淚 always wanted to make a difference in my community,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 wanted to help people, and I love children. Growing up, I worked at a summer camp, encouraging others to be the best version of themselves, which kind of goes hand in hand with being a doctor. Teaching went along with that really well.鈥�

York earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in early childhood education and went on to earn her master鈥檚 in education.

But she still felt that she should be doing something else.

鈥淚 don't really think that there was an 鈥榓-ha鈥� moment,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think that it was kind of a slow drip that came into those tiny little moments that pop out and say, 鈥榊ou know, you're really good at this; you enjoy this. You really enjoy medicine.鈥欌��

When 黑料传送门 South Georgia opened in Moultrie in 2019, just a short drive from her home in Tifton, her husband, Jared, noticed her interest in the new medical college campus. During a conversation one day, he asked if she had considered becoming a doctor.

Then they toured the campus.

鈥淚 walked through the doors, and it literally felt like home, like it was just such a perfect fit,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was so comforting. There were so many resources. There were so many opportunities for success. Everyone had a smile, and everyone was encouraging. The students were all engaged with professors. The professors looked happy to be here, and the students looked happy to be here, and you could tell everyone was dedicated to seeing you succeed.鈥�

Switching from being an elementary teacher to a medical student took some effort. York attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) to earn the prerequisite courses required.

鈥淎BAC had everything that I needed, and it was also in my backyard,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 went ahead and started in the fall, got my prerequisites out of the way, which was such a huge opportunity to expand on that community feeling.鈥�

While working on those prerequisites, York met two classmates who are now in the same cohort with her at 黑料传送门 South Georgia.

When York began classes in late June, Jared and their 13-year-old daughter, Madison, were ready to support her. This summer, Jared has been preparing meals on the grill while Madison bakes treats to offer encouragement and asks how she can help.

鈥淭he two of them make a great team,鈥� York said. 鈥淭he buy-in from both of them is really good. That doesn't mean it's always going to be easy, but to know that they're OK and their support has been huge.鈥�

On Aug. 8, York received her white coat along with the rest of her classmates in a ceremony that marks an academic milestone for new medical students.

鈥淚t's just the start of opening all the doors to success,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t's the start of a really important journey鈥攁 welcoming into the community of doctors.鈥�

York compares it to her sorority鈥檚 initiation when she was an undergraduate, and what it will be like when she鈥檚 standing in the audience with her classmates all in their new white coats.

鈥淎ll of a sudden, they鈥檒l be your brothers and sisters,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey鈥檒l be standing right next to you, and they鈥檙e here to support you. You鈥檙e here to support them, and you will have that thread that binds you all together.鈥�

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