Morgan Ling
2024 Ignatian Hoya Recipient
M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics
I am passionate about women’s health and promoting access to care in underserved populations.
About Morgan
Morgan is from Tallahassee, Florida. Before coming to Georgetown Biomedical Graduate Education, she earned a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University.
What community service activity has meant the most to you?
In 2022, I taught English at a rural school in India, and learned firsthand the struggles of a developing nation and vastly different culture. Multiple cultural and socioeconomic factors impaired access to basic health education for young girls. After two of my students went to the office scared and confused from starting their first cycle, I obtained the principal’s approval and developed a curriculum for the 6th to 8th standard girls about female hygiene and menstruation. I cut out pieces of colored paper resembling the female reproductive system to appeal to the visual learners and mitigate the language barrier, while relating my own experience. This approach allowed me to provide the girls with a supportive and safe environment to ask questions privately.
I gained a deeper understanding of the cultural limitations imposed on their personal experience accessing basic health education, and by developing a broader perspective, I learned the invaluable lesson of building trust in both a clinical and nonclinical setting. My experiences fostered a deepened sense of awareness and empathy that has become a driving force behind my commitment to service.
Why did you choose Georgetown for your graduate studies?
By pursuing my Master of Science in Physiology & Biophysics at Georgetown, I knew it would further equip me with the tools necessary to succeed in an academically rigorous setting and prepare me for medical school. The unique course offerings, in addition to individualized advising from program faculty, drew me to Georgetown’s particular program.
Most importantly, I chose Georgetown for my graduate education because of the culture fostered by my program director, Dr. Watson. Upon meeting with him prior to my enrollment decision, I found that he emulates the same support and desire for his students to succeed that I had at my undergraduate institution. I truly felt that each student is celebrated for their individuality and unique aspirations, so I knew that I was meant to be a Hoya.
What do you want to do after earning your degree?
I aspire to become a physician and am passionate about the possibilities within the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology based off of my own experience working in the Emergency Department, as well as being a reproductive disease patient. From my experience, I have both witnessed and experienced the disparities in women’s health, specifically pertaining to reproductive disorders and patient advocacy. I am passionate about women’s health and promoting access to care in underserved populations. As a physician, I hope to lead initiatives focused on these issues, as well as engaging in broader public health efforts that examine and address root causes, through programs such as the Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships In Public Health.
What motivates you?
Two months after I graduated with my B.S. from FSU, I solo traveled to Africa and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro – the world’s highest free-standing mountain and one of the seven summits, standing at 19,341 feet. The climb itself tested me in every way – battling altitude sickness, coping with asthma, and enduring physical exhaustion. Despite the challenges I faced, such as the severe headache and blurry vision on our 4,000-foot ascent from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. on summit night, I was motivated by the camaraderie of my fellow climbers and the sense of accomplishment that awaited me.
At 8:08 a.m., I reached Uhuru Peak arm in arm with a friend from my climb and realized it was the combination of determination, resilience, and the journey itself that fueled me. The motivation to push through tough moments, simply put one foot in front of the other, and enjoy both the highs and lows of the journey is what drives me to keep seeking new goals and experiences.