Married ··· and attending medical school

For most newlyweds, marriage is the start of a new life together. For Lauren and Keith Barron, it meant the start of medical school.

Lauren and Keith, both South Carolina natives, are currently attending the University of South Carolina School of Medicine with hopes of becoming primary care physicians. Both students received their undergraduate degrees at the University of South Carolina and say they couldn't think of a better place to earn their medical degrees.

"The school is smaller than most medical schools, and there is a great sense of community," Keith says.

Lauren also credits the faculty with her decision to attend the school.

"I got a really good impression from the faculty, and being here has shown me that even more," she says. "I've enjoyed my professors and the classes. There is a good deal of faculty support here."

The Barrons are members of the record-setting class of 2011. They are among 86 students chosen from the largest applicant pool -- 1,940 -- in the school's history. The class also has the highest average MCAT score and matches the highest average grade point average of any entering class. Both say it's an honor to be part of the School of Medicine.

"It feels good to be around such intelligent people," Keith says.

"It's also a challenge," Lauren adds. "When people say you're part of the best class ever, you really have to work to live up to those expectations."

Both students, however, say the School of Medicine offers incredible resources to assist students in meeting those high standards. Both consider the school's library a valuable asset.

"The library here has a lot of great online research that we can access anywhere, and that has been very helpful," Lauren says.

While both students consider their studies to be of the utmost important, they also believe community service plays an equally important role in their daily lives. Lauren and Keith are regular volunteers at the Hispanic Medical Clinic in Columbia. The clinic, started by two second-year School of Medicine students, treats primarily Hispanic patients.

"Basically, Lauren and I help with translating at the clinic," Keith says.

Both Lauren and Keith hope to work in the future with Hispanic patients.

"We want to be more culturally competent as well as linguistically competent as physicians for the Hispanic community, and the School of Medicine gives us the opportunity to do that," Lauren says.

The Barrons believe their experiences at the School of Medicine will serve to better prepare them for their future as physicians.

"I didn't go to medical school for the degree, I came for the experience," Keith says. "And if the school continues to advance as it is now, I feel that my experience here will be even more worthwhile."

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