Get to know Dr. Wanya Pridgen, South Carolina native, medicine-pediatrics intern, and sneaker specialist.
First things first. How do you pronounce your name?
Juan-yay. It’s pronounced like Kanye but with a “W”. Prih-juhn for the last name!
Tell us about you.
I am from Aiken, SC, but was born in Willingboro, New Jersey – I only lived there for 6 months. I went to Clemson University for undergrad and was able to see two football national championships while there! I then graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina for medical school prior to coming to Mississippi for residency.
Why did you choose UMMC for residency?
A Med-Peds faculty member I worked with at MUSC graduated from UMMC’s program and recommended that I check it out when applying for residency. After researching the program here and interviewing, I easily recognized how much this place would value me as an individual and person of color. Even more so, UMMC provided me an opportunity to work with a population that looks similar to myself, while still offering a well-rounded experience in diverse pathologies and patient backgrounds. Plus, my fiancé was able to get a job at Jackson State!!
What is one thing you would tell the incoming interns about what is to come?
Your best will look different every day. Give yourself grace.
What could you give a 40-minute presentation on with absolutely no preparation?
Building a sneaker collection from scratch with tips on buying, selling, and trading.
What are some small things that make your day better?
Eating a hashbrown scramble bowl from the Chick-fil-A in the hospital, winning a sneaker raffle, purchasing something from Kith, or having afternoon conversations with patients post hospital rounds.
Where could we find you when you are not at the hospital?
Napping, in a movie theater watching the newest Marvel release, or trying a new restaurant in Jackson w/ my fiancé.
What profession would you have chosen if you weren’t a physician?
I intentionally majored in Math at Clemson to become an NBA statistician in case I did not end up going to medical school.
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