Intern Spotlight: Dr. Brooke Winstead

Get to know Mississippian Dr. Brooke Winstead, vegetable canner, internal medicine intern, and pharmacist! Here, she shares her path to medicine and UMMC for training.

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First, tell us about you.

I grew up in a small rural town known as Philadelphia, MS. My parents were your typical hardworking middle-class family. I spent most of my time in my mother and grandmother’s nail salon as a child; even though I cannot paint nails to save my life. My parents instilled the value of hard work into me early on, and my first job was in our local grocery store. While in high school, I also took night classes to earn my pharmacy tech certification. I was the first in my family to attend college, so I did not know much about the medical field. After speaking with my school counselor, I applied and was accepted into the Early Entry Pharmacy Program at Ole Miss during my senior year. I graduated with a Bachelor’s of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2017 and Doctor of Pharmacy in 2020. During pharmacy school, I had the opportunity to go on a medical mission trip to Peru, which changed my life. I had always been interested in medicine, but was never exposed to the pathway of becoming a physician. During that trip, I was able to serve in the role of a physician, and I knew that was what I was meant to do. Fast forward four years and I graduated with a Doctor of Medicine in 2024 from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. 

Why did you choose UMMC for residency?

You know the old phrase, “There is no place like home.” Well, UMMC is home for me. When deciding where I wanted to train, the choice was easy. I knew that I wanted to train in a place with a complex diverse patient population in need, particularly with a large number of rural patients. Not only is the patient population unparalled, but the education is phenomenal. The internal medicine residency faculty and staff go above and beyond to ensure that we are learning important clinical information but also compassion for our patients. Our program truly encompasses the true meaning of “family”. I cannot think of anywhere else that I would rather be than providing care for patients in my home state of Mississippi. 

What is one thing you would tell the incoming interns about what is to come?

You are about to start one of the most challenging yet rewarding journey in your career. Take it day by day and learn as much as possible from your patients. Remember, it is ok to not know everything, and it is expected that you ask questions. You are completing a residency program to LEARN! 

What could you give a 40-minute presentation on with absolutely no preparation?

How to make the most divine cheesecake with caramel topping. After many recipe modifications and multiple attempts, I have finally perfected my cheesecake recipe. 

What are some small things that make your day better?

Two things: Coffee and Chocolate. After a long call day, there is nothing better than a trip to Cups with your co-residents. 

Where could we find you when you are not at the hospital?

If I am not at the hospital, you can typically find me back home in Philadelphia, MS spending time with family and friends. I love spending time outdoors riding side by sides with my husband, dog, and group of friends. You can also find me cooking up a batch of Hibachi for the group or baking a variety of delicacies. During the summer, I love planting a garden full of a variety of vegetables and later canning them. With the assistance of my best friend’s grandfather, we even planted a pumpkin patch last year which I highly recommend! 

What profession would you have chosen if you weren’t a physician?  

If I was not a physician, I would have been a pharmacist. However, I am grateful to have the opportunity to do both. When I am not working at the hospital, I work at the free clinic pharmacy within Plan A Health in Louise, MS. During my second year in medical school, I had the opportunity to help open the pharmacy within the free clinic. Despite not knowing what I was getting myself into, the pharmacy has been a major success. We provide emergency contraceptives, birth control, antihypertensives, antihyperglycemic medications, and vaccines at no cost to the patients. Since starting residency, my time has been limited, but I am grateful for an awesome team at Plan A Health that keeps the pharmacy up and running.