Meet Dr. Erin Sears – Monticello native, Mississippi State alum, and third-year internal medicine resident. Here, she shares her journey to UMMC, the highs and challenges of residency, and the people and pup who have cheered her on through it all.
Tell us about you.
I grew up in Monticello, a small town in south-central Mississippi, with my parents and an older brother. After graduating high school, I went to Mississippi State (Hail State!) where I majored in biochemistry and minored in psychology. I met my husband while at Mississippi State while we were both working in the same undergraduate research lab! I applied to and was accepted into medical school at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine right before the COVID pandemic and have happily been at UMMC ever since!
Why did you choose UMMC for residency?
I chose to remain at UMMC for my training in internal medicine because of the people! As a medical student, the residents did an amazing job cultivating interest in the specialty by including me in all the diagnostic/treatment decisions of my patients. This inclusion made me feel like a doctor for the very first time and showed me what a difference medical care can make in the lives of our patients. The faculty here are also so invested in each resident. What makes our faculty stand out is while I know I can call on any one of them to help with education and career advancement, I also know that I would get the same enthusiastic offer of support with questions about personal matters when life continues to happen during training!
Tell us about a memorable experience from training.
One of my most memorable experiences from training was working on admitting nights as my first X block this year. Admitting nights is truly a masterclass in learning time efficiency while continuing to aim for excellent care of each patient. While this rotation is very intimidating at first, it also gives you a lot of confidence as you move forward during the month and realize how much you have learned during training. Intern Erin who was struggling to put in admission orders on one patient during my very first call day would be amazed at what I am now capable of! I had the opportunity to meet and learn from 125 unique patients that month!
What could you give a 40-minute presentation on with absolutely no preparation?
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels! I adopted my own cavalier, Darcy, right before starting medical school. She’s truly been through the whole process with me, from studying for histology on the couch during medical school to greeting me after long call days in residency. I could talk about all her positives for hours, all while trying to convince you that you need a cavalier!
What are some small things that make your day better?
My favorite small things are running to get an afternoon coffee with my co-residents/medical students, talking about the day with my parents on my drive home, and seeing my dog Darcy celebrate when I walk in the door!
Where could we find you when you are not at the hospital?
You can find me doing different things around my house! I love to try cooking/baking new recipes with my husband. We often follow up dinner by taking our dog on an evening walk around the neighborhood. I’m also recently trying my hand at growing blueberry and raspberry bushes in my backyard, so we’ve been doing a lot of watering in the Mississippi summer heat. The nights are often finished up with a mug of hot tea and a good book!
What profession would you have chosen if you weren’t a physician?
Meteorologist! I have always been fascinated by the science behind the weather and how certain conditions precipitate natural phenomena like tornados and lightning.
Progress Notes 