A college internship at a crisis center helped Dr. Alexandra Pottorff find her true calling in the medical field. “I have always been amazed by the resiliency of children, and I loved working with them,” said Dr. Pottorff, who will head to a residency at Boston Children's Hospital after graduation.

Dr. Alexandra Pottorff

What this award means: “I was so very honored to receive this award for several reasons. It is special because of the memory of the individual it honors. I feel so privileged to be a part of this legacy. I have so much respect for the faculty and members of our Pediatric Department at UT Southwestern, and to be selected by them for this award is extremely meaningful.”

Mentor comment: “Alex is a gem. She is the embodiment of humanistic medical care. I’ve had the pleasure of working side by side with her in clinical care environments, as well as counseling her about her career plans, and she has consistently demonstrated a passion for addressing systematic inequities impairing health care delivery that really sets her apart from her peers. She is well on her way to becoming a leader in whatever field of pediatrics she wishes to go into.” – Dr. Soumya Adhikari, Associate Professor of Pediatrics

Background and family: “I was born in Ogden, Utah, but my family moved to Texas when I was pretty young. I grew up in Crowley. My parents are both mechanical engineers, and my younger brother is completing his M.P.A. at UT Austin. I am the first person in my family to go to medical school.”

What led to your career path: “I knew I liked science, and I’m also a people person. I had never considered medicine until my last year of high school, when I got to tour a children’s hospital and meet some doctors. Then it clicked for me. The medical field is an amazing intersection of science and human experience. While interning at a crisis center for victims of domestic violence and their children, I worked mainly with the children. This is when I first became interested in pediatrics.”

College: “I graduated from Austin College in Sherman. I served as co-President of the Pre-Health Society, volunteered at elementary school outreach programs, and participated in environmental ecology research. I was named Most Outstanding Student in the Liberal Arts during one academic year and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.”

UTSW activities: “I am a dual-degree M.D./M.P.H. student, and I really enjoyed learning to integrate public health into everyday medicine. I was a founding officer of the student organization Southwestern Alliance Against Food Insecurity (SAAFI). I also helped create the Food for Thought podcast to increase student awareness about food insecurity.”

Surprising fact: “I love to watch scary movies.”

Future plans: “I am not fully decided on what field of practice within pediatrics I want to pursue, but I am looking forward to getting more experience. I know I want to incorporate public health and population health in my future career.”

About the award: The award recognizes a fourth-year medical student who shows empathy and compassion for sick children, has significant knowledge, and maintains a good sense of humor. Dr. Wey was a 1998 UT Southwestern graduate who died in a car accident. The award is established by family and friends to honor his life.