Dr. Regan Allen

In sixth grade, the future Dr. Regan Allen had a close friend with lymphoma. “He’s doing great now, but at the time I saw the miracle of modern medicine and I thought, ‘I want to do that,’ ” she recalled.

Thinking she wanted to be a pediatrician, Dr. Allen began working on a Doctor of Medicine/Master of Public Health dual degree at UT Southwestern Medical School. “During my MPH studies, I found women’s health just a little more interesting,” she said. “When I did my Ob/Gyn clerkship, I found the medicine so exciting. Obstetrics and gynecology is a specialty with a perfect balance of surgery and medicine. The job is hands-on and deeply relational, which I love.”

Dr. Allen is the 2018 recipient of the Annelle M. Ahmed, M.D. Women’s Health Care Award, given in honor of Dr. Ahmed, a UT Southwestern faculty member in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology who died of breast cancer at age 39.

“The Annelle Ahmed Award is given to a graduating medical student who epitomizes the clinician that Dr. Ahmed was – intelligent, caring, and involved in her community. Regan is a shining example of these qualities,” said Dr. Alicia N. Kiszka, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “She is poised and professional. She strives to provide quality care to patients and excellent teaching to those around her. I am very excited that she will be joining the UT Southwestern Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program.”

Dr. Allen said she is grateful to her mentors in Obstetrics and Gynecology: Dr. Kiszka; Dr. Ed Wells, Professor; and Dr. David Nelson, Assistant Professor. “They have so much energy and excitement about their own specialty that they passed on to me.”

Growing up about 30 minutes outside Dallas, she graduated valedictorian from Rockwall-Heath High School before earning a Bachelor of Arts in neuroscience from Vanderbilt University. While there, she received the Nichols Humanitarian Scholarship, taking her to Bolivia for five weeks to volunteer with Hospitals of Hope, which provides health care services to a rural community.

Though she enjoyed her out-of-state college experience, she was ready to return to Texas, and UT Southwestern was the perfect fit. “It’s rigorous, Parkland Hospital is a great place to learn, my parents are close by, and they had an MPH program – it checked all the boxes,” she said.

“The MPH program molded me into an advocate for comprehensive and quality health care for all women. It was hard to juggle both, but I think the two degrees complement each other really, really well. I think every doctor should have an intimate knowledge of public health.”

While on campus, she served as Co-President of the UTSW chapter of the American Medical Women’s Association, volunteered with the United to Serve community health fair program and the Union Gospel Mission Center of Hope clinic, and – during her fourth year – mentored first- and second-year medical students.

In April, she married her high school sweetheart, Joe Swanson, who works in human and civil rights advocacy at Faith in Texas. The two met in third grade and started dating their junior year of high school – including four years long distance when they chose colleges in different states.

Dr. Allen said they tried to keep an open mind about potential residencies, but Dallas was still her first choice.

“Joe loves his job here, both our families are here, and I’m excited about training in a place I know and love. I’ve already seen behind the curtain know what an amazing experience it is. And I’m excited to practice real medicine with some of the best doctors in the country.”

Dr. Nelson is a Dedman Family Scholar in Clinical Care.