Year 4 Med Student Sean Mark, Father of Three Sons, is a Man on a Mission

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SEAN MARK

Six-Year B.A./M.D. program | Year 4 | School of Medicine | 2017

Where is UMKC taking you?

I really see UMKC taking me to greater places. I know a lot of people who have graduated from here and gone on to do great things, and I want to be one of those people. My liberal arts education has made me a more rounded person.

Why did you choose UMKC?

I chose UMKC partly for location; I was born and raised in Kansas City. I’m now currently married, but my girlfriend then also lived in Kansas City. My dad also graduated from the dental school.

What do you admire most at UMKC and why?

I admire how UMKC has a legacy of providing quality education to the citizens of the greater Kansas City area and beyond. It’s a blessing to have such an excellent university so close to home. There are so many prominent members of this community who have come up through the ranks at UMKC and have gone on to do great things for Kansas City and the world.

How has college inspired you?

College has inspired me to be determined and pursue greatness. Every semester I have the opportunity to take on new challenges, make new goals and go further in my education than ever before. The satisfaction of a job well done, that I feel at the end of the semester, gives me the confidence to continue to pursue my dreams and the determination to go higher in my education.

Since entering college, what have you learned about yourself?

I have learned that I not only love to learn but I also love to teach. I have had the privilege to serve as a tutor for both undergraduate and graduate level courses, which has given me a passion to help others learn. Whether it is one-on-one or in a group discussion setting, I often find more enjoyment in teaching than in my studies. I am now seriously considering incorporating teaching and mentoring into my career as a physician.

What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received from a professor?

It is not all about the test. Learn the material for your patients, not just for your grade.

What’s your greatest fear?

To live with regrets. I believe life was meant to be lived to the fullest every day. We only get to live once and the longevity of life is uncertain. In our culture, we too often get so caught up in our work and achievements that we forget what is really important — family, friends, faith and having a little fun along the way. The people we love, we teach, we laugh with and we invest in are the legacy of our lives. I fear that I will too often forget this truth. Thankfully, I have a wife and three sons younger than 3  (Caleb Jonathan Mark, 8 pounds 11 ounces, was born on Valentine’s Day) who help remind me of the simple things in life, even if it does interrupt my busy academic schedule at times.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I see myself practicing Emergency Medicine in the Kansas City area and abroad. I have a deep desire to help the medically underserved populations of the world, especially in Central and South America where I hope to use my Spanish language education obtained here at UMKC. My wife is currently pursuing a degree in education and we plan to use our skills in Christian missions work in the impoverished regions of the world to give people hope, health and education for a better future. We hope to have lots of kids and raise them to appreciate serving the forgotten people of the world, both here in the U.S. and in other countries. I also plan to seek out opportunities to participate in disaster relief work and to educate new up-and-coming physicians, maybe even here at UMKC.

What is one word that best describes you and why?

Courageous. I like to take on the challenges that many view as impossible or fearful. I have come to realize that you never know how much you can accomplish until you push yourself beyond your limits. My faith in Jesus Christ gives me strength to go beyond my fears and achieve more than I ever thought possible.