Tara O'Connell
Newport Emergency Medical Group
Newport Beach, CA USA
"In medicine, it is unforgivable to not have passion. If you don’t love what you do, it will show and we are in the business of people. There are plenty of professions you can engage in without passion and not affect anybody else."
Career Roadmap
Tara's work combines: Medicine, Science, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Doctorate
Medicine
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an Emergency Medicine Physician:
Bachelor's Degree: Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist
Doctorate: Medicine
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
In 1995, I graduated from Laguna Beach High School.
2.
Attended the University of California, Santa Cruz with the goal of studying photography, but I only spent two years there.
3.
Took a pause and decided to attend community college in order to consider my next steps.
4.
While attending community college and exploring different career options, I found my passion in medicine.
5.
Spent my last few years of undergrad at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and graduated with my degree in nutrition.
6.
Went to the University of Minnesota for medical school—attended Regions Hospital Emergency Medicine Residency program for three years and graduated in 2009.
7.
While pregnant with my first child, I moved back to California with my husband to look for my first job in medicine.
8.
Currently, I work as an Emergency Medicine Physician at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
My personality isn't suited to the rigor of medical school.
How I responded:
I'm a slightly hyperactive person, so it was a journey for me to come to the realization that I am not the typical regimented, study-for-hours type of medical school student. I had to figure out how to succeed in my own way and do what worked for me.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
Working in an emergency room can be very stressful because you don't know what's going to come in the door on any given day. I've learned to be okay with that uncertainty and manage my expectations of my work and of myself.
Medical school is really challenging. I realized early on that I was not the typical medical school student and the rigor didn't suite my personality. I had to figure out how to succeed in this field in my own way.
I was originally a photography major, but realized that wasn't for me. After taking some time off to explore my options, I discovered my love for health and medicine. Taking a variety of classes really helped me figure out what my passion was.