Rachel Borthwell, MD, MPH
PGY-3 General Surgery
UCSF East Bay General Surgery Program
Saturday October 25, 2025
10am-11:30am PST
Workshop Description:
Curious how a first-generation student becomes a surgeon—and how you can start laying that groundwork now? This session pulls back the curtain on the full journey from community college or university to surgical residency, focusing on the choices that matter most: sequencing prerequisites, securing meaningful clinical exposure (OR shadowing, surgical clinics, scribing), finding beginner-friendly research, and developing skills programs value—teamwork, communication, resilience, and professionalism. We’ll translate activities into AAMC competencies, map a realistic MCAT timeline alongside labs and work, and show how to turn setbacks into growth on your personal statement and secondaries. You’ll get practical advice on cultivating mentors and sponsors, requesting strong letters, building confidence as a woman in male-majority spaces, and navigating imposter syndrome without losing momentum. We’ll also preview what surgical training really looks like—rotations, sub-internships, interviews, and wellness strategies that last. You can come, ask your questions, and get answers tailored to your situation. Most importantly, come hear directly from the source instead of second-hand or bad information or people who have no clue about the admission process. Leave with concrete next steps, a simple planning checklist, and renewed belief that the operating room can be your future.
About the Speaker:
Rachel Borthwell, MD, MPH is a General Surgery resident at UCSF East Bay interested in Trauma/Critical Care, Acute Care Surgery, and surgical palliative care. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, and shed is a first-generation college student. She completed her BS in Biology with an emphasis in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior and BA in Art History at UC Davis. She went on to complete her MD at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and MPH in Epidemiology at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. Dr. Borthwell is currently a VA Quality Scholar at the San Francisco VA during her professional development time during residency interested in exploring the intersection of palliative care and surgery.
Register for Free:
What: First-Gen to Scalpel: Women in Surgery
When: Saturday, October 25, 2025, 10 AM (Pacific Standard Time)
You will receive an immediate email confirmation of your registration from Zoom. PLEASE check your SPAM or JUNK folder, as the email might be directed there. Additionally, you will receive an email reminder from Zoom ONE hour before the event, sent to the same email address you used for registration.
