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Jared Oenick
23 years old
He/him/his
Jared Oenick is pursuing a degree in Biology with a minor in Neuroscience at the University of North Georgia. He is currently studying for the MCAT, and hopes to be accepted into an MD/PhD program so he can continue working on his goal of becoming a physician-scientist who specializes in nephrology. Jared was born with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease, and his lifetime of going in and out of hospitals and making difficult decisions about his health taught him how valuable it would be for patients to have physicians who have personally experienced some of their same challenges.
Jared is the founder and former President of the American Medical Student Association chapter at the University of North Georgia. His presentation at the UAB Undergraduate Research Expo earned first place in the Biology and Life Sciences category. He is an officer for Tri-Beta, and has volunteered at multiple hospitals and medical research centers, as well as with Habitat for Humanity and the Vickery House Hometown Harvest. Jared is one of the founding officers of Georgia Peers Advocating for Change (GPAC), which advocates for young people who are aging out of the foster care system.
Jared’s foster care experience included growing up in multiple group homes throughout Georgia. His experience showed him how difficult access to adequate medical care is to disadvantaged communities, and especially to those living in small towns. Jared believes that his experience in foster care helped him gain more clarity about how he could use his gifts and passion to serve others.