UCF medical student Rachel Shi is a Renaissance woman whose achievements in science, research, community service and the arts have earned her statewide recognition.

Shi will graduate this May with her M.D. degree after completing her Master of Public Health from Purdue University Global and her B.A. in pre-medical sciences and studio art from Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Massachusetts.

She said she was drawn to UCF’s medical school because of its young, pioneering spirit and strong Arts in Medicine opportunities that encourage students, faculty and staff to express themselves through creativity in addition to science.

“I enjoy drawing and playing the piano, which I have done for almost 20 years,” she says. “In addition to the therapeutic effects of art and music for patients, I have appreciated how the visual arts contributes to the practice of medicine, from the power of observation, reflection and critical analysis.”

Her art has been featured at the College of Medicine’s annual arts showcase, its literary arts magazine, The Script, as well as in galleries in Massachusetts and Orlando.

She became inspired to become a doctor during college, after volunteering at hospitals in Peru, where patients from rural areas traveled miles by foot to get healthcare. That experience inspired her to care for underserved communities, and as a medical student she volunteered at and became clinical director of the St. Thomas Aquinas free clinic in St. Cloud.

The Florida Board of Medicine recently honored Shi with its Chairman’s Medical Student Recognition award, which recognizes medical students who embody leadership, professionalism, compassion and academic excellence while excelling in clinical practice and community service.

Medical research has also been a rewarding part of her UCF experience. She has investigated proteins that affect triple-negative breast cancer proliferation, the use of ultrasound by paramedics to improve care and the effects of plant-based diets on blood pressure in patients with chronic kidney disease. She presented the blood pressure-kidney disease study at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine conference in 2024.

“I enjoy the curiosity, attention to detail, and collaboration involved in research projects,” Shi says. “I believe it can be an eye-opening experience for medical students.”

She plans to do her residency training in internal medicine, hoping that her clinical, research and arts background will help her provide excellent, long-lasting care for patients.