BSA Career Day Features a Cardiac Electrophysiologist
Media Release
What is a Cardiac Electrophysiologist?
Compton Unified’s Department of Black Student Achievement (BSA) held its first Virtual Career Day this week and the students found out the answer to that question. Featured speaker Doctor Jacqueline Eubany, MD., is a Cardiac Surgeon specializing in Cardiac Electrophysiology, which is another way of saying she’s a specialized heart surgeon.
As she described it, “I’m an electrician of the heart.” Serving in that role, she helps people who have heart problems, particularly around the electric impulses that keep the heart beating. She fixes the electrical problems of the heart. One way would be by putting in a pacemaker.
During the 30-minute Zoom, attended by more than 700 students from CUSD schools, Dr. Eubany inspired students to be resilient by sharing her trials, triumphs, and roadmap to becoming a surgeon. She also answered students’ questions and encouraged them to consider pursuing the medical profession.
Dr. Eubany explained that her family was originally from Nigeria, but moved to Los Angeles, where she grew up. Said she always knew she wanted to be a doctor. As part of the Zoom call, she explained the educational background needed to become a Cardiac Electrophysiologist.
After graduating Venice High School, she attended UC Riverside for four years, then went to Boston University Medical School for four years. After finishing med school, she did three years medical residency, three additional years studying cardiology, and two more years studying the electronics of the heart.
She explained that going to medical school and receiving the additional training was expensive and her family didn’t have a lot of financial resources. She had to take out loans to help pay for her education. In addition, she joined the U.S. Navy and they paid for most of the medical schooling. In return, she served 12 years as a Naval doctor.
Dr. Eubany described that there weren’t a lot of people of color studying medicine and that presented additional challenges as she pursued the career. “As a woman of color – it’s tough, you always have to prove yourself. You have to work hard and overcome those challenges.” But in the end, she knew it was the right choice for her: “This was my calling.”
Her advice to students who are interested in becoming doctors: “Start by taking science and math classes,” she said. “If you can’t make it through those, you probably won’t be a doctor.”
She also talked about how students should decide their career choice? “If you have a calling or something comes natural to you, then that’s for you,” she said. “Find something that works for you and you’ll be happy.”
The BSA Virtual Career days are monthly 30-minute meetings designed to provide students with access to professionals of color and to inspire them to become the leaders of tomorrow.