Alumni Spotlight | Elisha McCoy, MD
2001 Alumni, College of Arts & Sciences
As a young child, Dr. Elisha McCoy visited the hospital on multiple occasions to treat her scoliosis and kyphosis. All that exposure to the health care system and physicians from a young age inspired the Clarksville, Tenn., native to pursue a career in medicine.
Naturally, she looked at programs throughout the state that offered degrees in Biology. She had a neighbor and childhood best friend a year ahead of her in school, who was attending the University of Memphis at the time. After receiving the Emerging Leaders Scholarship, McCoy knew that the UofM was the right college fit for her.
“I credit that program [Emerging Leaders] with many of my own successes and ability to find leadership positions on campus. It was instrumental,” McCoy said.
As a first-generation college student, McCoy quickly became involved in leadership positions across campus joining Phi Mu sorority, Student Ambassador Board, the Up ‘til Dawn executive board and the honors program in addition to many honorary societies.
“I want students to know not to let hesitation block your path. Just do all the things. Life is very different after college, and college is so fun! You get opportunities to meet people that are different than you. And I just think my perspective was expanded beyond what I could have imagined at that age,” she said.
With her sights on becoming a doctor, she began planning to attend medical school. But McCoy’s journey toward becoming a physician did not follow the traditional path. Instead of going into medical school right after her undergraduate studies, she encountered challenges faced by many other aspiring medical students — the MCAT.
“I took the MCAT, took a prep course and took the MCAT a second time and I did not get in immediately to UT,” McCoy said.
Instead, she took a position at the Church Health Center as a clinic assistant while trying to improve her MCAT score. “I actually went through four application cycles before I got into medical school, and I share that openly because I think that for one, that was all I ever wanted to do,” McCoy said.
“And I went back and forth a lot and asked, ‘Is this the right path for me?’ My perseverance was evidence that it was my right path and continues to be.”
“I want students to know not to let hesitation block your path.”
Dr. Elisha McCoy
The things she learned while at the Church Health Center ended up being critical to the skills she needed for medical school which included interreacting with a diverse group of patients, a passion for people who are underserved and valuable nonclinical skills which humble her today.
“I like to share that because I think when you’re surrounded by high achievers and Type A personalities, sometimes you think that you apply and you get in, and that’s just the end of the story. And then if you don’t, you feel like the odd man out. And so, when I talk to folks, I try to be real with them about the challenges,” she said.
After multiple MCAT attempts and a four-year journey to medical school, McCoy was accepted into the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). She proudly walked across the stage in 2008, earning her medical degree.
Today, she has found success as division chief of Pediatric Hospital Medicine at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and as an associate professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at UTHSC where she educates medical students and residents in clinical skills.
“I enjoy working in teams and collaboratively with others. Staying in education allowed me to teach people who were going to be the next generation of doctors but also stay in an environment where I’m constantly challenged and have to stay on top of my game,” McCoy said.
McCoy said being able to serve her city and provide health care to children in the community who face unique struggles inspires her to show up every day.
“There’s never going to be a time where you don’t have work to do,” she said.
“But when you are passionate about the care you give and you feel called to the profession, there’s something to be said for taking care of people who may not otherwise have the access to that care outside of the walls of the hospital. Being able to provide that, you fall in love with the difference that you can make every day. And that drives us every day in the work that we do — we care about the community, we want to see it improve.”
Today McCoy continues to partner with her alma mater by participating as a guest panelist for the College of Arts & Sciences, motivating aspiring physicians to not give up on their dream. She is a proud Memphian and even prouder Memphis Tiger.
