John Reneau is not exactly your typical medical student. He is one of a select few students at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine that will complete seven years of formal medical education. At the end of these seven years, Reneau will receive not one, but two degrees: his M.D. and his Ph.D.

Upon receiving his bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Dallas in 2006, Reneau began his first year of medical school at College of Medicine in College Station. Having completed his third year of medical school, Reneau has now begun his first year of graduate studies in Temple.

“The College of Medicine concentrates on the education of the student. While research and funding are an integral part of any medical school, the college truly aims to educate future doctors and scientists,” Reneau said. “Combine this with top-notch clinical education from clinical affiliates like Scott & White, and you can’t get much better than this.”

Even though Reneau has a full schedule of classes and research obligations, he still makes time for extracurricular activities. Along with the Gold Humanism Honor Society, Reneau has become involved in both Health for All, Inc., a nonprofit, volunteer-based, community supported primary health care clinic in Bryan, and Martha’s Clinic, a student-run, free clinic in Temple that provides health care for the homeless.

After his first year of medical school, Reneau traveled with the Memorial Student Center L.T. Jordan Institute for International Awareness, an organization at Texas A&M University that provides different international living and working opportunities, to Merida, Mexico for eight weeks to work in a hospital. During his stay in Merida, Reneau lived with a host family, experienced the Mexican culture, and received hands-on work at a hospital in a foreign environment. 

“All of these experiences helped me sharpen my clinical skills and become more confident in formulating assessments and treatment plans,” Reneau said.

In 2009, Reneau was also inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) medical honor society. AOA accepts applications from only the top 25% of the prospective class, and members are selected by a committee of current AOA members based on their applications.

Given his rigorous educational and extracurricular involvement, Reneau has wisely learned to take a little time for himself.

“I can’t explain how important it is to take a break from being a medical student every once in a while,” Reneau said. “While it is important to study and learn the facts to be a good doctor, it is even more important to have a life outside of medical school.”

While Reneau has been able to juggle outside activities and school, he is about to take an exciting next step in his medical education as he chooses a concentration.

“Internal medicine rotation was by far my favorite clinical experience, and I’ll most likely seek to specialize in that after residency,” he said. “It’s so mind-boggling to think about the future of medicine, but I’m excited to see how therapies will begin to be more tailored to each individual based on the underlying etiology of their disease rather than just dealing with the symptoms and their genetic makeup.”

As for the prospect of finally being a doctor, Reneau says, “I hope to be the best doctor I can be—to have my patients know that I truly care for them and their health. I want my patients to know that I’ll be there to console or offer words of advice beyond just a medical treatment.”