Science, Liberal Arts Foundation Continues to Support Medical School Graduate

As an undergraduate at Dominican University of California, Dr. Tia Furness ’20 enjoyed a holistic education that blended her studies in the sciences with her lifelong love of music. Doing so, she discovered that while her strong academic background in the sciences was essential for medical school, her focus on the liberal arts enhanced both her perspective and resilience.

“Don’t neglect the liberal arts,” Tia advises future medical students. “The liberal arts enhance critical thinking and communication skills and provide a more well-rounded foundational background.”

After earning degrees in biology and music and a minor in chemistry at Dominican, Tia was accepted into the College of Podiatric Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona. This May she received her Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM). She recently began a three-year foot and ankle surgical residency at Kaiser Permanente Vallejo.

At Dominican, Tia thrived in a welcoming community that supported her goals from day one. This is exactly the experience she was seeking when searching for colleges during her junior year at Santa Rosa’s Maria Carrillo High School. 

Tia already knew she wanted to pursue a career as a podiatrist after learning about podiatry in a high school anatomy and physiology course.

“After finding out what podiatry was, it led me to seek out shadowing and mentoring experiences,” she recalls. “I choose podiatry because it offers a unique blend of medicine and surgery focused on the lower extremities. It allows practitioners to make a significant impact on patients’ mobility and quality of life.”

When Tia discovered Dominican, she felt the small university only 40 miles from her high school offered both the support and the resources to help her reach her goals. 

“I selected Dominican because of its strong commitment to liberal arts education, small class sizes, and a supportive community. I wanted a university that would allow me to pursue both my interests - music and biology - and still graduate on time in a four-year period. Attending Dominican gave me exactly what I wanted.”

At Dominican, undergraduate research is integrated into the science curriculum, something that is highly valued in graduate and professional school applications. Working in Dr. Meredith Protas’ lab examining eye loss in cave crustaceans not only enhanced Tia’s understanding of genetics but also prepared her for the collaborative nature of her didactic and clinical years in medical school. 

Tia presented her research at the Endless Forums Symposium in Berkeley and at the 43rd West Coast Biological Undergraduate Research Conference in Moraga. Tia also served as both an ecology and evolutionary biology tutor and a genetics and molecular biology tutor. 

Likewise, the opportunity to continue playing piano through music ensemble courses enhanced Tia’s creativity, emotional well-being, and overall educational experience. 

“Music ensemble emphasized the importance of accountability, discipline, and collaboration with working towards the same goal,” she says. “It was always satisfying to learn and practice a piece of music on your own, and then come together with like-minded individuals to perform the ensemble and share our passion for music.”

The connections between science and music are strong, Tia notes.

“For me, biology fosters critical thinking and analytical skills, while music enhances creativity, emotional intelligence, and discipline. I find the analytical skills from biology can help navigate real-world challenges, and the emotional, and creative aspects of music provide a meaningful outlet for expression and connection with others. Overall, this blend often leads me to a richer, more nuanced approach to both personal and professional pursuits.”

Tia also enjoyed Dr. Vania Cohelo’s international field biology program in Iceland. From orca sightings to exploring ice caves located within glaciers, the group spent their days learning about the country’s unique ecological systems.

The Dominican Kaiser Pre-Med Mentor program was yet another important step on Tia’s path to medical school. While shadowing physicians helped Tia solidify her desire to become a medical professional, witnessing both the challenges and rewards of working in the health field also gave her a deeper understanding of the importance of empathy when caring for patients. 

“The mentorship aspect provided me invaluable guidance, helping me navigate the complexities of a medical career and offering insights into the day-to-day realities of different healthcare specialties,” she says. “I loved being able to gain perspective on the various other medical specialties, learn how valuable it is to have an interdisciplinary approach with patients and see, firsthand, the outcomes for the patients.”

After the Kaiser Pre-Med Mentorship program, Tia worked as a student intern for Sutter Health in the Oncology/Infusion Center. 

“I recommend exploring the medical field early on to learn more about the different healthcare professions by shadowing, volunteering, or internships. These opportunities will provide more insight and knowledge about the day to day of the various fields and specialties. Additionally, attending guest lectures related to healthcare can showcase the variety of healthcare jobs out there, such as x-ray technicians, pathology assistants, physician assistants, anesthesiology technicians, and so forth.“

And, she adds, embrace the liberal arts.

“The journey to becoming a healthcare professional will have its trials and tribulations, so it is important to stay focused on your goals, and remember to take care of your mental and physical well-being,” Tia says.

“Dominican has a wide range of courses that helped me explore new interests and continue to indulge in my passion for music and biology,” Tia recalls. “Overall, all of my courses at Dominican allowed me to experience a well-rounded, holistic education, while still guiding me towards my goal to be a podiatric physician.”