Kamryn Henderson Is Unstoppable

A record-breaking hammer thrower, engineering major in the honors college,  supervisor for intramural sports, part of the University Student Judiciary Council, and a student absorbed in the Pre-Medical field, there is next to nothing Kamryn Henderson cannot do. 

Henderson visited the University of Maryland as a potential Track and Field commit from Waxhaw, North Carolina. Upon setting foot on campus, she felt that Maryland fulfilled all her academic and athletic aspirations. 

"Maryland was one of the few schools that allowed me to do track and engineering without any concerns," Henderson said. "My coach told me that I could 100% do both because of the plenty of resources UMD had to support me here."

Since officially arriving in College Park, Henderson has turned herself into a stellar athlete, student, and someone involved in many different organizations on campus. 

One of her main roles among these organizations is being the Co-Director of Clinical Opportunities and Outreach of the Pre-Health Terps organization. 

Pre-Health Terps is an organization geared toward student-athletes who are interested in pre-health professions or want to explore career paths available to them in the medical field. 

"I'd say we're a group of like-minded individuals who are very interested in entering the pre-health field at some point, in many different capacities," Henderson said. 

As the Co-Director of Clinical Opportunities and Outreach, Henderson sends out newsletters based on current events and postings on the Health Professionals Advising Office (HPAO) website that highlight upcoming opportunities that would be suitable matches for student-athletes in relation to time commitment and the specific interests of each athlete. Henderson is also responsible for sending out important updates for students, including the release of applications, approaching deadlines, or attendance for upcoming events. 

"I try to make sure that I help people ensure they're staying on top of everything and know exactly what steps they need to take in order to be successful as a pre-health student," she said.

Henderson was first introduced to the Pre-Health Terps three years ago by a senior in the Gossett Fellows, another group she actively participates in on campus. The project director recognized Henderson's pre-health background and believed she would be a valuable addition to the organization.

From there, Henderson was a part of the inaugural group of Pre-Health Terps and has helped grow the organization ever since. She was most interested in the research aspect and being able to serve as a mentor to underclassmen going through the same experiences that she did. 

When reflecting on her role and actions within her position in the Pre-Heath Terps, Henderson harps on the importance of mentorship.

"I think underclassmen seeing upperclassmen who have done all of their prerequisite classes, juggled all of the work, while competing, and still living life, really helps students that are on the fence about going into pre-health fields and helping them realize that it's definitely possible."

Henderson acknowledges the harsh reality of balancing being a student-athlete on a challenging education and career path. However, she predominantly shines a light on the positive and amazing things these student-athletes bring to the medical world. 

"I know how hard it is to be a pre-health student-athlete. It can feel impossible some days, but I think student-athletes bring something very unique to the health field. We develop a lot of unique skill sets in our sport that would make us very successful in any career we go into." 

In her position, Henderson wants to encourage students by showing that transforming their dreams into reality is achievable and treating being a student-athlete as a privilege in the workplace. 

"There are opportunities out there, a wide variety of opportunities, especially people who are willing to be flexible with athletes. There are so many different ways for a student to make it into their pre-health profession, they just need to want it." 

Throughout the rest of her time as a Track & Field student-athlete here at Maryland, while she studies for the MCAT and applies for medical school,  Henderson will continue to promote the benefits of being a student-athlete in the workplace, especially in the pre-health field.