Finding Her Voice: Emma Pegg Leads Pre-Health Terps

Hey Terps!

My name is Emma Pegg, and I’m honored to be your 2024-25 Pre-Health Terps President! I’m a senior kinesiology major at the University of Maryland, competing on the Cross Country and Track and Field teams. Upon graduation, I plan on attending Paramedic College back home in Ontario, Canada where I am excited to start the next chapter of my career journey. 

Pre-Health Terps (PHT) is an organization dedicated to supporting and guiding our student-athletes on their journey toward healthcare careers. The primary focus is to create a collaborative environment where students can thrive academically, professionally, and personally. We organize a variety of events, including alumni panels, guest speakers, and networking opportunities, designed to provide valuable insights into the healthcare field, enhance students’ knowledge of the application processes, and connect them with experienced professionals. 

Additionally, we focus on creating a supportive community through peer collaboration and access to resources that address the challenges and demands of pre-health education. Through this, we strive to empower students, enhance their preparedness for health-related professions, and contribute to their overall success in the competitive field of healthcare.

This program has been a crucial stepping stone and learning experience for me these past three years. Not only has it helped me to step out of my comfort zone but it has also helped me make meaningful connections with my peers, Maryland Made staff, professors, and individuals in the community. 

This program has helped me to discover that there is more to pre-health than the limited career paths introduced to us in high school. 

This program is where I found my love for the paramedic field. PHT has always done a great job at making everyone feel welcome and building a community we can rely on. It's comforting to know that everyone in PHT is experiencing similar challenges and stressors as we make decisions about our future career paths. When we approach these things together, it helps to alleviate some of the stressors by supporting each other through the process. 

After two years of being a member of the PHT program, I decided to get involved in the executive board, where I became the Vice President in my junior year. Applying to this role, I was hesitant because I didn’t feel I was as knowledgeable in this area as the previous leaders I looked up to. What I soon came to realize within this role was that there is not one single type of leader. I developed my leadership style and adapted to what the group needed while working alongside two other incredible leaders. 

Being a leader looks different for everyone. I may not be the loudest voice in the group, but I hear everyone. I may not have all the answers you are looking for, but I know how to find what you need. I lead with an open mind and work together with my peers to foster a community that supports each other. I may be the PHT President, but I am excited to be a voice for our group and a leader people can easily approach and rely on.

Now, being the President of this amazing organization, I am super excited to continue growing and expanding this program. As a member of the executive board, we have several goals. The first is to gear our guest speakers and community service events to the areas of interest in our group. 

We also hope introducing students to a wide range of pre-health and health-related perspectives will provide them with a more holistic experience. This also means exploring different professions related to health and healthcare. 

The second goal is in the area of mental health. I’m a big advocate for mental health and find it very important to incorporate this topic into our curriculum. Although it has been talked about in the past, I want to make it a priority for our group to discuss mental health in healthcare programs and the professions. I want to cover topics such as medical burnout, self-care, what to look for in a company when applying for jobs or interviewing, and what resources are available.

For our last goal, I want to continue building on an ongoing goal by finding ways to collaborate with other Big Ten schools so we can expand our program and inspire other students because of what we are doing here in Maryland! 

Pre-Health Terps helped me find my voice, take a chance at new experiences, and put myself out there. It can be hard to put yourself in new, uncomfortable situations, but it has helped me take charge of my future and positively impact people around me. 

I hope to inspire you to find your voice through Pre-Health Terps. I can’t wait for another great year and look forward to what we will accomplish together!