COSAM News Articles 2019 March The Lasting Impact of Meaningful COSAM Relationships: Audra Wallace, Biomedical Sciences ’12

The Lasting Impact of Meaningful COSAM Relationships: Audra Wallace, Biomedical Sciences ’12

Published: 03/05/2019

By: Hannah Williams

Audra Wallace, Biomedical Sciences ’12, currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts, but has always held close the tremendous impact the Auburn University College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) has made on her life.

“Each interaction that I had with anyone from prospective students to successful alumni offered me an opportunity to share my experience and passion for COSAM and only deepened my appreciation for the college itself,” Wallace said.

Wallace is currently an Inpatient Staff Physical Therapist in the Neurology Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. As a member of the Physical Therapy service, Wallace is expected to rotate departments every 8-12 months, making relationship building a critical skill - a skill she developed in COSAM.

“The practice of building a support system and creating significant relationships began when I was progressing through the challenging COSAM curriculum,” Wallace explained. “As I have grown in my professional practice, I see this as a skill necessary for being a valuable member of a great care team for my patients.”

Wallace enjoyed a multitude of opportunities and experiences that COSAM offered and provided her with, but placed significant value on the relationships that were developed and people she was surrounded by.

“While my time at Auburn was filled with exceptional professors, Dr. Larry Wit is in a class all by himself. He embodies what it means to be an Auburn man, truly caring about those around him and pouring his time and effort into his students,” she said. “Ultimately, the people that came into my life throughout my time at Auburn have continued to impact my life both professionally and personally in so many wonderful ways. I find myself reflecting upon all the individuals who shaped my time at Auburn into the wonderful experience it was.”

While at Auburn, Wallace was a member and president of COSAM Leaders, as well as COSAM Peer Advisors and achieved the honor of being a Dean’s Medalist recipient. Throughout her education, Wallace remained involved in COSAM, consistently making it a priority to give back to the college.

“The best advice I can give to new COSAM students would be to truly invest in COSAM,” Wallace said. “By that, I mean get involved in the various organizations, as well as develop relationships with your advisors and teachers.”