COSAM News Articles 2019 April COSAM Leaders President Studying to Pursue Dermatology

COSAM Leaders President Studying to Pursue Dermatology

Published: 04/16/2019

Auburn University junior Wade Jones always knew he would attend Auburn. His parents met as students and always encouraged him to study at their alma mater.

“My parents were here during the glory days of Charles Barkley and Bo Jackson, so it was always just ingrained, in me that this is where I was going to go, but I’m not complaining,” Wade said. “Ever since I stepped on campus when I was young, I knew this was where I wanted to be.”

Originally from Guntersville, Alabama, Wade is studying Biomedical Sciences with a concentration in pre-med in the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) with the hopes of one day becoming a dermatologist.

“The thing that has made me super interested in dermatology has been from shadowing the doctor from my hometown and watching his bedside manner and interactions,” Wade said. “The way the surgeries are designed are interesting … they’re minimally invasive, and quick and precise.”

Wade has been a COSAM Leader for the last year and was recently selected as president. He said his experience as a COSAM Leader has been a highlight of his time at Auburn.

“It’s something I’m passionate about because I love COSAM,” Wade said. “I love working with people that are just as passionate as me. Also, in the time we’re not spending together working events for COSAM or discussing our classes, they are still people I enjoy being around.”

Wade’s interest in becoming president was based mostly off of his desire to help choose upcoming COSAM Leaders.

“I wanted to make sure we selected the best people possible for COSAM Leaders and really be involved in the interview process,” he said. “There were so many awesome applicants, so I guess I just wanted to be on top of making sure we picked the very best ones.”

During his time away from COSAM, Wade volunteers at the East Alabama Medical Center in the surgery department. He works with patients and their families walking the patients to and from the recovery and pre-op rooms.

“That’s been awesome,” Wade said. “I’m super glad I got plugged into it because this summer I’ll be able to volunteer for more than just a few hours a week. I’ll be able to stay involved with the surgery department and also hopefully volunteer in the new cancer wing, so I’m excited about that.”

Wade is a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and has also been on the executive leadership team of Emerge, Auburn University’s leadership program, for two years.

“That’s been one of my bigger commitments other than COSAM Leaders,” Wade said. “I just got picked to be a student recruiter for next year and that’s something I’m super excited for.”

Wade said his time as a COSAM student has confirmed that he chose the perfect place to study.

“Going from core classes to the classes I’m in now and how I was so much more interested in the science and math areas just really sells it that this is what I should be studying, and this is where my passion is,” Wade said. “I’ve grown in a lot of different ways and gotten to meet very interesting people and that’s only going to continue.”