Jacob Herriott
“Staying at WVU afforded me the opportunity to obtain a state-of-the-art medical education, while also allowing me to give back to this community and to those I consider friends and neighbors by providing them with medical care.”
Second-year medical student Jacob Herriott said he was drawn to the field of medicine by the unique bonds that physicians form with patients as they help them towards living healthier and happier lives.
Now on the verge of receiving the white coat that symbolizes his next two years of clinical-based training, Herriott shared his excitement for working more closely with patients and reflected on his experiences thus far at the WVU School of Medicine.
“While any medical curriculum is going to be both challenging and demanding, the WVU School of Medicine provides us with a robust support network and an abundance of student resources that allow any dream to become obtainable,” he said. “I look forward to the next two years of engaging with patients and physicians, learning the busy routine of the hospital and navigating the clinical situations that may arise.”
As the son of two WVU School of Medicine graduates and having earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology from WVU in 2023, Herriott said WVU was his first and only choice for his medical education.
“I felt I had truly integrated myself into the community and made Morgantown a second home during my undergraduate studies. Staying at WVU afforded me the opportunity to obtain a state-of-the-art medical education, while also allowing me to give back to this community and to those I consider friends and neighbors by providing them with medical care,” Herriott said.
Herriott is currently considering surgical specialties, stemming from his interest in anatomy and the human structure. He spent the summer between his first and second year of medical school volunteering in the cadaver lab with professor Matthew Zdilla, DC, allowing him to further build his understanding of the workings of the human body through hands-on research opportunities.
He explained that all surgical specialties require an integration of this anatomic knowledge with surgical techniques in order to deliver patients the best care possible. He said he is excited to continue building this knowledge through other hands-on learning opportunities as he further explores more specialties during his next two years of training.
“Entering the clinical environment will truly allow me to sample what certain specialties have to offer, and ultimately find a niche that best aligns with my personal and professional goals,” he said. “Over these next two years, I hope to find a specialty that calls to me and leads to a fulfilling career and life.”
While he shared his excitement for transitioning to clinical-based training and getting the opportunities to work closely with patients, Herriott said he recognized the responsibilities that come along with the white coat.
“I’m extremely excited to receive my white coat as it will represent the years of hard work and dedication that I’ve committed in order to acquire the tools and knowledge needed to enter the clinical environment,” Herriott said. “I also acknowledge that patients will one day be putting their trust and their health in my hands, and want to ensure that I have a holistic medical foundation to confidently make clinical decisions on their behalf. I know that my next two years of training at WVU will supply me with just that.”
Herriott is a 2024 recipient of the John E. Prescott Award for Academic Excellence, which is awarded to the two students with the highest academic rank during their first year of medical school.
He will receive his white coat along with the rest of the WVU School of Medicine’s Class of 2027 during the annual White Coat Ceremony hosted at the WVU Creative Arts Center on Saturday, March 15.