Future Friday: Q&A with Eileen Brandes
2/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Feb. 12, 2016
Eileen Brandes, a second-generation Wolverine, with her mother, Mary [Callam] Brandes (1976-79).
After representing the block M with pride while they competed for the Maize and Blue, our student-athlete alumni have gone off to become professionals in different areas of their lives. Whether they continued on in their sport, helped to build up a company or started a family, they are building a future. They are building our future. As they leave the University of Michigan campus they go forth with all they learned here to create a better future for us all.
Eileen Brandes (2008-11), a back who played in 70 career games and contributed to a pair of Big Ten titles and three NCAA Tournament berths, established a couple of firsts during her tenure with the Michigan field hockey program. Upon her arrival, she became U-M's first field hockey legacy, joining her mother Mary [Callam] Brandes (1976-79) -- a Hall of Honor member -- in donning the Maize and Blue. As a senior, she became the program's first Academic All-American for her exceptional work in the classroom as a biology major. Brandes, a native of Falmouth, Maine, is now back in New England and nearing the end of her second year of Harvard Medical School.
Q. What does your life/workload look like right now in your second year of medical school? Is this year tougher than the first?
A. Being in school specific my future profession is very different than undergrad. What I learn each day is important for saving lives. It's not like in undergrad where I could forget the previous semester's material and just focus on the current courses. Since day one, everything has been important. This means that I'm never really done studying. However, I try to keep things in perspective. The information is like trying to drink out of a fire hose; you just can't take in all at once. I get up at 5:30/6 a.m. every morning to work out before class starts at 8 a.m., go to class until 12:30 p.m., and then sometimes have a second class in the afternoon. If I don't have afternoon class, I head to the library until dinner at about 8 p.m. I maybe do a little more studying before going to bed around 10/10:30 p.m. This is probably early for most med students, but while I can, I'm trying to maintain a healthy schedule. I save my free time for the weekends when I like to head to Maine and New Hampshire to hike, ski, bike, etc.
I think second year is just different than first year. It's much more clinically based -- learning diseases and how to treat them. When third year (full time in the hospital) starts in a few months, work-life balance is going to be much more challenging, but I know many professions have intense periods of time that require a temporary skew in the work-life balance.
Q. Did you enter medical school with an idea of what field you wanted to get into? If so, where did you develop that interest? If not, are you starting to figure that out, and how has that process been?
A. Entering medical school, I had no clue what I wanted to be. I still have no clue what I want to be. My mom says my interest is like the flavor of the week; I always like what I'm currently studying. Occasionally this isn't true, but I'm hoping that when I start full time in the hospital in April (the start of third year), that I will have a better idea of what I want to do. The first step is deciding surgery vs. non-surgery. I think entering school without having already pre-determined my career path has allowed me to approach each specialty without bias.
Q. Have you been interested in medicine your whole life? Has that been your plan all along?
A. Absolutely not. I decided that I wanted to go to medical school a year after I graduated. Honestly, I was rather turned off by the pre-med culture in undergrad and because I had already gone to the same school and played the same sport as mom (I felt like her mini-me), I really rebelled against the idea of being a doctor. During my three years between undergrad and starting med school, I explored different career paths, but ultimately found that I really enjoyed what medicine had to offer. I enjoy the sciences, working with people and the diversity that each day brings. I'm glad I gave myself the time to figure this out and I'm really happy with my choice.
Q. Do you think some of the work ethic you honed as a student-athlete, both athletically and in terms of time management, has helped in medical school?
A: I have to believe it has. A residency director once told me that they love when high-level athletes apply to their program because those applicants know what it's like to work hard and get their butts kicked, but still keep going to achieve a lofty goal. They are never satisfied. My life as a student-athlete demonstrated to me that I was capable of many things if I really wanted it. I met many people who thought that I couldn't be a top athlete while also excelling in school. I won't sugar coat the truth, it was challenging and exhausting, but it prepared me for the structure and demand of medical school. My experience and success at Michigan taught me to push myself and not be afraid of doing so.
Q. Now that you and your mom are both UMFH alums, have you taken a different perspective on your shared experience? We have another legacy right now in Katie Trombetta. Being the first, are you excited to see more second-generation Wolverines?
A. It's funny, I used to be really bothered by the fact that I felt like I was mirroring my mom's choices through life. I felt people judged me. They would say, "Oh, is that because that's what your mom did?" However, if you were to ask any male athlete or bystander what they thought of a son following in their father's footsteps, they would say how proud they were and what an honor it was to share that experience. Why this double standard exists for women, I'm not sure. However, I've realized that I've followed in my mom's footsteps because she's done some amazing things in her life. Why wouldn't I want to play for a top Division I team? Why wouldn't I want an unparalleled education? Why wouldn't I want a career that is intellectually challenging that brings happiness to others, such as medicine? It sounds cliché, but I'm really proud to be the first legacy at UMFH and share that with someone very special to me. I'm excited to see more second-generation Wolverines and for them to feel that same pride and tradition.
Q. What are some lessons you took from you UMFH experience? You played under two different coaching staffs, were you able to take something and learn from both?
A. The biggest lesson I took away from Michigan was: Great things come from stretching your limits and not being afraid to do so. Nancy Cox recruited me to Michigan and I continued to coach with her after college. She never let me short change myself and help me developed into a strong, empowered woman. She has been an incredible role model to me. Marcia taught me how to be fearless. She expected perfection and made sure we knew it. She taught me how to take criticism in stride in order to improve each day and to perform under pressure. Medicine can be very cut throat, but I'm more ready than I realized. What never changed throughout my five years though was that both of these coaching staff supported me in being the best athlete and student that I could be. I don't know if they realize how much of a role they played in helping me get to where I am today.
Q. You've now run a few marathons ... do you see that being a lifelong activity for you? What is it you love about running?
A. Running has always been my stress release. Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you that I prioritize my health over almost anything and I love doing it. It keeps me happy and energized, which sheds a positive light on the rest of the day. My last marathon was Boston, which I ran on a stress fracture. I was subsequently injured for over a year and got really into biking and swimming. During this time, I fell in love with these sports and took up triathlons. This past fall I competitively raced my first half Ironman. If I had the time, I would love to do a full Ironman, but I think passing medical school is a higher priority. For now, I enjoy swimming, biking or running each day and hopefully it in some smaller races when I can. These will be lifelong activities that I will always try to make time for in my schedule.
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