Ashton Hall
Alumni | Full-time | United States of AmericaMSc Medical Microbiology
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Educational/professional background
I completed an Associate of Science at Kent State University in 2017, a Bachelor of Arts in microbiology and premedical studies at Miami University in 2019, and an MSc Medical Microbiology at LSHTM in 2020. I graduated with my Doctorate in Medicine (MD) from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in May 2025 and am now a resident physician in internal medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (Cleveland, Ohio).
What I enjoyed most about studying at LSHTM
I think the MSc Medical Microbiology program is unique among similar courses at rival institutions in the United States and Great Britain because of its intense laboratory component. Lectures usually run in the mornings with at least several hours of lab time in the afternoons. I think learning about oftentimes obscure microorganisms in didactic lectures directly followed by hands-on instruction in the laboratory allows for an intimate learning environment. This course structure is particularly helpful for visual and tactile learners. For example, I have never forgotten the horrible smell of Citrobacter spp in culture and have linked that fun fact to clinically relevant information, like how it can cause urinary tract infections in humans. I would be remiss not to mention my classmates and how much fun it was learning alongside them.
What I have been doing since graduating
Since graduating from the program in 2020, I completed 4 years of medical school in Cincinnati, Ohio, and began a 3-year residency at the Cleveland Clinic. I often write about interesting patient cases, which are usually published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Topics have included strongyloidiasis, blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, and tuberculosis. I spend considerable time treating patients with all sorts of ailments. However, I anticipate applying for a fellowship in infectious diseases in 2027, where I will continue to use the skills acquired in the MSc Medical Microbiology program at LSHTM.