Beyond the Buzzer: Kendahl's Path from Athlete to Doctor

In this episode of Roots and Branches, our guest, Kendahl Wallis-Lang from the class of 2014, recounts her journey from being a student at Pinewood School, starting from the fifth grade through to the twelfth grade, to choosing a career in medicine and specializing in OBGYN. Kendahl highlights her rich experience at Pinewood, detailing the impact of the school’s small, supportive community and the lasting friendships she formed. She vividly remembers participating in science clubs, attending summer camps, and particularly enjoying the science classes taught by Dr. Lauer and Ms. Hudson. Kendahl also discusses her involvement in basketball, where she played varsity and won state championships in her freshman and senior years, underlining the sense of close-knit community and teamwork she experienced. Her love for science continued into high school, where she took multiple AP science classes, nurturing her passion that would eventually lead her to pursue medicine. Kendahl reflects on her time at Occidental College, which she chose to attend partly due to the opportunity to continue playing basketball. She talks about adjusting to the demands of balancing sports and academics and getting involved in clubs like the peer health exchange. Eventually, Kendahl's path led her to medical school despite initially having reservations about attending. She discusses the decision process for specializing in OBGYN during medical school, a choice driven by a desire to combine procedural work with patient interaction and advocacy. Kendahl also touches on the importance of mentorship, sharing how it impacted her career choices and how she aims to provide guidance to younger students interested in medicine. We wrap up our conversation with Kendahl discussing her residency in OBGYN at Kaiser San Francisco, her aspirations for a fellowship in gynecologic oncology, and her hopes to build a practice in the Bay Area.