One Shadowing Day, One Decision: Choosing Medicine After a Detour
When most people imagine a future neurosurgeon, they picture someone who decided on medicine early, took every prerequisite class in order, and never wavered from the path. But not every doctor’s journey begins that way. For some, it takes a detour — and sometimes just one powerful moment — to ignite a lifelong calling.
That’s what happened to Dr. Colin Son, a board-certified neurosurgeon and entrepreneur, who joined the Med School Minutes podcast to share his remarkable story. His path to medicine didn’t begin in a lab or a lecture hall. It began in film school, surrounded by scripts and cameras, before a single shadowing experience changed everything.
From Film School to Neurosurgery
Before medicine, Dr. Son studied film writing and production in California, with dreams of breaking into Hollywood. He quickly realized that the entertainment industry demanded more than talent — it demanded relentless self-promotion and years of uncertainty.
“I went to film school out in California and tried to be a screenwriter,” he shared on the podcast. “It quickly became clear that maybe some of those things like selling myself or even my talent as a writer were going to leave me waiting tables.”
Looking for a more stable and meaningful path, he began exploring other professional programs — law, business, and finally, medicine. Then came the turning point.
The “Holy Moly” Moment That Changed Everything
While exploring different career options, Dr. Son shadowed a neurosurgeon for the first time. What he saw that day would redefine his entire future.
“It was a single shadowing experience while I was deciding,” he recalled. “I went into the operating room, saw a brain tumor case, and thought, ‘This is amazing. Holy moly.’ After that, I was all in on medicine.”
That single day — just a few hours inside an operating room — showed him the intensity, purpose, and human impact of medicine. He walked in curious and uncertain but walked out determined to become a physician.
Why Nontraditional Paths Make Stronger Doctors
Dr. Son’s story is proof that there’s no single formula for becoming a great doctor. In fact, students who take a nontraditional path often bring unique strengths to the profession.
Coming from a creative background gave him something that can’t be taught in textbooks: empathy and perspective. “I think my creative side made me more empathetic,” he said. “If I had gone straight from premed to med school, I probably would’ve been a worse applicant.”
His film background taught him to listen, communicate, and tell stories — skills that directly translate to working with patients. That combination of science and humanity is exactly what medical schools like Saint James School of Medicine (SJSM) look for.
At SJSM, we believe that your journey before medicine is part of what prepares you for it. Many of our students are career changers, international applicants, or students who discovered medicine later in life — and they thrive because of their diverse experiences.
Learn more about how we welcome nontraditional applicants at sjsm.org.
The Power of Shadowing and Self-Discovery
For students still deciding whether medicine is right for them, Dr. Son’s story offers a clear lesson: get real-world exposure early.
Shadowing lets you experience the realities of clinical life — the pace, the teamwork, the responsibility, and the reward. It helps you see what textbooks can’t show: how medicine feels.
That single shadowing experience gave Dr. Son clarity and confidence. It also gave him a story — one that stood out in personal statements and interviews. When he applied to medical school, he didn’t hide his detour into film. He embraced it as proof of his adaptability, creativity, and conviction.
From OR to Innovation: The Journey Continues
Today, Dr. Son practices neurosurgery part-time and runs Southia Health, a telehealth startup using artificial intelligence to improve patient access to physicians. His journey has come full circle — blending creativity, technology, and medicine in ways that could shape the future of healthcare.
For current and future medical students, that’s an inspiring message: your background doesn’t limit you. Whether you started in the arts, business, or another field entirely, those experiences can become your greatest assets.
Medicine needs innovators, communicators, and problem-solvers — and many of them come from unexpected places.
A Message for Aspiring Medical Students
If you’re thinking about pursuing medicine but worry your path isn’t traditional enough, take Dr. Son’s story as proof that passion and perseverance matter more than a straight line.
Every physician has an origin story. Some start with a biology textbook. Others start with a camera lens, a script, or a different dream. What matters is where you end up — and the impact you make along the way.
At Saint James School of Medicine, we welcome students from all backgrounds who are ready to turn ambition into action. Whether you’re coming straight from undergrad or exploring medicine after another career, your path belongs here.
Learn more about our programs, admissions process, and student success stories at sjsm.org.