Dr. Tomika Moody ’26 followed a nontraditional path to medicine, returning to her studies after more than two decades with a renewed sense of purpose. She recently matched into Family Medicine at Prisma Health Greenville in South Carolina and will begin her residency there this summer, marking a major milestone in a journey defined by persistence and growth.
Her decision to pursue UMHS was shaped in part by seeing the story of UMHS Class of 2020 graduate Dr. Cynthia Kudji Sylvester, an African American nontraditional student whose experience deeply resonated with her and helped her envision a path forward.
Now preparing to begin residency this summer, Dr. Moody reflects on that journey and the experiences that helped her succeed.
Dr. Tomika Moody is a proud 'Gen Xer' & started med school later in life. Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Moody.
Matching into Family Medicine
UMHS Endeavour: Please introduce yourself and what specialty you matched into, and the hospital where you’ll be doing your residency and its location?
Dr. Tomika Moody: I matched into Family Medicine at Prisma Health Greenville in South Carolina. It’s about two hours from where I live, so that worked out really well.
My journey, my adventure really, has been just that. It’s been a very circuitous path, but in the best possible ways. I’ve been all over and worn many different hats, and I think all of that has really informed the kind of medical student I became and the kind of doctor I’m going to be.
A nontraditional path back to medicine
Your journey to medicine spans several decades. Can you briefly share what that path has looked like?
I graduated from college in 1996, so I’m a proud Gen Xer. I did matriculate into medical school at that time, but I would describe myself as a little unfocused. My priorities weren’t quite where they needed to be, and I wasn’t ready for that level of responsibility.
I had to make some difficult decisions and ultimately stepped away. After that, I took on very different roles, wife, mom, and teacher. I homeschooled my children for a period of time and later went on to graduate school.
Throughout all of that, I tried to stay as close to science as I could because I always told myself I would go back. I didn’t expect it would take 25 years, but that goal never left me. It was always there, that fire that kept pushing me forward until I finally returned.
Inspiration and support
Any mentors, professors, or UMHS staff members who had a meaningful impact on your journey that you’d like to mention?
One person who had a major impact on me, even before I started at UMHS, was Marie McGillycuddy, who was Vice President of Admissions at the time. She was incredibly supportive and helped guide me through the process.
But what really gave me the courage to pursue this path again was seeing the blog interview with Dr. Cynthia Kudji Sylvester. That story really resonated with me and made me feel like this was something I could do.
Screenshots from Dr. Tomika Moody's upcoming UMHS YouTube interview.
Why UMHS
What made you choose UMHS?
Once I started looking more closely at UMHS, the Accelerated Review Program [ARP] really stood out to me. I also appreciated how supportive the admissions team was from the very beginning. That combination made it feel like the right place for me.
How the ARP program helped
Can you talk a little bit more about your experience with the ARP program?
The ARP program was incredibly helpful in getting me back into the rhythm of studying at that level. It helped me rebuild strong study habits and gave me a solid academic foundation going into Basic Sciences.
I really felt like it set me up for success from the start.
Succeeding in Basic Sciences
What was your experience like during the Basic Sciences portion of the program?
It was challenging, but in a positive way. The professors were very supportive, and there were a lot of resources available.
I felt that if you were willing to put in the work, you could succeed. I also really appreciated how accessible the faculty were. They were always there to help when needed.
Preparing for Step 1: The 5th semester
Please tell us about your 5th semester experience in Maine.
That was a great experience. It really helped bring everything together and prepared me for Step 1.
It felt like an important transition point between Basic Sciences and clinical training, and it gave me more confidence moving forward.
Clinical Training and Rotations
How would you describe your UMHS clinical rotations overall?
I would say they were excellent. I had strong experiences, great exposure, and I felt very well prepared.
I truly believe that UMHS offers some of the best clinical rotations.
Advice for incoming UMHS students
What advice would you give to incoming UMHS students?
Trust the process, stay focused, and take advantage of all the resources available to you.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and just keep going, even when it feels difficult.
Dr. Tomika Moody on the steps of the UMHS campus in St. Kitts. Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Moody.
Background and early influences
Can you tell me a little about your background, where you grew up, and your undergraduate experience?
I would say my path has been anything but traditional. I grew up with an interest in science, and that stayed with me throughout my undergraduate experience.
Even though my journey took a different direction for a while, that interest never really went away. Over time, I realized that medicine was still the path I wanted to pursue.
Overcoming challenges
What challenges did you face along the way, and how did you overcome them?
There were definitely challenges. Being away from medicine for so long and then coming back was not easy. I had to rebuild my confidence and adjust to being a student again.
But I stayed focused on my goal. I reminded myself why I started, and I kept pushing forward even when things felt difficult.
Advice for nontraditional students
What advice would you give to current or prospective UMHS students, especially those on a nontraditional path?
Stay committed and trust the process. It may not be a straight path, and it may take longer than you expect, but that does not mean you cannot succeed.
Take advantage of the support around you, stay disciplined, and believe in your ability to get to the finish line.
Anyone interested in connecting with Dr. Moody may reach out via LinkedIn.
Scott is Director of Digital Content & Alumni Communications Liaison at UMHS and editor of the UMHS Endeavour blog. When he's not writing about UMHS students, faculty, events, public health, alumni and UMHS research, he writes and edits Broadway theater reviews for a website he publishes in New York City, StageZine.com.
