KEVIN MCOMIE, OMS-IV, B.S.
Medical Student, RVUCOM
ABOUT
I was born and raised in Bountiful, Utah, as the youngest of five. Trying to keep up with my siblings, I became a competitive athlete and enjoyed various sports. I also spent as much time as possible outdoors, and I still love to get outside whenever I can. At 19, I completed a two-year service mission in the Marshall Islands, where I became fluent in Marshallese and developed a deep appreciation for the culture and people.
After returning, I met my wife at Utah State University, where we both studied exercise science—Go Aggies! Now, we’re proud parents of two daughters: one almost three, and a baby born in April.
​
During my undergraduate years, I worked as a registrar in the emergency department, which strengthened my empathy and communication skills, especially with patients facing mental health challenges. This experience sparked my interest in medicine, ultimately guiding me toward psychiatry.
Through medical school, I encountered diverse patient populations, but my interactions with psychiatric patients stood out. These unique experiences confirmed my passion for psychiatry and helped me realize the depth of my ability to connect with and support individuals in their most vulnerable moments.
LEADERSHIP
At the end of my first year of medical school, I recognized a crucial need for students, including myself, to further explore the vast array of medical specialties available as career options. Many of my classmates and I felt uncertain about our paths, and I saw the importance of gaining greater insight. To address this, I took the initiative by approaching my school’s administration to establish a brand-new, school-sanctioned committee dedicated to exposing students to various career paths. I named it The Medical Specialties Committee. They agreed that this committee was important and needed.
​
The committee was founded, and through coordination with my school's administration, I organized an application process, through which six committee members were selected, each with their own responsibilities. We hosted regular events featuring guest doctors sharing insights into their respective fields. This empowered students to make well-informed decisions about their future careers in medicine. The overwhelming success of these events led to Rocky Vista University’s two other campuses seeking my guidance in replicating the committee, resulting in their own respective committees and leadership, where I serve as liaison for operations and outreach. This sustained, multi-campus program continues to guide hundreds of students in their career decisions every year.
​
As the founder and first president of the Medical Specialties Committee, I am grateful for the many ways that I have seen its positive impact on my growth as a leader, and the clarity it has brought to both me and my classmates in making career decisions.
CLINICAL HEALTHCARE EXPERIENCE
I worked as a medical assistant with a younger physician and a newly graduated physician assistant (PA). During this time, I helped the PA increase his daily patient load by 50% by implementing a walkie-talkie communication system, which streamlined our workflow. We formed an efficient, collaborative team, constantly seeking ways to improve patient care. The supervising doctor and PA, aware of my medical aspirations, frequently taught me and allowed me to shadow various procedures, recognizing my passion for learning and commitment to growth.
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
At 19, I volunteered for a two-year service mission in the Marshall Islands, leaving my family to live in a third-world country and teach myself Marshallese to fluency. Immersed in a new culture, I learned to appreciate diverse ways of living, from eating raw fish to bathing in the rain. I built homes, cleaned streets, and became part of the community, fostering love through service. Leadership roles, including Assistant to the Mission President, taught me responsibility, overseeing 120 individuals across 20 islands. The experience reshaped me, enhancing my empathy, communication, and adaptability. Despite challenges, it was transformative, teaching me I could accomplish difficult things. I strive to apply the life lessons learned there.