WHEN she was a child and her father fell ill, Melody Margaret B. Johnson knew she had a new mission in life: become a doctor.
“He was dying and my whole world changed,” Johnson said of her late father. “I was 11 years old when I decided I was going to become a medical doctor. My dad had been sick for a few months and was misdiagnosed several times before being diagnosed with leukemia and lymphoma. From then on, I decided that I needed to become a doctor someday to save lives like his.”
Her father continues to be her inspiration now as ever, since Johnson completed her mission this year, graduating from De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute in Cavite, south of Manila, the Philippines.
Johnson, who graduated from Marianas High School in 2013, obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Laboratory Science from the Adventist University of the Philippines in Cavite before spending five years in medical school.
She experienced the Covid-19 pandemic on Saipan as an employee of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.’s Covid testing laboratory.
Johnson said her next steps are to prepare for her U.S. medical licensing examination and submit residency applications in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, anesthesiology, or pathology.
“This journey was definitely challenging, but so rewarding,” Johnson said of the physical, mental, and emotional toll it took on her. “At the end of the day, helping underprivileged patients made all the sacrifice worth it.”
Johnson took time to thank “everyone who [supported] me,” with a mention to one supporter in particular.
“I want to thank my mom,” Johnson said. “After my dad passed away, she embraced the role of a single parent and gave me safety, stability, and love. While the challenges of medical school were tough, she supported me through all the ups and downs, celebrating my achievements and comforting me through the difficult days. She always reminded me why I chose to become a doctor in the first place, and she is the reason my dream is a reality today.”
Melody Margaret B. Johnson graduates from the De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute in Cavite, the Philippines.
Melody Margaret B. Johnson
Melody Johnson with her mother, Delia Johnson.
