Where It Began, Where It Led: A Path into Emergency Medicine
May 5, 2026
Paige Sims was exposed to the world of emergency medicine at an early age when she participated in a summer internship program at DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital as a high school student. The program, Project Genesis, introduced Detroit students to careers in healthcare and emergency services.
“Watching physicians care for patients in critical moments sparked my curiosity about how they balance urgency, empathy, and teamwork,” she said.
Beyond curiosity, the experience solidified her dream of becoming a physician.
As a first-generation college student, Paige entered medicine without a clear path laid out, only determination and a willingness to figure things out along the way.
What steadied her most was her mother. “My mother has been my biggest inspiration,” Paige said. “She constantly reminded me that I was capable and built for any challenge.”
As an undergrad at MSU, she found structure in academic spaces like the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students, where she connected with peers navigating similar paths and challenges. It also helped her best friend and roommate at the time, who would also go on to join the College of Human Medicine, was on the same path. “We supported each other every step of the way,” she said.
She even returned to Project Genesis as a student supervisor, mentoring the next generation of Detroit students through the same exposure that had first inspired her.
After years of building her path in medicine through early exposure and hands-on experiences, medical school tested her in ways she hadn’t yet experienced. The pace was demanding, and setbacks during exams and rotations could feel overwhelming at times. “What kept me grounded was purpose,” she said. “I stayed focused on finishing so I could give back and mentor those coming behind me. As a Black woman in medicine, where Black women make up roughly 2% of physicians, it also felt like a responsibility to keep going and contribute to changing those numbers through representation and service.” 
For her final two clinical years, Paige joined the Southeast Michigan campus, training in a community close to home and caring for a patient population that reflected where she grew up. The experience sharpened her clinical skills while reinforcing the importance of relationships in medicine, and beyond.
Some of her most meaningful memories came not from a single rotation, but from the people beside her. “I have created unforgettable memories alongside people who started as classmates and became lifelong friends,” she said. “You really cannot ask for more than that.”
Paige’s journey came full circle when she matched at Henry Ford St. John Hospital in Emergency Medicine, returning to the hospital system where she was born.
Looking ahead, Paige hopes to be the kind of physician patients remember not only for clinical skill, but for steadiness and kindness. A service-oriented leader. Someone who advocates for patients. Someone who helps diversify the future of medicine.
By Nadija Kadunic
