A Tribute to Dr. Rebecca Shadowen

Nicole Perez, Class of 2024, Lexington Campus

Just as Nicole Perez was beginning medical school, the COVID-19 pandemic began wreaking havoc in the United States.

The uncertainty early in the pandemic complicated her plans to move from her hometown of Miami, Fla., to Lexington, Ky. She had never been to Kentucky before her medical school interview. She didn’t know anyone, where she should live, or where to buy furnishings. And as someone who considers her family her strongest support system, she wasn’t able to receive the full family send-off she had hoped.

In addition to these challenges, Perez carried the worry that her family members would get sick while she was hundreds of miles away.

Perez said the College of Medicine’s consistent and supportive communications through the process, even before she set foot on campus, made her feel more comfortable. Once she arrived at UK, though going through virtual orientation and virtual classes was a unique experience, she felt more connected than she expected.

“You would think being online, that it would be a negative experience, but it was actually well put together,” she said. “There’s constantly someone who’s monitoring the chat in Zoom, so you can have your questions answered in real time. That really helped me feel connected.” n

Jarrett Grace (left) and Nicole Perez (above) faced the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic as they were entering medical school.

In September of 2020, the College of Medicine lost a dear colleague to COVID-19. Rebecca Shadowen, MD, died on Sept. 11 at the age of 62 after a four-month battle with the virus that caused a global pandemic.

Dr. Shadowen was an infectious disease specialist who played a key role in keeping her community informed about the latest COVID-19 information and public health safety measures. She also was an integral part of the team that helped establish the Medical Center of Bowling Green’s coronavirus unit. Dr. Shadowen mentored future physicians and scientists as a faculty member at the College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus, a regional campus that opened in 2018 as part of the college’s expansion across the state.

Paden Vernon, a fourth-year medical student at the Bowling Green Campus, said Dr. Shadowen had a reputation for being both “fiercely intelligent and desiring the best from those she worked with.” As a preceptor during the Advanced Clinical Medicine (ACM) second-year course, she became a mentor figure for Vernon. “Naturally, my ACM group and I were fairly intimidated the first time we met her to present our first patient encounter,” Vernon said. “As we expected, she didn’t hold back with her critiques and suggestions. When we finished, we must have had looks of shock on our faces because she stopped us from leaving and told us, ‘I’m sure you all have heard that I’m tough, and I am. But you all are my students now, and I care deeply about your success and the future of medicine. So I will be tough, but fair, on all of you because you are my students, and I want you to be the best you can be.’”

Dr. Shadowen found joy in educating the next generation of health care leaders, taking particular joy in having students “shadow Dr. Shadowen.” Not only did she educate and practice in Bowling Green, but also maintained an interest in promoting success for women in health care fields. She captivated audiences as a frequent speaker with the campus Women in Medicine group.

“She had our group hanging on to every word she said,” fourth-year medical student Dixi Secula, said. “Every moment and every experience shared with her is one that I, and many others, will cherish for a lifetime. She had a tremendous impact on me as a future physician, a woman, and a person in general. We are all better from knowing her.”

College of Medicine faculty, staff, and learners mourn the loss of a remarkable physician, educator, and friend. As we move forward in training future health care leaders, we will keep Dr. Shadowen’s memory in our hearts, doing our best to follow her example.