If you ask about her most meaningful experience as a West Virginia University student,
Antinone will tell you it was
being named Ms. Mountaineer in 2018 in front of a packed Milan Puskar Stadium.
While that may have been the most meaningful, Antinone is leaving behind her undergraduate
career with a number of memorable experiences.
She studied abroad extensively in Italy, Spain and Nicaragua. On one of her two
trips to Nicaragua, she helped WVU's
Global Medical and Dental Brigades set up medical and dental clinics which
served 2,200 patients from rural communities in four days.
A member of the
Honors College, Antinone was involved in a variety of campus initiatives including
serving as a student tour guide for the WVU Visitors Center, vice president for
Mountaineer Guides, and a volunteer for the West Virginia Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership
Conference.
Following graduation, she plans to attend the WVU
School of Medicine.
Why did you choose your major?
I chose Biochemistry because I wanted to choose a pathway that would challenge
me and prepare me well for medical school. My major also gave me opportunities
to emphasize a lot of my studies in nutrition and animal physiology, which are
two particular interests of mine.
Describe any internships, research or study abroad opportunities you participated
in. How did they benefit you?
It was not until I came to college that I had an opportunity to explore outside of
the USA. With WVU’s Education Abroad program, I traveled to Nicaragua, Italy, and
Spain on three separate spring break trips. In 2017, I traveled with the Global
Medical and Dental Brigades to Nicaragua where we set up a medical and dental clinic
for four days. We served over 2,200 patients in the rural communities. It was an
extremely humbling and memorable experience that furthered my calling to become
a physician. In 2018 I went to Florence and Rome, and in 2019 I went to Barcelona
and Madrid. My trips to Europe were so memorable because I got to experience the
culture, food, history, and atmosphere of these countries with my little sister
Gianna who is also a student at WVU.
If you could trade places with one person for a day, who would it be and why?
I would trade places with Giada De Laurentiis. She and I have Italian roots, so I
really enjoy her recipes from desserts to pasta! Hosting cooking show and traveling
the world to try different cuisines would be exceptional ways to live!
Was there a professor or staff member who impacted you more than others? If so, who and why?
My advisor, Dr.
Kimberly Barnes, has been an excellent mentor to me over the past four years.
She taught me in the classroom and gave me so much advice during my undergraduate
career to get me to where I am today. I am thankful to have gotten to know her
so well.
What is one thing you would have done differently?
I would have gone on an
Adventure WV trip as an incoming freshman.
What problem do you want to solve?
Throughout my medical school career, I intend to focus a lot of my studies on nutrition
and lifestyle changes. I am a big proponent of eating healthy and exercising to
alleviate chronic conditions. I hope to do outreach and service projects in West
Virginia where obesity and diabetes are prevalent issues. I hope to improve these
issues through medicine and a holistic lifestyle changes in these communities.
It is not going to be easy, but it is something that I am passionate about.
What’s your advice for the Class of 2019?
I would tell the Class of 2019 to hold on to the dreams that they had when they
were a little kid. Getting this degree from WVU was hopefully just one part of
your larger goal in life. Your wildest dreams can still become a reality if you
put your mind to it.