Becoming a physician is commonly associated with years of rigorous training, sleepless nights, and relentless dedication. But what happens after the white coat ceremony and the letters "M.D." follow your name? For many, the challenge shifts from earning the title to enduring the daily grind 鈥� navigating institutional policies, battling burnout, and finding the resolve to keep showing up for patients, no matter the cost.
Dr. Bailee Olliff, a recipient of , embodies a commitment to medical research and patient care that rises above those challenges.
Since 2004, the USF Alumni Association has annually recognized up to 10 alumni age 35 and younger for achieving unique and innovative career success.
A graduate of USF鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences and the Morsani College of Medicine (MCOM), Olliff was named one of this year鈥檚 awardees for her impactful career in trauma medicine, passion for community service, and commitment to mentoring future medical professionals.
A trauma surgeon specializing in acute care robotic surgery, Olliff serves as the trauma medical director at HCA HealthOne Mountain Ridge and medical director of emergency medical services at the University of Colorado, where she enjoys the opportunity to impact patient care on both a large scale and personal level.
From Pre-Med to Practicing Medicine
Olliff鈥檚 medical journey began at USF, where she studied biomedical sciences and biomedical physics and was a member of the Judy Genshaft Honors College.
Originally from Central Florida, Olliff鈥檚 passion for medicine was rooted in a desire to create change 鈥� a motivation shaped by the inequities she witnessed in the world around her.
鈥淕rowing up, I saw what health disparities looked like for people who were socioeconomically disadvantaged to be set back in life for circumstances that they have no control over,鈥� said Olliff. 鈥淚 knew I wanted to go into a career where I could help people that had similar experiences to myself growing up.鈥�
Olliff found her Honors coursework a refreshing change of pace from her pre-med requisites, as she enjoyed being exposed to a variety of ideas and challenged in her thinking.
鈥淎t the Honors College, I found a niche of people I could relate to,鈥� said Olliff. 鈥淚 came from a very small, rural, conservative town, so debating ethical topics in my Honors classes with all these people from different places was a wonderful experience, and I feel so grateful to be exposed to all of those viewpoints so early on.鈥�
Bridging Gaps with Service
Beyond her rigorous coursework, Olliff dedicated herself to making an impact through clinical service to her community. Her experience at (Building Relationships and Initiatives Dedicated to Gaining Equality) allowed her to see the bigger picture when it came to solving health disparities and working in different communities. BRIDGE Clinic is a student-driven free clinic for uninsured and underserved populations.
鈥淏RIDGE Clinic was the first time I really got to experience trying to improve a system as a whole, instead of only trying to fix a health care problem one patient at a time, which can be exhausting and cause burnout,鈥� said Olliff.
While a student at MCOM, Olliff founded with her peers. Plexus provides undergraduate students studying medicine, pharmacy or physical therapy with mentorship opportunities from medical students and guidance on how to prepare professionally for their chosen fields.
鈥淣o one should have to go through their journey into medicine alone 鈥� that was the purpose of the program,鈥� said Olliff, who remains an active philanthropic supporter of Plexus.
Today, Olliff continues this commitment to helping others, volunteering annually on a surgical mission trip to Cambodia with Jeremiah鈥檚 Hope, where she provides care to underserved populations and medical education to health care communities.
Never-Ending Learning
Much like her service work and experience as a mentor, Olliff鈥檚 research focuses on practical innovations to enhance the practice of medicine and improve patient outcomes. She is particularly interested in how robotics and camera-assisted technology can improve surgical outcomes, specifically by reducing the size of incisions in acute care or emergency general surgery. Smaller incisions mean lower risk and faster recovery times for patients 鈥� a goal that drives much of her work.
Throughout her medical career, Olliff has found that not a single day goes by without learning something new or sharing her knowledge with others.
鈥淓ducation in medicine is non-negotiable,鈥� said Olliff. 鈥淭he moment you decide to join the field, you are agreeing to become an educator because every part of your journey, you will have someone that will educate you and someone you can educate.鈥�
Olliff discovered a deep sense of fulfillment in teaching others 鈥� something she quickly grew to enjoy.
鈥淲hen I found how integral to teaching was to medicine, I said, 鈥極h this is my calling.鈥欌��
Always a Team Effort
With a high-pressure job and people relying on her for both critical care and instruction, Olliff understood the importance of building a strong, reliable support system.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 find that I have burnout because my team at work is so supportive,鈥� said Olliff. 鈥淚f we do go through something bad, we talk about it together, we debrief about it. We have a very open dialogue.鈥�
鈥淪upport at home is just as important,鈥� Olliff continued. 鈥淪urrounding yourself with good friends, a supportive partner, and making sure you invest in yourself during your time off are all important.鈥�
Beyond taking the right prerequisites, studying for the MCAT, and gaining valuable clinical experience, Olliff encourages pre-medical students to enjoy their college experience and explore extracurricular interests.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really important along the way to live your life, because the whole point of going into medicine is that life is short, and you don鈥檛 know when it鈥檚 going to change,鈥� said Olliff. 鈥淪o, take the swing dancing class, take the EDM class, travel during the summer, spend time with your friends, and go to the football game.鈥�
鈥淢y advice is always to stop and enjoy the journey,鈥� said Olliff. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 get those moments back.鈥�