Lynn Kriengkrairut and Adam Munday spent many years in competitive skating, hoping for that special medal and personal best scores. Today, the two former ice dancers are working hard to add another title to their name. Doctor.
Kriengkrairut is currently in her third year of studies at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Munday is a first year student at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Kriengkrairut competed with partners Jon Lauten and then Logan Giulietti-Schmitt, through senior level. Kriengkrairut and Giulietti-Schmitt were junior bronze and senior pewter medalists.
Two defining moments encouraged Kriengkrairut to pursue a medical career. At 15, she underwent surgery to remove a lobe from her lung, due to pulmonary sequestration.
"After the surgery I was amazed that the body could fix and realign itself, move on as though nothing had happened, and allow me to continue to do so many extraordinary things with it, like skating," Kriengkrairut said.
The other defining experience was her father's diagnoses with bile duct cancer six months before her last U.S. Championships in 2014.
"He was told he had six months to live. I felt so powerless. He underwent several risky procedures in Thailand and I, again, was amazed at the surgeons' skilled hands and was grateful for the extra four years that I could have with my dad," Kriengkrairut said.
Munday, who competed in novice and senior dance from 2007-2012 with partners Brittany Schmucker,Mackenzie Reid, Lauren McKernan and Moriah Tabon, didn't entertain the thought of a medical career until after high school.
"I realized my interest in medicine after I hurt my back and worked with my orthopedists and physical therapists," Munday said. "I took on learning all about my injury, from the anatomy to potential treatments. After working with several medical professionals during recovery, I realized that I too wanted to help other athletes successfully overcome their injuries."
Both agree medical school is indeed a challenge, from having to memorize enormous amounts of information in very short periods, to spending very long hours shadowing physicians at the hospital, hands on experience rotations and workshops. However, during their studies, they often draw on lessons they learned while skating.
"Skating has taught me the importance of resilience, being in the moment and loving what I do," Kriengkrairut said. "Skating has taught me when things get difficult, giving up is not an option."
Munday often finds himself, on a daily basis, reciting some of his coaches' favorite mantras.
"It's not a novel belief. Most coaches are not just skating coaches. They are life coaches. Without every single coach that ever taught me, I would not be the person I am today. Together, they have made me a determined, hard working, sensible athlete, student and, one day, doctor," Munday said.
Kriengkrairut has yet to decide on a specialty field, but is interested in family medicine, pediatrics, sports medicine and, most recently, hospice and palliative care. Munday is interested in a career in orthopedic medicine, but also finds emergency medicine intriguing.
Whatever field they choose, both know a career in medicine is the right choice for them.
"I really find joy being around a team that engages with their patient and continuously strives to provide the best care possible," Munday said. "While it is always hard to hear bad news given, it is incredibly rewarding to give good news to those who did not have answers before."
And while it can sometimes sound cliché, Kriengkrairut chose medicine to help people.
"Like the doctors who helped me and gave me the chance to explore my skating abilities, and like the doctors that helped my father and gave me the chance to spend four more years with him, I want to help give people the opportunity and resources to live their best lives," Kriengkrairut said.
