By Marena Keci    

From his earliest memories accompanying his grandmother to hospital visits in Memphis, Tennessee, class of 2024 Caylon Pettis, MD, MPH, was shaped by the profound injustices he witnessed in healthcare. 

Pettis’s path to medicine was unconventional. As a child, he observed the dismissive attitudes of physicians who failed to listen to his grandmother’s concerns. “It made me so upset,” he recalls. “I wanted to be a provider who truly listens.” However, it wasn’t until college, when a close friend persistently encouraged him to pursue a career in medicine, that Pettis began to envision himself as a physician. 

Drawn to Stritch’s mission of social justice and healthcare equity, Pettis enrolled in the dual MD/MPH program. “Stritch’s Jesuit values of serving underserved communities deeply resonated with me,” he explains. “I wanted to train in a place where the mission aligned with my goals to make healthcare equitable and accessible.” Stritch’s emphasis on building strong physician-patient relationships and addressing the needs of marginalized populations provided the ideal foundation for his dual MD/MPH education. The public health component strongly shaped how he approaches medicine, enabling him to connect individual patient care to broader systemic issues. 

Pettis initially considered cardiology, but his experiences on psychiatric rotations and his master’s capstone on childhood trauma shifted his focus. He saw firsthand the impact of untreated mental health issues in underserved communities, particularly among Black men. “Mental health often takes a backseat when people are in survival mode,” he says. A pivotal moment during his psychiatry rotation involved helping a patient in crisis regain stability and hope. “That experience solidified my decision to pursue psychiatry.” 

Now a resident psychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic, Pettis reflects on how Stritch prepared him. “Stritch emphasized patient interviewing and rapport-building from day one,” he says. These skills have been invaluable in residency, where he prioritizes patient-centered care. “Sitting at eye level, taking time to listen—these small acts build trust and make a huge difference.” 

His mentor, Ronald Rembert Jr., MD, played a pivotal role throughout medical school. Inspired by his guidance, Pettis remains committed to mentoring aspiring physicians, particularly students of color. His volunteer work with the I Am Abel foundation has been especially meaningful, offering him the chance to mentor young students and provide encouragement to those pursuing careers in medicine. “Mentorship is bi-directional,” he says. “It reminds me of how far I’ve come and keeps me grounded in the work that still needs to be done.” 

He regularly speaks at his former middle and high schools, sharing his story to inspire the next generation. “Representation matters,” he says. “You can’t be what you can’t see.” Beyond mentorship, he advocates for systemic changes to make medical education more accessible, including increasing shadowing opportunities and financial support for students from disadvantaged communities. 

Looking ahead, Pettis plans to pursue fellowships in child and adolescent psychiatry and addiction psychiatry. He hopes to return to Memphis to provide culturally competent care and address pressing issues such as substance use and gun violence. He plans on volunteering at a community clinic where he can offer free mental health care as a way to give back. “Finding meaning in what you do is essential to avoiding burnout,” he says. 

Pettis’s journey reflects a blend of resilience, empathy, and advocacy. Shaped by personal experiences and a deep commitment to underserved communities, he embodies the values of Stritch. His story is not just one of personal success but a call to transform healthcare into a system that listens, heals, and uplifts all people. 

February 2025