1. As a scholar and an athlete, how do you balance your busy schedule and responsibilities?

Donohoe: It has been a challenge to balance water polo, academics, my job, my social life and other activities since water polo dominates such a huge chunk of time.  But I’ve also found that water polo has helped me to find balance in everything that I do.  The rigid schedule gave me a structure to center my life around and it quickly taught me how to prioritize the responsibilities in my life.

2. How does water polo serve as an outlet from your studies and enhance your college experience?

Donohoe: Water polo is a very intense sport. So whenever I have a lot of pent-up stress, I’m able to just go down to the pool and play, and release a lot of it. When I’m playing polo, that’s the only thing I think about. I don’t worry about upcoming tests or assignments, and I definitely don’t think about medical school. It has always offered me a sanctuary from life in general. Plus, it has made college that much better because I am a part of the larger athletic community.

3. What is the best part of being on the UC San Diego water polo team?

Donohoe: The best part about being on the water polo team here is the fact that I’m surrounded by my brothers. That probably sounds really cliché, but it’s the absolute truth. At most schools, the practice atmosphere is really cutthroat because guys are constantly trying to compete with each other for starting spots. We have the same competitive attitude and we push each other, but everyone is extremely supportive of one another. Our team chemistry is incredible, and I think that that sets us apart from a lot of other teams. That’s one of the reasons I came to school here. It was definitely one of the best decisions I ever made because I go to a great school, I get to play top level water polo and I get to do all that with my brothers.

4. What initially sparked your interest in the sport?

Donohoe: What’s funny is that I didn’t even know what water polo was until about the seventh grade. I grew up swimming at a country club every summer, but most of my time was spent out on the soccer and football fields, and out on the basketball court. When I went to high school, I had every intention of playing football because my dad and his two brothers had played football and they had all won championships. So I wanted to continue the tradition. But my parents talked me into trying water polo because my sister and cousin had played, and the water polo summer camp started a week before the football camp. So I tried it and the rest is history. I was hooked, and it wasn’t long before I turned into a bit of a water polo “junkie.” I was playing games whenever I could and wherever I could. After I left high school, I was pretty burned out on the game and I actually took my first year of college off from water polo. But I found my way back on the team, and I appreciate it all that much more now because I know what it’s like to be away from it.

5. Why are you interested in pursuing a career in medicine?

Donohoe: My grandpa, Dr. John Sullivan, is the reason I want to become a physician.  When I was in the second grade, he started taking me on his weekend rounds at the hospital, and I loved everything about it.  I loved the hospital; I loved the nurses; and I especially loved being surrounded by doctors.  Plus, I got to see my grandpa interact with his patients outside of the hospital setting, and that’s what really sold me on wanting to become a doctor.  I saw his patients’ faces light up when they saw him, even at IHOP or Home Depot.  He was loved by all of them, and I’ve always said that if I can accomplish half of what he did in his life, then I’ll have led an awesome life.

On top of that, a lot of people in my family are involved in medicine in one way or another.  My mom is an administrator at a surgery center, my aunt works at the hospital, my uncle is in orthopedic sales, my grandpa’s brother is a general practitioner and my mom’s cousin is an anesthesiologist.  So I’ve been completely surrounded by medicine my entire life. 

Fun Faves

Favorite place on campus: Round Table Pizza in Price Center

Favorite place on Earth: Upland, Calif. (I’m a bit of a homebody)

Favorite sport to watch: Nebraska Husker football

Favorite food: Green chili stew

Favorite hobby: Reading fantasy (especially The Lord of the Rings)

Favorite college class: Organic Chemistry (140B in particular)

Favorite UC San Diego memory: When we beat UCLA 13-12 my freshman year. I still can’t believe how fired up I was after that game.

 

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