From Oxford to Operating Rooms: How Studying the Classics Shaped Dr. Austin Clark’s Path to Medicine

Studying ancient literature and philosophy at a world-renowned university in England isn’t the most conventional path to medical school. But for LSU Ogden Honors alumnus Dr. Austin Clark, a summer immersed in the humanities at the University of Oxford proved to be a turning point—not just academically, but personally.

Now a graduate of LSU Health New Orleans and incoming radiology resident at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Dr. Clark didn’t always know he wanted to pursue medicine. As an LSU undergraduate and biology major, he was certain only of one thing: he wanted to continue his education after graduation. But the form that would take—medical school or otherwise—was still unclear.

That changed the summer before his senior year, when a friend encouraged him to apply for the Ogden Honors in Oxford program, a selective study abroad experience that places LSU Honors students in small, discussion-based seminars at the University of Oxford. Despite his science-heavy course load, Clark took a chance and ended up finding clarity in an unexpected place.

“It was a lot of literature and history, but I think it just affirmed I really want to further my education,” Dr. Clark said. “And it gave me a lot of ethical understanding for how I wanted to practice medicine.”

That summer, his cohort dove deep into Greco-Roman texts, including Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War. Grappling with themes of power, justice, and human motivation, Clark found himself reflecting on his values and envisioning how they could shape his approach to patient care.

“ The classes were all collaborative and really engaging,” he said. “They didn't give us any answers. We had to come up with the answers on our own and because it was this kind of discovery process, the lessons really stuck with you.”

Beyond the classroom, the program offered cultural immersion through excursions to Bath, Blenheim Palace, London, plus ample time to explore Oxford’s storied streets, libraries, and rivers. For Clark, free time often meant floating peacefully down the river in a punt, soaking in the summer sun and the academic atmosphere.

Long after returning from England, the Oxford experience remained a touchstone. During medical school, Clark organized a book club to keep the spirit of interdisciplinary thinking alive, and to help himself and his peers stay grounded in the "why" behind their work.

“I think people get bogged down in the sciences and they lose their ‘why,’” he said. “It becomes a matter of fact, and it becomes a little callous. I love maintaining a grasp on some of these more sociological questions.”

He credits the Ogden Honors in Oxford program with broadening his perspective and helping him become not just a physician, but a thoughtful, empathetic one.

With a full senior year and a gap year to explore his options, Clark ultimately chose medicine. But it was the Oxford program where he developed the multi-disciplinary skills he knew would make him the doctor of medicine he is today.

He encourages students considering studying abroad not to worry about whether a program provides the credits they need or not, and instead recognize the value of a broad and varied education. On the Ogden Honors in Oxford program, his advice is simple:

“You should do this,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun. You’ll learn a lot.”