Julian Rawlins ’25 Tackles Medicine with Community, Commitment and Team Spirit

This fall looks much different for the recent alum, who works part-time treating ICU patients as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. He’s also focused on medical school applications. 

Rawlins grew up close to Davidson in Huntersville, where his mom worked as a nurse in a local emergency department. Hearing her stories inspired Rawlins and his two older brothers to pursue medical careers. Rawlins knew from his mom’s experience that working in critical care would allow him to learn about a diverse range of cases, everything from acute trauma to chronic illness. 

“I wanted to see as much as I possibly could,” he said. “Different medical specialties all convene in the ICU, and teamwork between experts becomes a priority.”

He spends his weekends checking vitals, turning patients in bed and making daily life easier for them, doctors and nurses. 

“This is my first real job,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot about the importance of people skills. Whether it’s navigating a care team or having patient conversations, communicating is a huge part of day-to-day care.”

Playing football at Davidson gave Rawlins confidence in his ability to serve others as a teammate, a volunteer and a friend. His teammates encouraged him to get involved in the community, to embrace new opportunities and to approach problems with confidence and humility. 

In between practice, class and work, he found time to tutor 5th graders at the Ada Jenkins Center, volunteer with local churches and help run K-8 athletic programs on campus. He also worked with Davidson’s chapter of Uplifting Athletes, an organization supporting rare disease research through fundraising and outreach.