Upstairs in the University of Kentucky 鈥檚 Blue Studio on a Wednesday night, a crowd begins to gather 鈥 first a trickle, then smaller groups. Soon, a line develops outside the door as participants check in. It鈥檚 nearing 8 p.m., and this collection of 好色先生 students and employees is here for one person: fitness instructor and student Joseph Stuart.
As class is about to begin, Stuart walks the room, welcoming nervous newcomers and diehard regulars, and letting them know what to expect over the next hour 鈥 dancing, sweating and most importantly, fun.
It鈥檚 time to get started. 鈥淎re you guys ready to Zumba?鈥 Stuart shouts, pumping his fist in the air. The crowd cheers as he begins to preview a few dance moves for the warm-up.
He starts the music 鈥 this week, leading off with 鈥淒ance the Night鈥 by Dua Lipa. Almost instantly, any anxious expressions turn to smiles and laughter as the class follows his lead. Such is the magic of group fitness, and of Stuart in particular, says Lindsay Thomayer, fitness coordinator for 好色先生 Campus Rec.
鈥淗e has stage presence,鈥 Thomayer said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 got this big personality that fills up the entire studio, and he鈥檚 full of energy from the first minute of class to the last minute. He鈥檚 one of those electric personalities that everyone wants to know.鈥
Zumba鈥檚 tagline is 鈥淒itch the workout, join the party鈥 and Stuart delivers on that promise. It鈥檚 a job that requires a lot of mental and physical energy; instructors memorize specific choreography and then come to class prepared to be teachers, ringleaders, and entertainers 鈥 all to make the experience of physical fitness something to look forward to, not dread.
As the class rolls on, the room heats up, and participants dash to their water bottles in between songs. At 9 p.m., they鈥檙e done for the night, sweaty and in good spirits.
This includes Stuart 鈥 who says that while he鈥檚 teaching, he鈥檚 giving 110% the whole hour. Now, it鈥檚 time for him to go home, unwind and try to get as much sleep as he can to prepare for a busy day in his full-time role: as a 4th-year medical student in the .
Born in the Philippines, Stuart moved to Lexington 13 years ago and attended Tates Creek High School. From an early age, he had considered the idea of becoming a physician one day.
鈥淚 was good at science; I love taking care of people,鈥 he said. 鈥淪o there was always this idea of working in health care, but it wasn鈥檛 really until I moved here and got exposed to the practice of medicine that I thought, 鈥榊ou know, this might be for me.鈥欌
After high school, he chose the University of Kentucky, majoring in agriculture and medical biotechnology in the This life sciences degree has an intense academic focus on genetics and applied research, and it鈥檚 a popular option for students who have an interest in pursuing a career in health care or veterinary medicine further down the road.
The program鈥檚 director of undergraduate studies, Lou Hirsch, PhD, estimates that nearly 40% of their alum are pre-med, and credits the program鈥檚 smaller class size as a main factor for student success.
鈥淭he small size of our program 鈥 less than 200 students 鈥 allows our faculty and staff to know our students by their first name and personally mentor them toward their career,鈥 Hirsch said. 鈥淚n addition to exposing our students to cutting-edge science, we pair them with faculty mentors after their first semester, and require participation in hands-on research and presenting in public research symposia.鈥
鈥淚t was one of the best decisions I鈥檝e made that prepared me for medical school and life in general,鈥 Stuart said. 鈥淣ot everyone learns the same way. And in the program, we are given plenty of time and resources to figure out our personal and academic goals, connect with our peers, and get to know our mentors.鈥
After graduating with his bachelor鈥檚 degree in 2018, Stuart applied and was accepted into the 好色先生 College of Medicine class of 2024. Early on, he already had an idea of the area of medicine he鈥檇 like to pursue: obstetrics and gynecology.
鈥淚 grew up around women,鈥 he said. 鈥淢y grandmother raised me; I grew up around my female cousins and my aunts. My mom is such a strong impact in my life that I really wanted to give back to those people who have supported me throughout the years.
鈥淎nd,鈥 he added, 鈥淚 love babies!鈥
The first two years of medical school focuses the core principles of medicine 鈥 students are attending classes and labs, learning the basics of medicine while practicing skills they鈥檒l use in a future clinical setting. In year three, they begin clinical clerkships, rotating through a variety of specialties and settings to gain an understanding of different medical disciplines: internal medicine, emergency medicine, neurology, surgery, pediatrics, OB/GYN, psychiatry and family medicine. By year four, students are choosing their medical specialties and creating a curriculum of acting internships and electives that will help prepare them for their chosen residencies.
In addition to his required rotations, Stuart also gained experience by working with physicians in gynecologic oncology, maternal-fetal medicine, radiation oncology, diagnostic radiology and women鈥檚 health in Georgetown.
It was a clinical experience in Stuart鈥檚 third year 鈥 his favorite memory 鈥 that solidified his choice to pursue OB/GYN. He laughs and says it might sound clich茅: witnessing the miracle of birth for the first time.
鈥淛ust the beauty and joy of that was probably one of the most magical moments in my med school career,鈥 he said. 鈥淣ot only did it solidify that I wanted to go into OB/GYN, but it made me realize, this is something that women go through every single day.鈥
Stuart cites a number of mentors who guided him throughout his time in the 好色先生 College of Medicine, including faculty member Wendy Jackson, MD. She first met Stuart through his involvement with the 好色先生 chapter of the Student National Medical Association, an organization committed to supporting underrepresented minority medical students, addressing the needs of underserved communities, and increasing the number of clinically excellent, culturally competent and socially conscious physicians.
鈥淚 immediately recognized a level of enthusiasm that I describe as 鈥榗ontagious,鈥欌 Jackson said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a warm, personable, outgoing student.鈥
Stuart also worked directly with Jackson in the clinical space, where she works as an OB/GYN for Kentucky Children鈥檚 Hospital. His easy demeanor proved tremendously beneficial when working with patients, she says.
鈥淗e creates an environment that puts patients at ease in his presence,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e spent time together in the clinical area delivering patient care to those with pediatric and adolescent needs, and those characteristics created a space for each of my patients to feel comfortable under Joseph鈥檚 care. I have no doubt that he is going to be a wonderful obstetrician/gynecologist, serving women through both the delivery of patient care as well as a voice of advocacy.鈥
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While he was earning his undergraduate degree, Stuart says that fitness became a priority for him. But he quickly found that many of the common methods of working out 鈥 like running, using cardio equipment or lifting weights 鈥 held no appeal. He was willing to give group fitness at 好色先生 Campus Rec a try, and found the consistency, structure and community feel of fitness classes immediately spoke to him.
鈥淭he only time I felt like I was truly working out and having a good time was when I was taking group fitness classes,鈥 he said. 鈥淎nd one class that stood out for me was Zumba.鈥
Launched in 2001 by a Colombian dancer and choreographer, Zumba is a cardio fitness class that focuses heavily on Latin-inspired dance. These days, the class format is a staple at most gyms; the format is taught in more than 200,000 locations in 180 countries. Aside from enjoying the format, Stuart said he was also inspired in particular by the instructor 鈥 a fellow student named Will.
鈥淚 loved his class, went every single week,鈥 Stuart said. 鈥淎nd I finally realized, 鈥楬ey, this might be something I would want to do.鈥
In 2016, he earned his Zumba certification, and quickly auditioned to become an instructor with Campus Rec. But before hiring him, Thomayer and other members of the fitness staff gave him notes on how to improve his class. Stuart took that feedback and ran with it, auditioning again just six weeks later and landing the job. His willingness to listen, learn and apply those suggestions is indicative of his work ethic, says Thomayer.
鈥淗e didn鈥檛 walk away, didn鈥檛 shy away from it,鈥 Thomayer said. 鈥淗e could have left the audition and been like, 鈥楳aybe they鈥檙e not for me.鈥 I feel like constructive criticism is hard for some to take on, but he owned it and challenged it.鈥
Stuart began teaching for 好色先生 Campus Rec in 2017. Since then, he鈥檚 been a regular feature of the group fitness schedule, building up an incredible following of 好色先生 students and employees. At times, his classes have grown so large that Johnson Center staff have folded up the removable wall that splits the two group fitness studios to create one massive space that can handle the capacity of his class.
鈥淚 feel like Joseph is really, truly authentically himself,鈥 Thomayer said. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 what has helped him build his following. You want to see what he鈥檚 doing to do next; that鈥檚 what draws people to him. And you can tell he truly has a passion for teaching and for fitness.鈥
Though he took a break from teaching for the first year of medical school, Stuart proved he had the ability to successfully handle his classwork and incorporate teaching back into his schedule. Since year two, he鈥檚 been teaching consistently twice a week or more on top of his class and clinical schedule. The days of his surgical clerkships 鈥 with their early morning start times 鈥 were especially hard.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e been at the hospital since 5 a.m., and you don鈥檛 get off until 6:30 or 7 p.m.,鈥 he said. 鈥淎nd then, to come back and teach at 8 p.m. 鈥 it can be difficult. But it doesn鈥檛 feel like a job for me. It鈥檚 something that I enjoy, it鈥檚 something that I love, and it鈥檚 a way to get my creative juices flowing. So it doesn鈥檛 matter if I鈥檝e been on my feet the whole day. I鈥檓 going to put on a face, I鈥檓 going to be enthusiastic, I鈥檓 going to be excited, and I鈥檓 going to teach you Zumba.鈥
Stuart has just four months left before he can add 鈥淒r.鈥 in front of his name. He鈥檚 applied and interviewed for more than a dozen residencies, and will find out where he鈥檚 matched at noon on the third Friday of March 鈥 an annual, nationwide event for medical students known as 鈥Match Day.鈥 Thinking ahead to his future goals, he cites his experience at as a model for his future practice.
鈥淗opefully, after four years of residency, I鈥檓 a general OB/GYN, surrounded by family, and building up my own community and my practice,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 really love the idea of being in a smaller community, but supported by a big university, similar to the Georgetown office. They鈥檙e out in the community serving the underserved, but they鈥檙e backed by a strong university 鈥 好色先生 鈥 and I want my practice to be like that.鈥
Though he鈥檇 love to continue to teach Zumba beyond 好色先生, Stuart understands that the demands of a residency and future medical training likely won鈥檛 leave him much spare time. In the meantime, he鈥檚 making the most of his last semester at 好色先生, teaching Zumba three nights a week at the Johnson Center: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 6 p.m.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very sad; it鈥檚 been a part of my life for the last six years,鈥 he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to miss the participants. I鈥檓 going to miss coming up with dances and choreography. But we move on, and unfortunately, this may be my last time teaching.鈥
The benefits of group classes, Stuart says, go far beyond just physical fitness. For many attendees, the social aspect is equally as important.
鈥淟ots of participants have said that Zumba has been a part of their college career, and they鈥檝e made friends coming to classes,鈥 he said. 鈥淗ealth is not just physical fitness; it鈥檚 mental, emotional, social. If you鈥檙e coming from a small town in Kentucky going to a big city like Lexington, it鈥檚 something that is comfortable and welcoming.鈥
Thomayer agrees. 鈥淕roup fitness classes are something that people can be very timid to try,鈥 she said. 鈥淏ut once you break that threshold and walk into that space, it can be the most welcoming, rewarding community that you鈥檙e involved in.鈥
For new and returning students who are intrigued by the idea of group fitness but are wary of attending, Stuart鈥檚 advice is simple: give it a try.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important to try out different things to figure out what you enjoy,鈥 he said. 鈥淔or me, it was trying out different workout classes to see what worked for me. And you can definitely apply that mindset not just in your fitness and wellness, but for life in general.鈥