Student Ambassadors

Hometown: O'Fallon, IL

Undergrad: University of Missouri

Major: Health Science

Med Specialty: OB/GYN, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Surgical specialty

Email: etamt9@health.missouri.edu

Why I Chose MU: I chose to apply to and ultimately attend Mizzou School of Medicine because I did my undergraduate education here and I was already familiar with not only the campus, but also with the PBL curriculum and the friendly MU-Med faculty/staff! Since I'm not originally from Missouri, going to an in state school would have been closer to family; however, I felt that my learning style matched best with the education I would receive at Mizzou SOM compared to other, lecture based schools. I personally learn best when I am able to see someone explain a skill, perform the skill myself, and then teach the skill to someone else, so I believe that Mizzou's curriculum is set up perfectly for me. We get lectures from physicians about certain topics, we go and research these topics on our own for learning objectives, then we present these objectives to our peers. This has not only optimized my educational experience, but it has given me the autonomy to take charge of my education and to dive deep into topics that I find interesting. In addition to the curriculum, Mizzou offers a lot of different extracurricular clubs and organizations that have something to fit everyone's interests. As an M1, I've even had opportunities to hold leadership positions in some of the orgs that I'm a member of, and I look forward to continuing these experiences throughout the rest of my career!

Hometown: Wildwood, MO

Undergrad: Washington University in St. Louis

Major: Biology

Med Specialty: I am undecided, but I am currently interested in internal medicine, ophthalmology, and radiology!

Email: cshao@health.missouri.edu

Why I Chose MU: I honestly did not know much about Mizzou when I applied. I applied because it is my state school, and I was told by my advisors that it was a good option. However, as I went through the interview process and started doing more research, I fell in love with the school, and I ultimately chose Mizzou over other options that I initially considered over Mizzou.

What attracted to me to Mizzou Med is how we can learn directly from our peers and support each other through the process. We learn a lot of our material through patient cases, so we are able to connect our objectives directly to patient care, which better prepares us for clinicals. I also think it's fun to be able to get to know 7 new people every block. You are able to connect with your peers while you learn, which is not something you get from a traditional lecture curriculum.

It is also clear that Mizzou prioritizes the health and wellness of the students, which was important to me. We meet one-on-one with faculty to discuss our wellbeing and get a week of break after each exam week during our preclinical years. The exams are also every eight weeks, so you are able to take it easy in the beginning of each block. The gym is also right next door to the hospital and the medical student building, which makes it really hard to come up with an excuse to skip your workout!

The most important reason why I chose Mizzou is because of the community, and I believe that my experience has been positive due to the quality of people here. The staff, faculty, and my fellow classmates are all incredibly supportive.

I can confidently say that I would choose Mizzou again in a heartbeat!

Hometown: Chesterfield, MO

Undergrad: Saint Louis University

Major: Biochemistry BS

Med Specialty: Pediatrics?

Email: rd2f6@umsystem.edu

Why I Chose MU: Mizzou is a great place! The PBL system was completely new for me and makes for such an engaging and interactive learning experience, it is really suited to training exceptional physicians. All of our learning is super collaborative and we all work together to make learning easier and more efficient.

Staying in Missouri was a huge plus; I've lived and been raised in this state for my entire life and I meet kind people everywhere I go. Proximity to my family was also a very important factor for me; I am able to visit home 1 or 2 times a month and it is a relatively quick drive (1.5-2 hours).

Lastly, the students here are like a family! I stay at the PCCLC a lot to study and I am always able to walk around and chit-chat with everyone who is around. Being social is very easy if you want it to be! Feel free to say hi if you see me around, I love meeting and getting to know new people (:

Hometown: Joplin, MO

Undergrad: MIZ-ZOU

Major: Biology

Med Specialty: Interested in Ophthalmology

Email: mzgfp9@health.missouri.edu

Why I Chose MU: Mizzou Med was an easy choice for me. As a Mizzou undergraduate student, I became quite familiar with Mizzou Med’s culture. I was impressed by the state-of-the-art facilities, the collaborative learning environment, and most surprisingly, the amount of free time you still have. I have been able to keep up with most of my hobbies, including playing basketball, disc golf, and watching movies.

Another reason that I love Mizzou Med is the PBL curriculum, which gives you an opportunity to get to know your classmates. It allows you to practice many important skills such as critical thinking, teamwork, and communication in a supportive environment. PBL makes learning more fun because instead of reading a textbook or watching a video, you are sharing knowledge and tackling a challenging case with seven fantastic classmates each block.

And to top it off, my girlfriend had already been accepted through the Bryant’s Rural Scholars Program, making Mizzou Med an even easier decision for me. Who knows? You might meet that special someone at Mizzou. Anyway, feel free to reach out with any questions. I’m a big food guy and can tell you about the best restaurants in Columbia (Check out my ever-growing foodie page on Instagram: Comofoodjunkie).

Hometown: Saint Peters, MO

Undergrad: University of Missouri-Columbia

Major: Biology and Psychology

Med Specialty: Dermatology, Internal Medicine & Family Medicine

Email: kpmk2@umsystem.edu

Why I Chose MU:  As a Mizzou graduate, I knew I wanted to attend Mizzou Med. I had fallen in love with the Columbia community after having spent 4 years in the area and knew I wanted to return after taking some time off from school. As an undergrad, I had volunteered at MedZou, a free health clinic in Columbia for those without health insurance, and continuously interacted with the Mizzou medical students who were there. Through hearing about their experiences, involvement in a wide variety of organizations, and their genuine passion for the patient-based learning curriculum, I knew that Mizzou Med was the perfect fit for me.

When I attended my interview, it only confirmed what I knew: this was where I wanted to be. Mizzou Med isn’t the traditional classroom learning style: it is patient-based. While traditional lectures still exist, a large portion of dedicated classroom time is spent working alongside 7 other classmates on patient cases and figuring out the patient’s diagnosis each week. I knew this would be an excellent learning style for me, as I enjoy the teamwork atmosphere and the critical thinking component. I was very interested in having the opportunity to work alongside people from diverse backgrounds and experiences in order to gain new, unique perspectives on how to problem solve. In addition to PBL, I knew I wanted to go to a medical school that placed an emphasis on having their students have early clinical exposure. At Mizzou Med, the first-year medical students are able to volunteer their time at MedZou. While at MedZou, students practice their interviewing and physical exam skills, while being able to partake in providing much needed medical care to this underserved population. As such, students grow to become more comfortable interacting with patients early on in their medical careers before beginning rotations third year.

Overall, Mizzou Med offered me what I was looking for: a medical school where I felt supported, had ample opportunities to get involved and interact with patients early on, and a curriculum that would help me grow into a well-rounded future physician.

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri

Undergrad: University of Missouri-Columbia

Major: Biomedical Engineering

Med Specialty: I'm all over the place but I'm interested in OBGYN, Cardiology, Rural Medicine and Surgery

fogartyca@health.missouri.edu

Why I Chose MU: Being born and raised in Missouri, I was never a stranger to the telltale black and gold colors that represent the Mizzou community. However, these colors took on new meaning for me in 2013 when I became a member of the Mizzou family. During my four and a half years as an undergraduate, I was deeply involved in the community. This involvement did not come to an end when I graduated in 2017, but continued through my position at the MOI and my volunteer work with True North of Columbia and the MedZou clinic during my gap years.

Over the years, I have developed deep roots within the Mizzou community; however, I believe that my application to Mizzou’s medical program was inevitable even if this was not the case. Mizzou has consistently and repeatedly distinguished itself from other programs that I considered for my medical education. The unique patient-based curriculum always appealed to me and, after experiencing PBL firsthand during my first two blocks of medical school, I know that this type of program is the perfect fit for my learning style. In addition, I was profoundly attracted to the flexibility offered by Mizzou’s curriculum. Unlike many other programs, Mizzou’s academic structure allows students to live more balanced lives in which they can pursue outside interests and activities.

Through this flexible structure, I have been able to remain involved in many of the programs that I am deeply passionate about and explore some of the programs offered by the school of medicine that interest me. I believe it is through the countless opportunities such as these, as well as the top-rated educational program offered at Mizzou, that I am being transformed into a more educated, open-minded, and active physician citizen.

Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri

Undergrad: University of Missouri

Major: Biological Sciences

Med Specialty: Pediatrics, Dermatology

gieferj@health.missouri.edu

Why I Chose MU: As a Mizzou graduate, I always had Mizzou Med on my radar! During the application process, I mostly applied schools in the Midwest because staying near Kansas City was important to me. Surprisingly, Mizzou was not initially on the top of my list, but this all changed when I went to my interview day! I was absolutely blown away by the faculty, staff, students and facilities here. Also, after learning more about the PBL curriculum, I realized that learning in a collaborative environment fit perfectly with my personality and goals.

As future physicians, it is important to learn how to apply critical thinking skills in a group setting and that is exactly what we do in PBL. Mizzou Med quickly became by #1 choice after my interview day and I am so happy to be where I am now! Columbia truly feels like home and I am excited to spend another 4 years learning and growing here.

Hometown: Norborne, MO

Undergrad: University of Missouri

Major: Biology with Human Development and Family Science & Psychology minors

Med Specialty: Pediatric Cardiology, CT Surgery, Ob/Gyn

bjmb79@umsystem.edu

Why I Chose MU: As a Bryant scholar, I was admitted to Mizzou Med early. I got early exposure to the PBL curriculum and how the medical school’s curriculum is set up. I loved it instantly. I liked that students didn’t need to compete against each other. We work in teams and with the faculty from the beginning to encourage cooperation.

I fell in love with Mizzou because the sense of community. The PBL curriculum is set up in a way so that students teach each other. Because of this, students know that they must rely on each other to succeed. We get to learn from real cases and work through them as a team. I love that we are getting practice on real patient cases early as part of our curriculum. These PBL sessions are student run and are fun to work through together. If I don’t know something about a case, I feel comfortable enough to ask my group to teach me. We fill in each other’s gaps in knowledge. I know that I can count on any of my classmates to help me.

Mizzou is a great place for visual and hands-on learners like me! Within the first few weeks, we get the chance to interview patients and practice physical exam skills. We get lots of practice early so that when we go to clinic, we are confident in what we’re doing. We also get hands-on experience in the anatomy lab. I’ve found it super helpful to correlate what I see in lab and what we’ve been taught in lectures. I’m so glad I chose Mizzou Med for my education. It was easy to find a home at Mizzou.

Hometown: Webster Groves, MO

Undergrad: University of Alabama

Major: Biology; Minor: Spanish

Med Specialty: Neurological Surgery or Orthopedic Surgery

jmoww3@health.missouri.edu

Why I Chose MU: I chose to apply to Mizzou for medical school because of in-state tuition. I did not know much about the medical school and all it had to offer until my interview. When I came to Columbia for my interview, I was thoroughly impressed by the curriculum at Mizzou Med. The students that I met during my interview day had a connection that I did not feel at other medical schools. Mizzou emphasized a medical student body that wanted to help each other be the best physician they can be. In my first couple months at Mizzou Med, I have already come to feel as if Mizzou is my home.

The Patient-Based Learning curriculum provides a cooperative environment that encourages all students to help others succeed. I chose Mizzou for medical school because I felt that group-based learning would allow me to excel as a student. PBL lab sessions allow me to think critically about the case in a way that helps me to better understand the information. Having a group of your peers to work through the case fosters a collaborative environment that can often be missing at medical schools with a traditional style of learning.

Another reason why I chose Mizzou Med is MedZou. MedZou is a student run clinic for uninsured patients. I have always had a passion for serving others. Many other medical schools did not have a organization like MedZou that encouraged the students to serve the community around them. I am excited to start working as a care provider in MedZou in the coming months.

Hometown: Columbia, MO

Undergrad: University of Missouri

Major: Biomedical Engineering

Med Specialty: Not sure yet

mhsktb@health.missouri.edu

Why I Chose MU: Growing up in Columbia, I always knew that the University of Missouri and its School of Medicine provided its students with every opportunity to succeed. When applying, Mizzou Med was always my top choice. Its amazing faculty, staff, students and facilities all contributed to fostering a learning environment that encouraged its students to excel. Through my interview and research into Mizzou Med, I realized how much the school emphasizes the physical and mental well-being of its students while also providing them with ample educational and extracurricular opportunities to become the best possible physicians.

When applying, I had heard all of the stories about the PBL curriculum significantly improving your medical school education, but it was not until I actually experienced it that I realized how true this was. PBL gives Mizzou's medical students the opportunity to learn in an engaging way and also helps us see the significance of our studies by applying them to real-life cases. Being from Columbia, knowing the campus, and staying near family all made my decision easier, but I truly believe that my love for Mizzou Med came after I experienced how big of an impact the school has on its students and their success in becoming caring and top-class physicians.

Hometown: Urbana, MO

Undergrad: Missouri State University

Major: Psychology

Med Specialty: Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics

swearingint@health.missouri.edu

Why I Chose MU: I had the intention of applying to medical school ever since I was a little kid, and this interest followed as I worked in patient care for multiple years and continued my undergraduate education. I had never had too much of a preference on where I wanted to go for this education, so I told myself I was going to approach the application cycle with a very open mind and that is exactly what I did. Like many medical school applicants, I decided to cast my net wide and apply to a diverse bunch of schools to improve my chances of reaching an acceptance. Throughout my application cycle, however, one school stuck out to me from the very beginning and that was Mizzou. What I found initially intriguing about Mizzou was the PBL curriculum.

This curriculum is hands down the best curriculum in medicine. It allows a diverse group of students to work together using basic science and clinical knowledge to figure out actual patient cases. With this curriculum everyone gets an equal voice and the patient care, research, education, and life experiences of each individual become integrated together to “solve” the problem our patient is experiencing in the most patient-centered way possible. Another big seller for my choice to attend the University of Missouri was how happy everyone was when I came on my interview day. Doing my research and major in psychology I learned a lot about people and about well-being, and one of the big factors I wanted in a school was that the people attending it were actually having a good time while they were there. MU definitely has that. During my tour the students were super up-beat and the faculty were extremely nice which made me feel completely at home. As I’ve began my medical studies, I have also seen how much the students are willing to work together to help each other succeed. Students make study guides, Anki decks, PowerPoints, and other resources to help teach each other the material of the curriculum and the school even provides Box as a resource to share these materials on an easy to use platform.

Finally, the MedZou health clinic is also an amazing opportunity that helped me finalize my decision as it allows students the opportunity to practice clinical skills and provide free health care to uninsured individuals in Columbia, MO. I am currently a specialty chair at MedZou and, although it’s another task to keep me busy, this opportunity does an amazing job at reminding me why I originally wanted to become a doctor. Overall the University of Missouri has everything I could have asked for in a medical school and, to top it all off, this comes along with the brand new PCCLC medical education building consisting of a new anatomy lab, study labs, personal desks for each student, simulation center, and amazing clinical campuses in both Columbia and Springfield, MO.

Hometown: Quincy, IL

Undergrad: Fontbonne University

Major: Biology

Med Specialty: Surgery, Pediatrics

mtrwf@health.missouri.edu

Why I Chose MU: I sent my application to more than 20 schools, hoping one would think I was a strong candidate. Of those schools I applied to, there were a few that were close to my family in Quincy, Illinois. I attended Fontbonne University in St. Louis and enjoyed my time in Missouri while still being a short two hour drive away from home. I did receive interviews from four schools and was accepted at three. However, MU was my last interview in the cycle so I had other campuses and experiences to compare it to. Although each school had their own unique opportunities, it was my interview day at MU where I felt a true connection.

I had arrived early for my interview but had found a way to get lost in the MU hospital. I asked a man in the hallway if he could give me directions and he kindly walked me to the admissions office. I came to find out later that he was a physician at MU, but still took time out of his day to show me where to go. I was a couple minutes late but Blair was very kind and filled me in on what I missed before they continued. Two ambassadors sat down with us for lunch, answering any and all questions we had about the school and medical school experience as a whole. It was during this time that I truly felt comfortable while at a medical school interview. They walked us through the campus so we could see the classroom, PBL rooms, and different study areas in the medical school. It was not that my time interviewing at the other schools was bad, but just that the Mizzou interview day went seamlessly. I was shocked when I saw the PBL rooms that provided each student with their own desk. My interest continued to grow throughout the day in all that the school had to offer, but what stuck with me most was that I had felt so comfortable with every interaction I had while on campus. It was very apparent how important each and every student was at this school. As I drove home that day and spoke to my parents, I knew this was the school I wanted to attend.

Hometown: Liberty, MO

Undergrad: University of Arkansas - Fayetteville

Major: Biology

Med Specialty: OB/Gyn or Internal Medicine

smvhd7@health.missouri.edu

Why I Chose MU: When I was considering medical schools to apply to, the decision to apply to Mizzou Med was an easy one. Columbia is only two hours from my hometown, both of my siblings are currently earning their undergraduate degrees at Mizzou, and attending provided me the opportunity to learn in the state I have called home for many years at an affordable price. More importantly, however, I had previously had the opportunity to work with older medical students at a summer camp. Both of these students demonstrated immense amount of compassion and insight throughout their work and were supportive leaders whom I looked up to throughout my summer work experience. Knowing people like my co-workers attended Mizzou Med made me confident that I would be able to find my place amongst my peers at Mizzou and that I would have a supportive network within the school.

After interviewing, I felt even more confident that Mizzou was the place for me. Although I was accepted to other schools, I still felt attached to the unique learning environment and opportunities at Mizzou Med. I loved the prospect of patient based learning, and knew that I would gain a lot from teaching and being taught by my peers. It seemed that people at Mizzou were balancing their school and personal lives well and that the school placed a large emphasis on mental health and wellness. I wanted to attend a medical school where I felt supported and after learning about peer tutoring, wellness checks, advising programs available to students, I knew Mizzou was the right environment for me. Since beginning medical school at Mizzou, I have felt increasingly confident that my decision to attend was the correct one.

Hometown: St. Louis, MO

Undergrad: Missouri State University

Major: Cell and Molecular Biology

Med Specialty: Unsure, possibly pediatrics

jpw522@health.missouri.edu

Why I Chose MU: From the time I was a young child, I have always loved to learn about a wide variety of topics, eventually discovering a passion for science and medicine. When I decided that I wanted to be a physician and use my passion of learning to help patients in need, I wanted to attend a medical school that would help me to be the best for my future patients. In Mizzou, I saw a medical school that would enable me to develop and grow into the best physician that I could be. The patient based learning curriculum allows me to combine my passion for traditional learning of science and medicine in a manner that focuses on the patient and human side of medicine as well.

Additionally, I was impressed with how much interaction and practice students receive with patients, even in the first two years of medical school. Opportunities to practice skills through introductory to patient care, ambulatory clinical experiences, and working with stimulated patients begin in the first year, allowing students to focus on the patient from the beginning of their education. While I am only beginning the journey to being a physician, I am confident that my time at Mizzou will help me to grow and develop into an excellent physician.

Hometown: Lake Ozark, MO

Undergrad: Saint Louis University

Major: Neuroscience

Med Specialty: Pediatrics, Pediatric Heme/Onc, Internal Medicine, or Family Medicine

amwyb5@health.missouri.edu

Why I Chose MU: Hi everyone! Medical school applications can be a long and strenuous journey, but congratulations on making it this far in your education.

Mizzou Med offers an outstanding PBL curriculum that is unmatched when compared to other medical schools. Your education is primarily based on real patient cases, which is really cool because it teaches you both basic science information and clinical reasoning skills that will carry on throughout your physician careers. Although we're mainly learning basic science and clinical reasoning skills, we also learn more about how a patient's gender identity, socioeconomic, ethnic, and religious backgrounds might affect their overall plan of care, which is incredibly important to Mizzou Med's emphasis on patient-centered care and likely contributes to their high Step 1 scores. We also learn in groups with our peers, which helps promote good collaboration as we become more exposed to one another, learning about each other's journeys and backgrounds. Those same backgrounds might help you unpack a PBL case in ways you never expected. That, to me, easily makes Mizzou Med a top choice.

My experiences of living in a rural, medically underserved area have enabled me to understand the various health disparities and socioeconomic disadvantages these populations face. This understanding has led to me to enjoy volunteering and giving back to these communities in various ways, helping to make a difference in their lives. Mizzou Med offers countless volunteer opportunities, via interest groups and school-run clinics, like MedZou, that enable students to give back and help these very same populations. Overall, I think this aspect alone made Mizzou Med an attractive choice to attend medical school.

Overall, I chose Mizzou Med because it was close to home, and the administration and classmates here make medical school feel like home. As a prospective student, I aimed to find a medical school that also supported their students; not only academically, but emotionally, physically, spiritually, and mentally as well. Having experienced Mizzou Med, and talking to M2s and M3s, I can certainly say that the faculty, staff, administration, deans, and even my fellow classmates provide a great support system. I do not, and don't think I ever will, regret making my decision to attend Mizzou Med. It has been a wonderful experience and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Hometown: Galesburg, IL

Undergrad: SIU-Carbondale, Goldfarb School of Nursing, Wash U in St. Louis

Major: Radio-Television News, Nursing, Postbaccalaureate Pre-medical Program

Med Specialty: Pediatric Intensivist, Pediatric Cardiologist, or CT Surgery

dadfd@health.missouri.edu

Why I Chose MU: MU was my #1 choice for a multitude of reasons. Chief among them was the PBL curriculum. Through my many years of ICU nurse experience, that type of learning was widely utilized throughout the department I worked in. I like the idea of everyone having an equal voice as we bounce ideas off of each other. It allows us to let down our guard and embrace the fact that we're all smart people that really don't know anything about medicine. If you can commit to that vulnerability, then you will be very successful... My wife and I were hoping to stay fairly close to our lifelong friends in St. Louis and our families in central Illinois... In-state tuition was a huge bonus... The nearly brand-new PCCLC is an amazing facility that feels like home to me... Columbia is a great town with all the amenities needed for a medical student. The fact is, I knew the great majority of my time was going to be spent studying, so I wanted to attend school somewhere that allows me to streamline that process. It takes me 10 minutes to drive from our residential home, so I don't have to get up way earlier to commute. All shopping needs are very close by, so again, I don't have to waste excess time getting the things I need while losing precious study time.

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Undergrad: Mount Saint Mary's University

Major: Biochemistry

Med Specialty: Not decided

ccfv6@mail.missouri.edu

Why I Chose MU: Hello all, congrats on being part of our medical school journey! The process is a long and difficult one but extremely rewarding.

To start with, I am nowhere near Columbia, Missouri. I was born and raised in Los Angeles where I also attended undergrad. Growing up I didn’t have any friends or family members working in the medical field. My exposure to the medical field came with the hospital and clinic visits where I helped family and friends translate during visits. At a young age, I saw the need for better health care resources for patients facing language barriers.

It wasn’t until junior year of undergraduate where mentors encouraged me to pursue a career in medicine. It was then where I began volunteering in hospitals and scribing. After graduating in 2017, I took 2 years off to continue research in molecular biology, care after my mother and continue working as a scribe.

My most memorable medical school interview was with Mizzou. The moment I arrived I was kindly greeted by faculty and students. When choosing a school, I believe that the most important aspect to consider is whether or not being there makes you feel at home. Luckily for me Mizzou met that checklist with faculty who always have their doors open and comradery between the students. I would say that the fosters a highly collaborative environment where there are endless study guides, PowerPoint, Anki decks and videos shared among students. Mizzou also makes it easy for us to access by giving us a subscription to Box where everyone is able to upload and view.

Because the school also has a unique curriculum centered around patient-based learning, we are able to participate in other activities. Currently, I am working as Outreach Chair with Medzou (the free medical clinic run by students!) If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!

Hometown: Thousand Oaks, California

Undergrad: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Major: Biology

Med Specialty: Infectious Disease, Emergency Med, Trauma Surgery

mmtcd6@health.missouri.edu

Why I Chose MU: I had never been to Missouri before my interview. In fact, I had just added Mizzou to my list of schools because someone had mentioned how great the program was. To me, it was just another option on my list.

However, when I interviewed at Mizzou, everyone I interacted with that day was SO kind and welcoming. My experience here was unlike other medical schools that I had visited and I loved Mizzou immediately because of it. In short, I sensed that I could belong here. And as an M1 I am still SO happy with my choice.

The midwest is very different from Southern California. And while I love my hometown, people here are a whole new kind of nice which I thrive in. I am learning so much about Columbia and about midwestern culture in general. I am continually learning! Also, I think people at Mizzou genuinely care about who you are as a person both inside and outside of medical school.

Hometown: Meridian, ID

Undergrad: The College of Idaho

Major: Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics/Physics

Med Specialty: Hopefully a surgical specialty

jmfn7c@health.missouri.edu

Why I Chose MU: How I came to apply to Mizzou Med is funny. A friend from my college, Cynthia Tang, who is now an M2 MD-PhD candidate at Mizzou Med, told me how Mizzou was a hidden gem. Taking her advice, I researched the school and applied. Now lends the question why Mizzou Med?

Why I choose Mizzou Med apart from other schools wasn’t too hard after considering many options. Being an out-of-state applicant, the draw was to the curriculum, facilities and tuition. The PBL curriculum is designed to present learning medicine through actual cases. This way we begin to integrate and correlate both the basic sciences, as well as the clinical reasoning behind the cases. While the basic sciences and clinical reasoning are important, there is also a large emphasis placed around patient-centered care. Overall the education is great, and I would say that our STEP 1 scores reflect it.

The facilities are amazing as well. The PCLCC is a state-of-the-art facility. PCLCC has a fantastic anatomy lab and simulation center where students go to practice interacting with patients, as well as their clinical skills. Compared to many other schools, Mizzou Med has staff that are available to help with anything from searching research opportunities to having 1-on-1 session to assure we are mentally doing alright at Mizzou Med.

Lastly, tuition was an important aspect for me, especially since I was from out-of-state. Mizzou is one of the best institutions for out-of-state applicants, because after one year we can apply to become in-state residence and pay in-state tuition rates. Most schools are very strict about this, which is why Mizzou Med stands out in this area.

I am very happy with choosing Mizzou Med and would do it over again!

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Undergrad: Scripps College

Major: Biology and Religious Studies

Med Specialty: Undecided

mksbkt@health.missouri.edu

Why I Chose MU: Hi everyone! Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, never would I have thought I would choose to pursue my medical education so far from home. Looking back at my decision to pursue medicine and to make Mizzou my new home, there are some key elements in my life that ultimately led me to these decisions. Since a young age I have always been drawn to science and it was during my undergraduate studies that I really started to additionally pursue humanities in the form of Religious Studies and through this I fully found the power of intersectional academics. This intersectional approach to academics is the foundation of my personal pursuit of medicine rooted in both pure STEM and humanities/social justice.

As it came down to choosing a medical school, it was a perfect match with Mizzou; we share the same interests, learn in the same way, and have the same values. What I mean is that I really wanted a medical school that challenged me scientifically in the classroom but also to be fully competent in the various interpersonal aspects of the career. In addition, I wanted a school that provided a nurturing learning environment where students truly worked as a team and supported each other in their learning. The Patient-Based Learning curriculum is truly remarkable and a strong learning environment that is consistently exciting and applicable, challenging, yet approachable. And finally, I was searching for an institution that was determined to uplift the community it serviced, especially those systematically consistently marginalized. And at the end of the day, I found those all here at Mizzou.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about applying as an out-of-state applicant, life in Columbia/medical school in general, or anything else you are curious about in this process!

Hometown: St. Louis (Wildwood), MO

Undergrad: Xavier University

Major: Natural Sciences, Psychology, and Spanish

Med Specialty: Emergency Medicine or Otolaryngology

csm97@health.missouri.edu

Why I Chose MU: Like most medical students, I applied to a number of medical schools in the hopes of being accepted wherever would take me. I had no prior knowledge about Mizzou Med prior to applying as I attended undergrad in Ohio. It wasn’t until my interview tour that I realized all the reasons that Mizzou stands apart from most other medical schools.

The primary reason that I chose Mizzou Med is because of the PBL curriculum. I am a very “hands on” learner and wanted to learn through experience rather than countless hours of lectures. PBL sessions allow me to think critically about the case in a way that helps me to better retain the information. Outside of the course material, small group sessions are a ton of fun! Having seven other people working through the case along with you fosters a collaborative environment that is often absent at medical schools with traditional lecture styles.

Another reason that I chose Mizzou was the option to get involved with MedZou, our student run clinic for uninsured patients. While first year students start clinical encounters in the form of Standardized Patients beginning the first week of medical school, MedZou offers an additional opportunity to practice clinical skills outside of class time. I had originally intended to frequently volunteer at MedZou but instead took on a leadership role. I am now the Director of Specialty Services and get to go into clinic every Monday night! While this may sound like a lot of work, I appreciate the opportunity to remind myself why I came to medical school in the first place.

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri

Undergrad: Saint Louis University

Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders

Med Specialty: Pediatrics

basntc@health.missouri.edu

Why I Chose MU: I first heard about Mizzou Med from a couple friends that were here and they couldn’t stop talking about how great it was. I am from Missouri and wanted to learn more about the school because it was close to home and had heard about such positive experiences here. As I learned more about the school, I felt more and more that this would be a great place for me to attend medical school.

When I came to visit during Interview Day, I was excited about everything they were talking about, including the Patient-Based Learning curriculum instead of a simply lecture based curriculum, the anatomy lab with the opportunity to get hands-on experience, the support of administrative staff, and the camaraderie among students. It really did feel like home. When I found out I was accepted to Mizzou Med I knew immediately that I would be accepting the offer. I am thankful every day that I chose Mizzou Med and continue to love being a medical student here.