2026 PBPH Success Stories

• Author: NWHSU Editorial Team
  
• Last updated: September 24, 2026

NWHSU’s Post Baccalaureate Premedical (PBPH) prepares students for their next chapters. We love to celebrate when students meet their goals! This fall, 33 alums are starting medical school, dental school, podiatry school, and veterinary school. 

Congratulations to all of our alums! Want to join them? Our PBPH program can prepare you for your future healthcare education, whether you’re missing prerequisites or need to boost your GPA.

Medical School (MD and DO)

• Ameilia George, Lincoln Memorial University–DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Serjey Gherciuc, Loma Linda School of Medicine

• Dana Gray, University of Minnesota School of Medicine-Twin Cities

• Choolwe Haamankuli, Baptist University College of Osteopathic Medicine (BUCOM)

• Kyle Hilario, University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Marquis Holder, Western Michigan School of Medicine

• Trinh Hoang Le, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Ifey Ikegwuani, Burrell College of Health Sciences School of Osteopathic Medicine

• Helen Keithahn, University of Missouri School of Medicine

• Cameron Kurisko, University of Vermont Larner School of Medicine

• Nader Mustafa, University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Erin Nakagaki, A.T. Still University – Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Leah Norby, University of Minnesota School of Medicine-Twin Cities

“I’ve always loved helping people, and after many years in customer service, I wanted to do that in a more meaningful way,” explained future Dr. Norby. She came to NWHSU to complete her bachelor’s in human biology. The advising and support she received here helped her decide to pursue medical school. Now, she hopes to care for underserved patients  and bring new, more effective treatment options to the people who need them most. “I want to be part of improving our healthcare system and building a model of care that prioritizes people over profit,” she shared.

The advising and support future Dr. Norby received at NWHSU was key not only to her decision to pursue medical school, but to navigating the process. “I didn’t even realize medical school was an option for me until I was in the program,” she explained. 

I have no friends or family who have gone through this process before, so the guidance I received was invaluable. I truly could not have done it without the faculty at NWHSU.

Her biggest advice to future students is to get involved, and keep an open mind. “Medicine is incredibly rewarding when it’s where you want to be, but it‘s a long and challenging journey, so make sure you’re pursuing it because you’re passionate about it.” 

• Laura Ruiz, University of Minnesota School of Medicine-Saint Cloud

Future Dr. Ruiz found working with patients as an ultrasound tech extremely fulfilling, and decided she wanted to learn and do more in her career. “Over a decade and a half ago, when I was interpreting for Doctors without Borders, I became enamored with the tools that physicians have to make a ripple of positive change in people’s lives,” she explained. “Since then, every day at work, they continued to inspire me.” She’s open to many future paths, including a stipend program with the Army Reserves, rural practice in obstetrics, primary care, or emergency care, or working as a medical officer for the U.S. Embassy abroad.

NWHSU’s PBPH program played an absolutely integral role in my application to medical school.”

Her advisor, Dr. Lawrenz-Smith, walked her through every step of the application process: writing her personal statement, preparing for interviews, understanding the application and timeline, and more. Dr. Thoen asked her to be a teaching assistant, which gave her more experience on her application. The coursework not only boosted her GPA, but prepared her for the MCAT. It also gave her relationships with professors who could write key letters of recommendation.

Future Dr. Ruiz’s advice for future students? Show up (in person whenever possible) and be engaged. “Students should know that there isn’t a professor at NWHSU who isn’t invested in their success.” She also recommends having fun! “NWHSU is a great school and has awesome classes with fun professor. It’s important to be grateful for this moment.” 

• Zelleria (Jackson)Estivene, William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Riley Stuckey, Creighton University School of Medicine

• Elizabeth Tepozteco, Wright State University School of Medicine

• Sydnie Tutewohl, Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Jonathon Wodarz, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine

• Charlotte Zhang, University of California School of Medicine

Physician Assistant School (PA)

• • Samira Adan, Augsburg University

  • Cha Her, College of St. Scholastica

  • Natalie Jorgenson, King’s College

  • Shannon Kehoe, Midwestern University

  • Hannah Kennicott, Campbell University

  • Chenglong Lo, Ottawa University

  • Cyril Malle-Barlow, College of St. Scholastica

  • Mallory Orth, Midwestern University

  • Jack O’Shaughnessy, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine

  • Madysen Palmer, Bay Path University

Veterinary School (DVM)

• Patrick Clark, University of Minnesota School of Veterinary Medicine

Future Dr. Clark was burnt out in a work-from-home IT career when he started to consider veterinary medicine. “I wanted a career with a direct impact on my community. Veterinary medicine stood out to me as a great fit, combining my passion for animals, medicine, and community.” He hopes to work primarily in emergency medicine, but is open to the many career paths a DVM can lead to, including wildlife and public health.

NWHSU was a good fit for future Dr. Clark because of the flexibility of both the virtual and in-person classes. But once he joined the program, he found it was more than that. “The professors were all very invested in each student’s professional goals and helped me begin planning my veterinary school application on day one.” He found support in his classmates too, and his advice to future PBPH students is to “lean into the community that NWHSU has to offer.” 

Going through a career change in my mid-twenties felt much less daunting because many of my classmates were in the same boat.  When you get to know your professors and your classmates, you will find that everyone is very supportive and truly wants you to succeed.”

Dental School (DDS/DMD)

• Rachel Fernandez, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry

Podiatry School (DPM)

• Irma Jacobson, Rio Grande Valley School of Podiatric Medicine