Alumni News, PBPH, Thought Leadership

2025 PBPH Success Stories

PBPH Success Stories 2025

NWHSU’s Post Baccalaureate Premedical (PBPH) prepares students for their next chapters. The best time of the year? When they get started! This fall, 26 alums are starting medical school, dental school, and PA school. 

Excitingly this year, four students are starting in Augsburg’s physician assistant program: which means NWHSU students make up more than 10% of the class!

Congratulations to all of our alums who are achieving their goals! 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)

  • Kentaro Baynes, The Robert Larner M.D. College of Medicine at The University of Vermont
  • Pimthada Bubphamala, Roseman University College of Medicine
  • Kayla Doughty, Michigan State University

For future Dr. Doughty, the dream of becoming a doctor began early. “I have always known I wanted to go to medical school from a young age,” she shared. “A strong desire to help others, fascination with the human body, and willingness to take responsibility was what first intrigued me.” Her experiences working in an assisted living facility, an orthopedic office, and volunteering at a free clinic — along with guidance from great mentors — only deepened her commitment to medicine.

After three years as a medical assistant in an orthopedic office and shadowing in surgeries, Kayla found her calling. “As of now I hope to become an orthopedic surgeon,” she said. “Having a firsthand look at what the day to day life can look like as well as the balance of clinic/paperwork and surgery was appealing… the ability to tangibly change a life is an exciting thought.”

Kayla credits Northwestern Health Sciences University’s Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Health (PBPH) program with helping her reach medical school. “The NWHSU PBPH was truly life-changing for me and I believe is a main reason I am now attending medical school,” she said. “I was able to develop close relationships with professors. The coursework I completed also helped tremendously with the MCAT.” Her pre-med advisor, Dr. LS, was “extremely helpful,” guiding her through every stage of the process — “deciding where to apply, editing and reviewing countless essays… and running through interview prep.”

Her advice for current and future PBPH students? “Take advantage of pre-med advising, I cannot stress this enough. Trust them! Also, do not be afraid to reach out to professors to ask for help early and often. This not only allows you to foster relationships with them but also provides clarification because the information continues to build.”

  • Adam Duren, Medical College of Wisconsin

From a young age, future Dr. Duren dreamed of becoming a doctor — a calling shaped by his faith and his parents’ work in healthcare. “I had the dream to go to medical school from a relatively young age, driven by a desire to pursue a career of service,” he shared.

In NWHSU’s PBPH program, Adam found the structure and support he needed to turn that dream into reality. “The program was instrumental in preparing me for medical school and transforming me into a competitive applicant,” he said. His plan included strengthening his GPA and revisiting critical MCAT content. “Most importantly, the genuine care and encouragement from the NWHSU team made all the difference.”

Now a student at Medical College of Wisconsin, Adam looks ahead to a career centered on connection and compassion. “I hope my future career includes serving and treating patients with the highest degree of skill I can provide,” he said. His advice for others in the PBPH program: “Trust in your advisors and believe in yourself… With perseverance and the personalized guidance provided by NWHSU, you can gain acceptance into medical school.”

  • Madi Irwin, Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Anna McNamara, A.T. Still University – Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Isaac Reed, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Ivan Santell, Velazquez Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine
  • Eliana Socha, University of Michigan
  • Whitney Wenner, University of Minnesota -Saint Cloud Campus
  • Mayarath Y, University of Minnesota

Dental School (DDS/DMD)

  • Gracie Skoog, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry
  • Anna Vo, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry
  • Michael Vue Roseman, University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine

Physician Assistant School (PA)

  • Shaima Eshmawy, St. John’s University
  • Nolan Ferlic, George Washington University

For Nolan, the decision to become a physician assistant grew from his work serving unhoused and underresourced communities in Minneapolis. “While the work was deeply rewarding and vital in supporting each individual’s path towards housing stability, I witnessed repeatedly how the lack of accessible and well-trained medical providers was an acute and fundamental missing facet of the overall health and safety of Minneapolis communities,” he recalled. “So, I committed myself to gathering the medical knowledge and expertise that would enable me to directly participate in the solution.”

“I found the focus of the PA education aligned well with my goals as a future medical provider — a patient-oriented, deeply collaborative, generalist in medicine.” Ideally, he hopes to work both in emergency medicine (“where all the fun happens”) and primary care (“where all the grassroots community work happens”).

When Nolan enrolled in Northwestern Health Sciences University’s Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Health (PBPH) program, he started from the ground up. “I started at NWHSU with a bachelor’s degree (journalism) but lacked a single prerequisite course for PA school,” he explained. “The faculty at NWHSU always made me feel PA school was possible, attainable, and that all the hard work would undoubtedly be worth it.” He credits the “top-notch and deeply personalized” advising with helping him complete all his prerequisites while working full-time. “The faculty worked hard to successfully accommodate me as a student and adult learner, and made me feel like the whole institution was deeply invested and supportive of my journey into medicine.”

Now a few weeks into his second semester of PA school in Washington, D.C., Nolan reflects often on how far he’s come. His advice to others starting the journey: “The journey will seem so long. Everything will seem, at times, so opaque and uncertain. Remember, while the path toward school is lengthy, so are the days ahead of you. Do your best to focus on each test, each application, each interview individually. Best of luck!”

  • Yu Peng Her, Augsburg University
  • Khoa Ho, Augsburg University
  • Hilary Ijiyode, Drexel University

For Hilary, becoming a physician assistant is about creating change where it’s needed most. “I chose to pursue a career as a PA to address healthcare disparities in underserved communities,” she shared.

Through Northwestern Health Sciences University’s Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Health (PBPH) program, Hilary found the guidance and encouragement she needed to reach her goal. “The NWHSU PBPH program provided invaluable support throughout my application process,” she shared. “They offered helpful resources for crafting my personal statement and provided constructive feedback.” She especially valued “the safe space the faculty created,” where she could ask questions and receive tailored advice—from identifying schools, to writing letters of recommendation.

Looking ahead, Hilary envisions “a fulfilling career where I can make a meaningful impact on each of my patients.” She hopes to “create a safe and supportive environment” while maintaining “a healthy work-life balance” that helps her provide the best care possible. Her advice for current and future PBPH students: “Seek help early on to maximize your experience in the program. Utilize all available resources and consider joining student organizations, as this not only enhances your network but also strengthens your application. Above all, believe in yourself and stay committed to your goals.”

  • Lily Kilcrease, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
  • Tina Nguyen, Frostburg State University
  • Faizaa Omar, Augsburg University
  • Kirsten Slyter, Alvernia University
  • Maly Vu, Augsburg University
  • Kristie Westerbeck, Augsburg University
  • Teresa Yam, Saint Elizabeth University