Alumni


Carmen Cancino

Carmen CancinoThough I have dreamed of becoming a physician since a child, my dreams almost came to an end as an undergraduate at UCLA, unprepared for university life and all that it entails. Not fully prepared for college, when I entered UCLA, I didn’t know how to take notes, how to study, or even how to manage time properly—a recipe for disaster. All of this, combined with a rough personal life and serious family issues, eventually led to my being dismissed from UCLA as an undergraduate.



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Lynell Newmarch

Lynell NewmarchI am a medical student at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and am to graduate in 2010. I graduated from the University of Port Elizabeth with a bachelor’s degree in Nursing and practiced as a Registered Nurse for 10 years prior to starting medical school. As a mature non-traditional student I have managed to juggle two pregnancies, medical school studies and family life while being in medical school. I was a post bac student at CSUF and an active member and past SHPA president. I cannot speak more highly for the Health Advisory office, the faculty advising and the organization SHPA. All were instrumental in helping guide my non-traditional pathway to a fantastic medical school such as UCLA.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Nick Brandenhoff

Nick BrandenhoffNick graduated from the Post Baccalaureate Program in Health Professions in fall 2007 and matriculated to UCSF in Fall. He is happy to talk to students about his experience as a “non-traditional” applicant.







------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Brian McMicheal

Brian McMichealIf at first, you don't succeed...


I graduated from Anaheim High School in 1979. I attended CSUF for two and one-half years as a Biological Sciences major. I was unprepared for university-level work; I left school with a 2.33 GPA, and joined the Marine Corps. I served on active duty for 10 years as a Military Police Dog Handler. During my military service, I completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology through Chapman University. During my service I married and divorced with one son. I had always wanted to be a physician, but I believed that I had burned my bridges and that embarking on the path to become a physician was foolhardy and doomed to failure.



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Dean Fraser

Dean FraserI graduated from Washington State University in 1993 with a B.A. in English. My initial plan was to get a Ph.D. and teach literature. After graduating, I decided to take a break from school and went to work as an English language instructor in South Korea and Japan. Two years later, when I returned to the U.S., my interest shifted to medicine, and I enrolled as a post baccalaureate pre-med at CSUF, taking only the requisite biology, chemistry, physics, and math courses. During my time at Fullerton, I also managed to be a clinical research volunteer at UCI Cancer Center, as well as become a certified EMT-1. Working as an EMT not only gave me some valuable clinical experience, but it later helped immeasurably in my application and interviews. I was eventually accepted at the University of Hawaii’s John A. Burns School of Medicine (my first choice) for the Fall 2004 entering class. I am also very fortunate in that we will have brand new educational and research facilities by summer 2005. When I graduate, I will likely specialize in neurology or psychiatry.



header
left_nav
left_sidebar